Source: NARA RG 407 Box 12
Camp Preliminary Investigation Report, Sendai #1 Branch Yumoto

1. Investigation was carried out on 3/7 Oct 1945.
2. The following Japanese officials and civilians were interviewed:

1st Lt. TAKEICHI CHISUWA - Camp commandant at termination of hostilties
HISASHI TERADA - Engineer who gave PWs instructions about working in the mine
SHIGEHIKO KIYAMA - Head of the IWAKI MINE labor dept. who was appointed to look after affairs of the PWs employed
Dr. KAZUHIRO SHIRAKURA - Doctor of the IWAKI mine
KENNETH HASEGAWA - Interpreter for JOBAN COAL MINING CO. IWAKI MINE
1st Lt. YUTAKA NINOMIYA - Camp commandant No.2 Camp.

3. DOCUMENTS and PAPERS:

(a) Nearly all documents and papers had been burned at the time of surrender by an order from the Japanese military authorities. Those available are as follows: (INCLOSURES)

1. Plan of SENDAI No. 1 PW CAMP.
2. Photographs in envelopes. [not in file]
3. Chart showing number of PWs delivered to evacuating authorities.
4. Notes on amount of bread given PWs.
5. List of PWs who died. [scan]
6. Chart showing number of PWs received, died, and in hospital, with dates.
7. Permissions for cremation.
8. Number of bread tickets given to PWs.

(b) All other records including name lists are said to have been burned.

4. CONTROLLING AUTHORITIES and CHANGE OF TITLE

This camp was controlled as follows:

TOKYO CONTROL - established 18 Apr 1943; ended 14 Apr 1945.
SENDAI CONTROL - from 15 Apr 1945 until present.
During TOKYO CONTROL the camp was known as TOKYO No. 4 BRANCH PW CAMP.
During SENDAI CONTROL the camp was known as SENDAI No. 1 BRANCH PW CAMP.

5. COMMANDANTS:

(a) Camp commandant who was present form the establishment of camp, 18 Apr 1943 until 25 Feb 1945 was 1st Lt HIROJI HONDA.
(b) 1st Lt TAKEICHI CHISUWA 26 Feb 1945 until present.

6. LOCATION:

At MIZUNOYA, YUMOTO-MACHI, ISHIKIGUN, FUFUSHIMA PREFECTURE. This is the full Japanese address. In more understandable terms it is located at the IWAKI MINE of the JOBAN COAL MINING CO. LTD. at YUMOTO village. Map ref. 790.5-1577.5

7. MOVEMENT OF PWS.

Number PWS received	RANKS				NATIONALITY
Date	Capt	1st LT	EM	TOTAL	DUTCH	BRIT	CAN	USA
1st Gp 18 Apr 43	1	2	142	145	145
2nd Gp 12/13 Aug 44	4		249	253		252		1
3rd Gp 13 May 45	1	198	200				198	2
TOTAL	6	3	589	598	145	252	198	3
NUMBER OF DEATHS
May 43 - Dec 43			6	6	6
Jan 44 - Dec 44			3	3	2	1
Jan 45 - Aug 45			23	23	2	21
TOTAL			32	32	10	22
NUMBER OF PW IN SHINAGAWA HOSPITAL TOKYO
				4	4	4
NUMBER OF PWs as of 23 AUG 1945
	6	3	553	562	135	226	198	3

8. DEATHS:
    Compiled by Center For Research in a separate roster. (pending)

9. DISPOSAL OF BODIES AND RECORDS:

All bodies were cremated and ashes sent to TOKYO. All records and identification tags are said to have been sent to TOKYO after the surrender by an order of the allied authorities.

10. DISTINGUISHING SIGNS AND PROXIMITY TO MILITARY TARGETS:

(a) Blackout was in effect at all times at night.
(b) Large sized letters POW were painted on the roof of the barracks after the surrender.
(c) There were no distinguishing characteristics in connection with the entire camp.
(d) A railroad track went through the S.W. corner of the camp.
(e) It was 200 yards from the nearest miiltary objective, the mine buildings.

