Okamura [Ckamura] Hideo

Case Summary

The defendant was charged with committing a war crime in that he ordered, permitted or was otherwise concerned in the unlawful execution by shooting of an Indian POW in his custody. He was also charged with failing to care for; provide food, clothing and medical attention for; and ordering, permitting or being otherwise concerned in the beating, overworking and general maltreatment of the POWs under his custody, causing them to suffer greatly and be weakened in health.

For more information see:

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/faa0ae/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/d28bf2/

In mitigation, the Defence argued that the Japanese have a lesser regard for human life than others, that the Japanese were persuaded being taken prisoner was a great disgrace to which death was preferable, and that the Japanese would be subject to frightful tortures and privations if they were captured by the British or the Americans. The Defence also reminded the court that the individual must not be punished for the crimes of his nation and ancestors, to prevent the courts of justice from transforming into the courts of vengeance. It further noted that there was no need to punish as there was no need for deterrence, and that the Japanese had already paid a heavy price, i.e. loss of lives due to the two atomic bombs and raids on Japan, loss of the self-respect they greatly prize, and ruin and starvation.