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abhatia · Joined: 26 Jan 2011 Posts: 37

Both Nogi Harumichi and Kasayama Yoshikichi spent time in prison as war criminals, both abroad and in Sugamo Prison in Japan. Did imprisonment serve the purpose of punishment for these men?

mkim2013 · Joined: 14 Feb 2012 Posts: 9

Since both of the writings were in first person view, the narrators' thoughts, and intend was clear. For example, Nogi Harumichi says in the war criminal trial that he had to sentence a pilot to death because he had to obey the order. However, in his deep heart, he confessed that he actually wanted to kill him. Both of the narrators were also on the position of villain or in the higher position and it was very vividly described on how creul they had treated others. Especially in "Korean Guard", things done to the prisoners were forgivable and comparing to the punishment they received, it was almost nothing. However, as Nogi said in trial, both of narrators, to some degree, pitied the prisoners and had sympathy and that their actions were somewhat deliberated by those on higher hierarchy. Likewise, one's punishment cannot be determined solely on their actions.

wlotas2013 · Joined: 14 Nov 2011 Posts: 20

Nogi Harumichi was driven by hatred, an unrelenting, human emotion. He despised the pilots he sentenced to death. Regret would only be a product of initial reluctancy. He understood the illegality of his actions yet he executed them anyways. He ignores the law, so why should he feel restrained by it? He did was he deemed "necessary". He upheld the honor of his country despite its consequences. A man like that can't be phased by prison walls.

JasonJeong · Joined: 20 Oct 2011 Posts: 13

No matter what Nogi and Kasayama did, imprisonment should always be the means of imprisonment.

lizzieyang · Joined: 26 Jan 2011 Posts: 14

Imprisonment definitely served its role for Nogi Harumichi. He even stated that "If I'd gone straight back home, forgiven for what I did, it would been even more frightening for me," probably because he knew that what he had done, most of them, were illegal. For Nogi, imprisonment was the time for him to relief from harsh emotional attacks he acquired at the battle, and the way to wash off his sins, even a little. However, I am not sure in the case of Kasayama. He is from Korea, serving for Japanese military, obeyed orders from the Japanese, and became war criminal as a Japanese. He also served in a horrible condition, hungry, and cold. 'Does he deserve an imprisonment?' is my question.

rpulak2012 · Joined: 03 Dec 2011 Posts: 9

In both of these two cases, there were orders coming from the top down to these people. It wasn't for them quite as much a punishment for their own actions so much as a punishment for their intense involvement in the more immoral actions of the losing side. Kasayama, particularly, seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and Harumichi had a bit more emotional involvement in the war-crimes he committed, but both were being punished for actions for which they were only partially responsible. This is not to say that they were completely not responsible for their actions.

squashie · Joined: 07 Sep 2011 Posts: 22

I think imprisonment served as punishment for the crimes that the two men did commit. Though Nogi Harumichi only seemed to be "following orders," I think imprisonment taught him that not even his own kind can be trusted and that he sometimes has to think about what he's being asked to do and question that action.

fxin · Joined: 17 Feb 2011 Posts: 10

I feel that both people who got imprisoned, deserved a lot more than just imprisonment, they deserve to die. The crimes they have committed would not be worth even there miserable lives, I am furious that they were even given a chance to go to jail. I personally think that imprisonment for them is like giving a criminal a candy cane, it is a reward to them. I feel like they should be able to feel the pain of everyone they have killed and more. I am sorry if I am getting to angry in this post, all i have said is completely from and only from my personal take on the matter.

shawks · Joined: 14 Feb 2012 Posts: 13

I would say that the punishments were fair. It didn't seem like either man was treated terribly. They were sometimes hungry but not to the point that they were going to die, and sometimes, their living conditions were even more than tolerable. The Japanese treated the Burmese badly so they needed to learn not to act that way. Luckily, they learned in a humane way...generally. Yoshikichi, a Korean guard, wanted to be just like another Japanese and also occupied Indonesia. Neither person was aware of how much wrong they were doing, but they still didn't do the right thing.

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