Yokohama Reviews

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

Defendant: Takano, Tadashi, civilian employee, Japanese Army

Docket No./ Date: 30/ May 6, 1946, Yokohama, Japan

Charge: 1. Committed cruel and inhuman acts and other offenses against POWs

Specifications:

Verdict: 15 years confinement at hard labor/ Sentence Upheld

Reviewing Authority's Recommendations: Findings were all supported by prosecution testimony.

Reviewing Authority: James A. Byrum, 1st Lieutenant, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate

Prosecution Arguments:

Defense Arguments: 1. Superior Orders - beat prisoners as instructed by camp commander. But, struck them only lightly while the camp commander watched. 2. Admits to being drunk several times while working at the camp but did not recall ay of the events that transpired while intoxicated. 3. Accused treated prisoners kindly.

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