Testimony of Zenichiro Mogami on Charges of Atrocities in Batangas in 1945: Direct Examination
[TRANSCRIPTION]
This page contains the transcription of the testimony of one of the accused, Zenichiro Mogami, for the defense in U.S.A. v Shumpei Hagino, et al., one of the trials of personnel of the Imperial Japanese Army for war crimes involving atrocities committed in the Province of Batangas. Because of the length of the testimony, the transcription has been broken down into two parts by Batangas History, Culture and Folklore. This part contains the direct examination of the witness by the defense counsel.
The pages contained herein are now declassified and were part of compiled documentation1 of war crimes trials conducted by the United States Military Commission after the conclusion of World War II. This transcription has been corrected for grammar where necessary by Batangas History, Culture and Folklore. The pagination is as it was contained in the original document for citation purposes.
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| Photo taken during the war crimes trials in Manila. Image credit: U.S. National Archives. |
[p. 293]
ZENICHIRO MOGAMI
a witness for the defense, being first duly sworn, testified as follows through Interpreters Nishihara and Taccad:
MR. MORRISON: Will the prosecution please advise the witness of his rights?
MR. GUTHRIE: State your name.
A Zenichiro Mogami.
MR. GUTHRIE: You are an accused in this case?
A Yes.
MR. GUTHRIE: I will advise you at this time that as an accused, you cannot be compelled to give testimony against yourself.
(Interpreter Nishihara interpreted to the witness.)
MR. GUTHRIE: If you voluntarily testify, you will then subject yourself to cross-examination.)
(Interpreter Nishihara interpreted to the witness.)
MR. GUTHRIE: Do you understand all that I have just stated to you?
(Interpreter Nishihara interpreted to the witness.)
A Yes.
MR. GUTHRIE: So understanding, do you desire voluntarily to testify in this case?
(Interpreter Nishihara interpreted to the witness.)
A Yes.
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. MORRISON:
Q What was your rank and unit in the Japanese Army?
A My rank was Sergeant Major. I was attached to the labor company of the 17th Infantry Regiment.
Q What was your rank and unit in the Japanese Army?
A My rank was Sergeant Major. I was attached to the labor company of the 17th Infantry Regiment.
[p. 284]
Q What battalion were you in and who was the commanding officer?
A We had no battalion commander.
Q What battalion were you attached to?
A To the Second Battalion of the 17th Infantry Regiment.
Q Was the Second Battalion commanded by Captain Ichimura?
A Yes, it was Captain Ichimura.
Q Where were you stationed in February 1945?
A At Dita, Batangas Province.
Q Were you in an expedition at Taal on 16, 17 and 18 of February 1945?
A Yes.
Q Who ordered you to participate in the Taal expedition?
A The commanding officer of the Second Battalion, Captain Ichimura.
A We had no battalion commander.
Q What battalion were you attached to?
A To the Second Battalion of the 17th Infantry Regiment.
Q Was the Second Battalion commanded by Captain Ichimura?
A Yes, it was Captain Ichimura.
Q Where were you stationed in February 1945?
A At Dita, Batangas Province.
Q Were you in an expedition at Taal on 16, 17 and 18 of February 1945?
A Yes.
Q Who ordered you to participate in the Taal expedition?
A The commanding officer of the Second Battalion, Captain Ichimura.
[p. 285]
Q Who was the commander of the expedition?
A It was First Lieutenant Takemoto.
Q What were your orders from Lieutenant Takemoto?
A The scope of the expedition extended to the killing of all civilians who resisted us, regardless of the fact whether they were women or children. The labor unit was to be under the command of Sergeant Major Mogami. Its duty was the security of the right flank of the main force. Lieutenant Takemoto also showed me the advance of the expedition on the map.
Q What was Lieutenant Takemoto’s normal unit?
A I am not sure, but at the beginning of the expedition, at the time when all the platoons assembled, he was in command of the Sasaki Platoon of the machine gun company and also of the Suzuki Platoon of the Sixth Company.
Q When you said that your orders were to kill all those who resisted you on the Taal expedition, what do you mean by the word “resisted?”
