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Chapters (40)
  1. FOREWORD
  2. RAILROAD OF DEATH
  3. REFERENCE LIST:
  4. Railroad of Death
  5. PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION (1948)
  6. INTRODUCTION
  7. PART ONE: SINGAPORE
  8. CHAPTER 1
  9. CHAPTER 2
  10. CHAPTER 3
  11. CHAPTER 4
  12. CHAPTER 5
  13. PART TWO: RAILROAD OF DEATH
  14. CHAPTER 6
  15. CHAPTER 7
  16. CHAPTER 8
  17. CHAPTER 9
  18. CHAPTER 10
  19. CHAPTER 11
  20. CHAPTER 12
  21. CHAPTER 13
  22. PART THREE: BASE CAMPS AND LIBERATION
  23. CHAPTER 14
  24. CHAPTER 15
  25. CHAPTER 16
  26. CHAPTER 17
  27. CHAPTER 18
  28. CHAPTER 19
  29. CHAPTER 20
  30. APPENDIX ONE:
  31. APPENDIX TWO:
  32. APPENDIX THREE:
  33. APPENDIX FOUR:
  34. APPENDIX FIVE:
  35. APPENDIX SIX:
  36. APPENDIX SEVEN:
  37. APPENDIX EIGHT:
  38. APPENDIX NINE:
  39. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  40. And The Dawn Came Up Like Thunder

2nd/Lt Ino Takeo, the Court find you guilty of the first Charge and NOT GUILTY of the second Charge.

The Findings of the Court are subject to confirmation.

SENTENCES OF THE COURT

(Court) The Court sentence the accused, Ship Master Odake Bunji to be imprisoned for six months.

The Court sentence the accused, Lt. Ino Takeo to be imprisoned for three months.

The sentences of the Court are subject to confirmation.

MITIGATION

Defence Counsel

ABE Taro

“Railroad of Death” by John Coast reads, “And we were particularly lucky in the Nip who commanded us, a Lieutenant INO . . . but thanks to INO, Camp 203 was easily the best in the area. Though some may think my estimate too high, you came across about three per cent of Nips like MASHUSTA, INO, Fuji and others, who were humane, kind, thoroughly decent people.” [Editor’s note: the same passage from Railroad of Death had been presented as part of the defence evidence during the trial.]

I, Defence Counsel, want to point out that INO, like ODAKE, has made amends for his sin and guilt by suffering pains in the jail since the 24th of September, 1945.

Signed on this 11th day of September, 1947

Taro Abe

Defence Counsel

Confirmation assessment by Office of the D.J.A.G., General H.Q.

REGISTERED IMMEDIATE CONFIDENTIAL
BM/JAG/65246 Office of the DJAG, General Headquarters, Far East Land Forces. 29th September, 1947.
Commander
Singapore District
Subject:

War Crimes Trial

Reference proceedings of the trial of

  1. (1)Ships Master ODAKE BUNJI
  2. (2)Lieut. INO TAKEO

Both of the Imperial Japanese Forces . . .

The defence pointed out that the number due for embarkation was fixed by Anchorage Command and was not the responsibility of either the ship’s master or the draft conducting officer. They could do nothing regarding that matter. The Asaka Maru was a cargo boat which was requisitioned and had once carried 3000 troops. Conditions then were far worse. Rations were issued on a fixed scale and could not be altered; sanitary equipment was also the responsibility of Anchorage Command. Both accused gave evidence to show that each in his sphere had done all that was possible in very difficult circumstances but that war conditions and the port authorities made their task well nigh impossible . . .

One prosecution witness gives evidence regarding some specific instance of beating by the guards but it does not implicate the accused as neither was proved to have known of it. There is no other proof of this type of offence.