Yokohama Reviews

World War II Pacific Theater Case Synopses from Judge Advocate's Reviews Yokohama Class B and C War Crimes Trials

Defendant: Imai, Kiyomi, Hokodate POW Camp

Docket No./ Date: 22/ April 17, 1946, Yokohama, Japan

Charge: 1. Committed cruel and brutal atrocities againsta British POW.

Specifications:

Verdict: 5 years confinement at hard labor

Reviewing Authority's Recommendations:

Reviewing Authority: Howard H. Conaway, Captain, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate

Prosecution Arguments:

Defense Arguments: Plead guilty but elected to take the stand. 1. Slapping is customary in the Japanese Army for failing to discharge an order 2. Japanese Army "privates were treated as slaves and lost their reasoning power."

Judge Advocate's Recommendations:

Child Testifying in Court in Manila.
Photo: U.S. Army, courtesy of Bob Harmon

The trial records of Japanese War Criminals Tried at Yokohama, Japan, between 1946 and 1949 is broken into 2 sets:

59 reels - Records of Trials and Clemency Petitions for Accused Japanese War Criminals Tried at Yokohama, Japan (1946-1948)
5 reels - Reviews of the Yokohama Class B and C war crimes Trials by the 8th Army judge Advocate (1946-1949)

The following is a summary of the corresponding case found in the latter group (5-reel set of Judge Advocate's Reviews). Analysis Prepared by Stella Lee Researcher, War Crimes Studies Center