A It meant that all armed resisters were to be killed and also any persons who aided or cooperated with them, regardless of the fact of whether they had arms or not.
Q Do you know of any guerrilla activity in or near the town of Taal during the month of February, 1945?
A I heard that a car from battalion headquarters had been fired upon on its return trip from Bauan and that there were several casualties.
Q Did you hear of any guerrilla activity near
A It was First Lieutenant Takemoto.
Q What were your orders from Lieutenant Takemoto?
A The scope of the expedition extended to the killing of all civilians who resisted us, regardless of the fact whether they were women or children. The labor unit was to be under the command of Sergeant Major Mogami. Its duty was the security of the right flank of the main force. Lieutenant Takemoto also showed me the advance of the expedition on the map.
Q What was Lieutenant Takemoto’s normal unit?
A I am not sure, but at the beginning of the expedition, at the time when all the platoons assembled, he was in command of the Sasaki Platoon of the machine gun company and also of the Suzuki Platoon of the Sixth Company.
Q When you said that your orders were to kill all those who resisted you on the Taal expedition, what do you mean by the word “resisted?”
A It meant that all armed resisters were to be killed and also any persons who aided or cooperated with them, regardless of the fact of whether they had arms or not.
Q Do you know of any guerrilla activity in or near the town of Taal during the month of February, 1945?
A I heard that a car from battalion headquarters had been fired upon on its return trip from Bauan and that there were several casualties.
Q Did you hear of any guerrilla activity near
[p. 286]
the town of Taal in the month of February 1945?
A I do not remember any now.
Q Were you in the expedition to Bauan on the 28th of February, 1945?
A Yes.
Q Who ordered you to participate?
A Captain Ichimura.
Q Who was the commander of the expedition in Bauan?
A First Lieutenant Takemoto.
Q What were your orders from Lieutenant Takemoto?
A The order went as follows: “The Bauan Expedition will start immediately. Lieutenant Takemoto has been ordered to command the expedition. Corporal Kawaguchi and four men will be sent and will come under the direct command of the expedition commander. Sergeant Mogami will command the remainder of the labor units and will be responsible for the security of the area to the rear of the municipal building.”
Q You have previously stated, in an exhibit admitted into evidence, that Lieutenant Takemoto had you assign four of your men to him. You have just testified that Lieutenant Takemoto had you assign Corporal Kawaguchi and four men to him. Which is correct?
A There were three men under Corporal Kawaguchi.
Q And, therefore, these four men went under the command of Lieutenant Takemoto, is that true?
A Yes.
Q How many men were left under your command?
A I do not remember any now.
Q Were you in the expedition to Bauan on the 28th of February, 1945?
A Yes.
Q Who ordered you to participate?
A Captain Ichimura.
Q Who was the commander of the expedition in Bauan?
A First Lieutenant Takemoto.
Q What were your orders from Lieutenant Takemoto?
A The order went as follows: “The Bauan Expedition will start immediately. Lieutenant Takemoto has been ordered to command the expedition. Corporal Kawaguchi and four men will be sent and will come under the direct command of the expedition commander. Sergeant Mogami will command the remainder of the labor units and will be responsible for the security of the area to the rear of the municipal building.”
Q You have previously stated, in an exhibit admitted into evidence, that Lieutenant Takemoto had you assign four of your men to him. You have just testified that Lieutenant Takemoto had you assign Corporal Kawaguchi and four men to him. Which is correct?
A There were three men under Corporal Kawaguchi.
Q And, therefore, these four men went under the command of Lieutenant Takemoto, is that true?
A Yes.
Q How many men were left under your command?
[p. 287]
A Two men.
Q According to the statement, which you signed and which is in evidence, you stated that you had an interview with a Captain Peoples and Sergeant Motoyoshi in which you further stated that you told them you set off some dynamite in a building at Bauan, and in this statement just referred to, you then deny that story. What is the reason for your denial?
A Since the four men who were dispatched for my unit set it off, I said at that time that it was my action. However, thinking it over later, the four men, although they were part of my unit, were under the direct command of First Lieutenant Takemoto during the expedition. Although they were my subordinates, they were under the command of Lieutenant Takemoto and speaking from the standpoint of chain of command, they were responsible to Lieutenant Takemoto.