11. MEDICAL FACILITIES:

(a) The PWs were treated in the PW camp hospital by the following PWdoctors:

Capt. READE (British)
1st Lt. DeWOLFE (Dutch)
Capt. RADE(Canadian)

(b) There are possibly errors in the spelling of these names as they are given from memory.
(c) A Japanese Dr. KASUHIRO SHIRAKURA the company doctor of IWAKI MINE, visited the camp once a week on Thursday mornings to treat seriously ill patients and advise the PW doctors.
(d) Dr. SHIRAKURA stated that 60% of the PWs were suffering from Beri Beri on arrival. A large number contracted skin diseases from scratching flea and other vermin bites after arrival at camp. Upon arrival at the camp approximately 60 PWs were treated on an average per day. This number dropped to 20 or 30 per day later.
(e) Medical supplies were received from the company hospital and also the Japanese Army.

12. WELFARE:

(a) FOOD

(1) 705 grams consisting of 60% rice and 40% grains were given each PW per day. [Equivalent to a total of three half cups of cooked rice per day; equal to 110 calories maximum per serving]
(2) 200 gms of bread per man was given each day until June 1945 at which time only those workers in the mine received bread.
(3) Despite difficulties in obtaining meat it was stated that 15-20 gms [3/4 oz] of meat a day was given each PW or 110-120 gms [up to 4 oz] of fish was given. [CAUTION: remember that this is what the Japanese state- in direct contravention of PW affidavits. Rarely was either seen by the PWs]
(4) Vegetables, 835 gms per day per man. This does not seem likely because this would bring the gms of rice, vegetables, fish and meat up to 1650 gms, of food per day. Which seems high.

(b) Clothing:

Cotton work clothes were given by the company to the PWs employed by them. There PWs were also given canvas-split toe rubber soled shoes.

(c) Bedding:

1 quilt per man given by the company.
1 room size mosquito net.
6 Blankets per man given by the Japanese Army in winter, 5 in summer,

(d) Camp Store:

A camp stored was available which sold fruit, tobacco, and toilet articles if available. [Almost never]

13. EMPLOYMENT:

(a) PWs were employed at the JOBAN MINING CO. LTD. at the IWAKI MINE.
(b) Approximately 220 PWs worked inside the mines. These men worked 3 shifts:

1st Shift - 0600-1400
2nd Shift - 1400-2200
3rd Shift - 2200 - 0600

It was claimed by SHIEHIKO KIYAMA who is head of the company's labor department that the prisoners actually worked but 4-1/2 hrs a day due to waiting for cars running in and out of the mine, etc.

(c) Outside mine approximately 230 PWs worked at farming, carrying coal and laying rails. Until 25 Feb 1945 PWs worked 10 hrs a day on one shift 0700-1700; after 25 Feb 1945, 9 hrs on one shift 0700-1600.

(d) Pay:

(1) Pvts received 10 sen per day; NCOs received 20 sen per day
(2) Prior to 1 Apr 1945 men were paid extra as follows: Day shifts (1st & 2nd) 10 sen. Night shift (3rd) 20 sen.
(3) After 1 Apr 1045 all men working inside received an additional 10 sen, and those actually digging received 20 sen additional pay.

(e) Conditions down in the mine were similar to those found in the United States. This was verified by examination by Investigating Personnel.

14. GENERAL:

(a) It MUST be emphasized that nearly all of the foregoing information was obtained through interrogation of Japanese officials and civilians, and therefor cannot be considered valid without further substantiation. Nearly all of the records were burfned at the camp following instructions from Japanese military authorities after the surrender.

(b) The general appearance of the camp at the time of the investigation was deplorable. Filth and refuse was scattered everywhere. The roofs leaked in most buildings. Fleas could be seen in great numbers without any particular search for them. The fleas must have been present when the buildings were occupied as evidenced by the doctor's statement (above) that the second biggest medical problem was skin disease resulting from the PWs scratching themselves and then becoming infected.
The camp had no drainage system and during rain storms water formed in pools 1-6 inches deep in many places inside the camp. The above conditions were noted during investigation which took place during a rainstorm.

(c) It is considered that all possible details have been derived from sources available to the Investigation Personnel, but confirmation is required from documents which should now be in possession of higher authorities.

/S/ John W. Kocher
JOHN W. KOCHER 2d Lt. Inf
Recovery Team #64
Recovered Personnel Det.