1. LOCATION:

This camp in the Sendai Group was located in a mining village in the mountains geographically indicated as Kamikita Kozan (Kozan in Japanese can be a mountain or a mine) 12 1/2 miles south of Aomori and 20 miles west of Lake Ogawahara. This is on the northern coast of the island of Honshu. The coordinates are 40°.30'N.,141°20'E. The prison compound covered an area of 300' x 300' and was enclosed by a wood fence.

2. PRISONER PERSONNEL:

The first occupants of this camp was a detail of 198 American prisoners from Fengtai, China [arriving] 4 July 1945. The personnel is classified as follows: Army 4; Navy 1: Marines 7; Civilians 186. The civilians were captured on Wake Island and among them were a few Pan-American mess boys. The only officer in this contingent was Cmdr William Foley, U.S. Navy Medical Corps. [China Marines Medical Detach] Naturally Cmdr. Foley was the senior officer, and by reason of his profession he became the official camp surgeon. (These POWs were from the camp at Kiangwan, China. The camp was closed and the prisoners were sent to Fengtai, China for about a month, then on to Pusan, Korea and by boat to Japan.)

3. GUARD PERSONNEL:

Upon arrival of the American contingent, 2nd Lt. Uozumi was camp commandant. On 8 Aug. 1945 this officer is reported to have committed suicide. He was succeeded by Sgt Maj. Subano a sadist who apparently satisfied his cruel tendencies by personally beating the prisoners, without provocation, with clubs and his saber. At the end of the war the Senior Officer ordered the Japanese Military Police to arrest and hold Subano until the U.S. contingent of occupation arrived.

4. GENERAL CONDITIONS:

(a) Housing Facilities: The barracks comprised one two-story building rectangular in shape, unheated, dimensions 40' x 80' with wood shingle roof and wood floor. All of the interior was of rough, sawed lumber without insulation of any kind. The kitchen was located in the north end of the barracks.

(b) Latrines: Connected with the barracks about 20' away by frame covered path. This facility was built and maintained by the prisoner personnel and was about 10' wide and 20' long. Boxes which were emptied daily constituted the receptacles.

(c) Bathing: This bath house was a detached unheated frame building about 20' north of the barracks, dimensions 40" x 20'. This facility was equipped with a wood tub 10' x 10', the water being electrically heated. Bathing was done by dipping the water out of the tub in buckets.

(d) Mess Hall: As such there was no mess hall. The food was prepared by prisoner cooks in iron cauldrons in a kitchen connected with the barracks. The food was served in the barracks.

(e) Food: During the time that the detail of 198 men were at this camp the food was maintained without variation in inadequate amount, to-wit; one small bowl of rice and Soya bean mixture three times daily with about one teacup full of soup made from weeds gathered by the prisoners from the mountainside. This diet was the equivalent of about 2,000 calories while the daily output of energy was about 4,000 calories. The prisoners lost weight in an average of about three pounds per week. The medicines confiscated from the storeroom of Red Cross supplies stood between the prisoners and death. Practically all of them were suffering from beriberi. After the surrender of Japan the camp officials became meek and humble and literally showered the prisoners with food.

(f) Medical Facilities: A hospital had not been provided. One room on the ground floor of the barracks had been set aside for the sick prisoners which contained eight beds. Little or no equipment was available, medicines were not issued, and the Camp Surgeon had to rely almost entirely upon the administration of the medicines which he and some of the hospital corpsmen had been able to smuggle from Red Cross medical supplies In the camp storeroom.

(g) Supplies:

(1) Red Cross: Red Cross parcels were in the store room but were not issued until after the close of the war.
(2) Japanese Issue: No clothing was given to the prisoners until after surrender. At that time each prisoner was given a complete Japanese uniform.

(h) Mail: None either in or out.

(i) Work: The work was in an open pit iron mine requiring hard labor- The jaunt to and from the mine each day imposed additional hardships. The routine each day was reveille at 4:30. Off to work at 5:30 down a 750' cliff, a trek of two miles down the valley and then a climb of 1,000 feet up the mountain to the mine. No respite from this routine on Sunday or holidays. Wood cutting details were formed- Japanese civilians were work leaders in the mines. Some of these leaders are said to have been kind. others cruel and driving.

(j) Treatment: Upon reaching Sendai No. 11, all of the prisoners were dispossessed of their personal belongings including all the medicines and Red Cross supplies which they brought with them from China. They were allowed to retain one pair pants, one shirt, one pair of socks and one pair of rubber shoes. Notwithstanding the fatigue of the prisoners caused by malnutrition and many days of hard travel, they were without rest, compelled to begin work in the mine immediately. The prisoners did not have a dry outfit to change into upon reaching the camp in wet clothing. Sleep through the night was made impossible by the frequent counting of the prisoners by the guards and by the further fact that the barracks were heavily infested with fleas. This camp was called a veritable "hell hole" by the prisoners.

(k) Pay:

(1) Officers; Nothing.
(2) Enlisted Men and Civilians: 10 sen per day. The prisoners were allowed to buy about 15 cigarettes per month.

(I) Recreation: None

(m) Religious Activities: None

(n) Morale: Very low.

5. MOVEMENTS:

Upon liberation of this camp on 12 Sept. 1945 the entire detail of 198 men were sent to Sendai and from there to America.