Q According to the statement, which you signed and which is in evidence, you stated that you had an interview with a Captain Peoples and Sergeant Motoyoshi in which you further stated that you told them you set off some dynamite in a building at Bauan, and in this statement just referred to, you then deny that story. What is the reason for your denial?
A Since the four men who were dispatched for my unit set it off, I said at that time that it was my action. However, thinking it over later, the four men, although they were part of my unit, were under the direct command of First Lieutenant Takemoto during the expedition. Although they were my subordinates, they were under the command of Lieutenant Takemoto and speaking from the standpoint of chain of command, they were responsible to Lieutenant Takemoto.
[p. 288]
Q Did you order any man under your command, on or about February 28, 1945, in or near the town of Bauan, to kill unarmed, non-combatant Filipinos?
A No.
Q Did you see any man under your command at that time and place kill any unarmed, non-combatant Filipinos?
A No.
Q Did you hear of any such killings by your men?
A Yes, I received a report later.
Q Did that relate to Corporal Kawaguchi?
A A formal report was delivered to me by Corporal Kawaguchi later.
Q Did you yourself kill any unarmed, non-combatant Filipino civilians on or about February 28, 1945, in the town of Bauan?
A No, I did not.
Q What duties did you and the two remaining men left under your command perform in Bauan on February 28, 1945?
A It was the security of the area to the north of the Municipal Building.
Q How many men were under your command in the Taal expedition on February 16, 17 and 18, 1945?
A Three men.
Q And what was your duty during those three days?
A It was the security of the right flank of the main unit.
Q Were you able to observe the actions of the main body of troops on the Taal expedition?
A No.
A No.
Q Did you see any man under your command at that time and place kill any unarmed, non-combatant Filipinos?
A No.
Q Did you hear of any such killings by your men?
A Yes, I received a report later.
Q Did that relate to Corporal Kawaguchi?
A A formal report was delivered to me by Corporal Kawaguchi later.
Q Did you yourself kill any unarmed, non-combatant Filipino civilians on or about February 28, 1945, in the town of Bauan?
A No, I did not.
Q What duties did you and the two remaining men left under your command perform in Bauan on February 28, 1945?
A It was the security of the area to the north of the Municipal Building.
Q How many men were under your command in the Taal expedition on February 16, 17 and 18, 1945?
A Three men.
Q And what was your duty during those three days?
A It was the security of the right flank of the main unit.
Q Were you able to observe the actions of the main body of troops on the Taal expedition?
A No.
[p. 289]
Q Why not?
A Because I was separated from the main force.
Q By how great a distance?
A At the farthest, sometimes it reached one and one half to two kilometers.
Q What was the nearest distance?
A At the closest, about 500 meters.
Q Did you kill any unarmed, non-combatant Filipino civilians in Taal on or about February 16, 17 and 18, 1945?
A No.
Q Did you see any men under your command, during the Taal expedition on February 16, 17 and 18, 1945 kill any unarmed, non-combatant Filipinos?
A No, I did not.
Q Did anyone ever tell you that one or more of your men during the expedition to Taal kill any unarmed, non-combatant Filipino civilians?
A My men did no such thing during the Taal expedition.
Q Did your men at any time kill any unarmed, non-combatant Filipino civilians?
A Are you referring to anything other than the Taal expedition? Are you including Bauan?
Q In the month of February, 1945.
A I heard that some of my men killed Filipinos in the explosion at Bauan.
Q Are those the men that you previously stated were under the command of Lieutenant Takemoto in accordance with his orders? Are they the same men?
A Yes.
A Because I was separated from the main force.
Q By how great a distance?
A At the farthest, sometimes it reached one and one half to two kilometers.
Q What was the nearest distance?
A At the closest, about 500 meters.
Q Did you kill any unarmed, non-combatant Filipino civilians in Taal on or about February 16, 17 and 18, 1945?
A No.
Q Did you see any men under your command, during the Taal expedition on February 16, 17 and 18, 1945 kill any unarmed, non-combatant Filipinos?
