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B. The ‘Hell-ship’ Cases: the Singapore Maru, the Asaka Maru, the Takan
Maru and the Hofuku Maru
This article analyses the trial records of four ‘hell-ship’ cases: the Singapore
Maru, the Asaka Maru, the Takan Maru and the Hofuku Maru.
29 The defendants
held mid-ranking positions of responsibility and were charged with POW
ill-treatment.
The first of these cases was the Hofuku Maru case that concerned the death
of 98 POWs.30 The accused, Kitaichi Jotani, was the Japanese POW draft conducting officer and was sentenced to death by hanging. The case of the
Singapore Maru was slightly different, resulting in the death of 60 POWs.31
The case had four defendants: Yoshinari Nishimi, the ship’s captain; Makoto
Ogasawara, the Japanese commanding officer; Naosuke Maruyama, the POW
draft conducting officer; and Yoichi Uchida, a sergeant in charge of POWs. All
were found guilty and sentenced from 6 months to 3 years of imprisonment.
POWs onboard the Takan Maru were ill-treated, but the trial records do not indicate any POW deaths. The defendant, Haruyoshi Nakanishi, the Japanese
POW draft conducting officer, was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment.32
The last ‘hell-ship’ case considered here is the Asaka Maru. While trial records
29 Those tried included the ship’s master, commanding officer, the POW draft conducting officer
and other soldiers put in charge of the POWs. Based on the trial transcripts, onboard the
‘hell-ships’, the ship’s master was generally responsible for the crew while the commanding officer would be responsible for Japanese soldiers onboard the ship. The POW draft commanding
officer was directly in charge of the POWs and was assisted by soldiers of lower rank (e.g.
Sergeant in charge of POWs). Prosecutor v. Haruyoshi Nakanishi, Military Court for the Trial of
War Criminals, convened by Commander of the Singapore District, trial dates 14, 15, 16, 19
and 20 May 1947, Case No. 65207 JAG, WO 235/1006 (hereinafter Takan Maru trial); Prosecutor
v. Kitaichi Jotani, Military Court for the Trial of War Criminals, convened by G.O.C Singapore
District, trial dates 25, 26, 27, 28 and 31 March 1947, Case No. 65197 JAG,WO 235/995 (hereinafter Hofuku Maru trial); Prosecutor v. Yoshinari Nishimi, Makoto Ogasawara, Naosuke
Maruyama, Yoichi Uchida, Military Court for the Trial of War Criminals, convened by
Commander of Singapore District, trial dates 1 and 2 May and 16, 17, 18 and 20 September
1947, Case No. 65257 JAG, WO 235/1043 (hereinafter Singapore Maru trial); Prosecutor v. Bunji
Odake, Takeo Ino, Military Court for the Trial of War Criminals, convened by Commander of the
Singapore District, trial dates 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 11 September 1947, Case No. 65246 JAG, WO
235/1052 (hereinafter Asaka/Hakusan Maru trial). These trial records are currently housed on
microfilm at the National University of Singapore’s Central Library.
30 Hofuku Maru trial, ibid. In March 1947, a five-member British military tribunal considered POW
ill-treatment onboard the Hofuku Maru. Between 4 July 1944 and 21 September 1944, the
Hofuku Maru sailed from Singapore to Japan with 1250 British and Dutch POWs onboard.
During this journey, it was torpedoed by American bombers because it was not marked to indicate that it was transporting POWs. Only 280 POWs survived the journey.
31 Singapore Maru trial, supra note 29. The defendants in this case were heard before a
three-member military tribunal on charges similar to that of the Hofuku Maru, namely, POW
ill-treatment. The vessel sailed from Singapore on 25 October 1942 and arrived at Moji on 24
November 1942 with 1081 British POWs onboard. 60 POWs had perished along the way from
inter alia, an outbreak of dysentery that was caused by the ship’s unsanitary and overcrowded
living conditions.
32 Takan Maru trial, supra note 29. In May 1947, a three-member British military tribunal
was assembled to hear the case of the Takan Maru that had sailed close to WWII’s end