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Aug 7, 2003 One of the most fascinating accounts of the post World War II era took place during the American occupation of Japan when General Douglas MacArthur commandeered Sugamo Prison in Tokyo to turn it into the Military Showcase of the Far East. Its purpose was to house the 28 Class A Japanese war criminals, in preparation for the Tokyo War Crimes Trials. Iva Toquri DAquino, the infamousTokyo Rose, was incarcerated there for a short stay before she was brought back to face trial the U.S.. Through reconstruction, Sugamo became a virtual paradise with special quarters for the men - mess hall, PX, officers and enlisted mens clubs, a theater, baseball and football fields, modern hospital, vegetable gardens and landscaped grounds to house the raw recruits who served as guards for the Japanese prisoners. Most the young guards were recruited from backwoods pockets of the U.S. that had minimum contact with the War itself and therefore had very little prejudice against the Japanese. Among those recruits is the tale of a relationship between an 18 year old, impressionable private from the potato fields of Idaho and a 61 year old Major General, former economic advisor to Emperor Hirohito, who became the young mans mentor and father-figure. My novela, The Wards of Sugamo story encompasses the desire of the young Idaho GI to bring home a Japanese flag with the signatures of prisoners as a souvenir. Through the aid of his prisoner, General Teiichi Suzuki, who at one time had spearheaded Manchurian drug operation that financed the Japanese War against China, the private was able to get 23 of those 28 signatures. I think he still has the flag. The story also includes information from a book written by a former Sugamo guard Sugamo Prison by William Ginn - which tells of the daily routine and anecdotes of the infamous prisoners; relationships between the guard and prisoners; the thriving black market ring operating from the Post; the murder of the prison chaplain; and the relationships between the guards and young Japanese girls. The most notorious Japanese war criminals, viewed as aging seniors by their captors, played their roles to the max. They were eager to please. It paid off! Only seven of the 28 accused were executed but the trial and subsequent hangings of the seven left many of the young caretakers badly shaken from the experience with severe emotional stress. It is ironic the young man from the Idaho potato fields suffered from post traumatic stress after his tour of duty at Sugamo while his mentor, General Suzuki, served his prison sentence to return to Japan to become a multimillionare and die at the age of 100. ------------ About the author: Bobbie Hart ONeill is a retired print media journalist, CSU-Sacramento, 74, with 40 years experience in the field. She has worked as a reporter, feature writer, columnist, public relations writer, magazine/newsletter editor and publisher. She is currently a freelance writer residing in Yuma, Arizona and has published a childrens book, written three screenplays and a novel. In addition, she is interested in civic affairs, politics, current events, ethnology and animals. Email Bobbie: bobbieo@digitaldune.net Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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