A No, I did not.
Q Did anyone ever tell you that one or more of your men during the expedition to Taal kill any unarmed, non-combatant Filipino civilians?
A My men did no such thing during the Taal expedition.
Q Did your men at any time kill any unarmed, non-combatant Filipino civilians?
A Are you referring to anything other than the Taal expedition? Are you including Bauan?
Q In the month of February, 1945.
A I heard that some of my men killed Filipinos in the explosion at Bauan.
Q Are those the men that you previously stated were under the command of Lieutenant Takemoto in accordance with his orders? Are they the same men?
A Yes.
[p. 290]
Q Did you give any order for an explosion in Bauan of any kind in February 1945?
A No.
Q Do you know of any guerrilla activity in or near Taal prior to February 16, 1945?
A I did not hear of any important incident in Taal.
A No.
Q Do you know of any guerrilla activity in or near Taal prior to February 16, 1945?
A I did not hear of any important incident in Taal.
COLONEL HAMBY: At this time, the Commission will recess until 0830 tomorrow morning.
(The Commission then at 1505 hours adjourned to reconvene at 0830 hours, 7 February 1947.)
[p. 291]
(The Commission reconvened, pursuant to adjournment, at 0830 hours, 7 February 1947, in Court No. 3, High Commissioner’s Residence, Dewey Boulevard, Manila, P. I.)
COLONEL HAMBY: The Commission is in session.
MR. GUTHRIE: May the record show that the accused are present together with their counsel, all members of the Commission are present and the prosecution is present.
The status of the case, sir, at the close of the last session, one of the accused was being examined upon his direct examination, the accused MOGAMI. That examination has not been concluded.
ZENICHIRO MOGAMI
a witness for the defense, having been previously duly sworn, testified further as follows through Interpreters Nishihara and Taccad:
MR. GUTHRIE: Mogami, I will advise you that you are still under oath that was administered to you yesterday.
(Interpreter Taccad interpreted to the witness.)
DIRECT EXAMINATION (CONTINUED)
BY MR. MORRISON:
Q Did you receive any reports from your subordinates that they had killed any Filipino civilians?
A Yes, I did. As I testified yesterday, I received a report from Corporal Kawaguchi and his three men after
Q Did you receive any reports from your subordinates that they had killed any Filipino civilians?
A Yes, I did. As I testified yesterday, I received a report from Corporal Kawaguchi and his three men after
[p. 292]
his return. He stated that they had placed dynamite while they were under the direct command of Lieutenant Takemoto and they made this report after they had returned and been placed under my command again.
Q In other words, at the time that any dynamite was exploded by Corporal Kawaguchi, it was done while he was under the orders of Lieutenant Takemoto who was in command of the expedition, is that correct?
Q In other words, at the time that any dynamite was exploded by Corporal Kawaguchi, it was done while he was under the orders of Lieutenant Takemoto who was in command of the expedition, is that correct?
MR. GUTHRIE: That question is objected to, it is leading, it is an attempt to put the answer into the mouth of the witness.
COLONEL HAMBY: The Law Member will rule.
COLONEL POBLETE: Objection sustained, frame another question.
MR. MORRISON: Yes, sir.
Q At the time of the explosion stated in that report, under whose command was Corporal Kawaguchi and the three enlisted men under him?
MR. GUTHRIE: It is objected to, it has already been asked and answered.
MR. MORRISON: Sir, counsel desires to have his cake and eat it, too. If it has already been answered, I don’t see what objection it can have in bringing it out once more. I want to remove any ambiguity.
COLONEL HAMBY: The Law Member will rule.
COLONEL POBLETE: Objection overruled, witness may answer.
A It was the commander of the expedition, Lieutenant Takemoto.
MR. MORRISON: Your witness.
[Click this link to read the second part of this transcription: Testimony of Zenichiro Mogami on Charges of Atrocities in Batangas in 1945: Cross Examination]
Notes and references:
1 “Transcription of the Testimony of Zenichiro Mogami in U.S.A. v Shumpei Hagino, et al.,” part of the U.S. Military Commission compilation of war crimes documentation, online at the Internet Archive.