Kanao Inouye
Encyclopedia
Kanao Inouye was a Canadian citizen convicted of high treason
and war crimes for his actions during World War II
. Known as the "Kamloops Kid", he served as an interpreter and prison camp guard for the Imperial Japanese Army
and the political police, or Kempeitai
.
(second-generation Japanese-Canadian), Kanao Inouye was born to immigrant parents in Kamloops, British Columbia
. His father, Tadashi Inouye, had emigrated to British Columbia
from Tokyo
, and had been a decorated Canadian soldier during World War I
. Although his father died in 1926, Inouye at his first trial described his life in Canada as happy. His family nevertheless maintained close ties to Japan, where his grandfather, Chotahara Inouye, was a Member of Parliament and the House of Peers. After he graduated from Vancouver Technical School
, Inouye's family urged him to go to Japan to continue his education. He did so in 1938 and was still there when World War II began.
as an interpreter. Made a sergeant, he was assigned to Sham Shui Po prison camp in Hong Kong
, which housed Canadian prisoners of war from the Hong Kong Garrison
. Inouye was noted for his unusual brutality. He beat prisoners at random, claiming it was in retaliation for discrimination he had received in Canada. In contrast to his later trial testimony about his childhood, he allegedly told them: “When I was in Canada I took all kinds abuse. ... They called me a little yellow bastard. Now where is your so-called superiority, you dirty scum?”
Inouye was discharged from the army the following year, but in 1944 he was conscripted as an interpreter for the notorious Kempeitai
military police in Hong Kong. Trial testimony stated he had been an enthusiastic torturer of suspected spies and traitors. Former POWs would later testify that Inouye was responsible for the torture and death of at least eight Canadian POWs.
in August 1945, Inouye was arrested in Kowloon
and tried for war crimes by a military tribunal. He was convicted and was sentenced to death. However, the verdict was overturned on appeal, since as a Canadian citizen, he could not be prosecuted for war crimes committed by an enemy army.
In April 1947, Inouye was tried on the criminal charge of treason
. He was again found guilty, and on August 27, 1947, he was executed by hanging at Hong Kong's Stanley Prison
. His last word was "Banzai!"
pleaded guilty to war crimes in Afghanistan while on trial by the Guantanamo military commission
.
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
and war crimes for his actions during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Known as the "Kamloops Kid", he served as an interpreter and prison camp guard for the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
and the political police, or Kempeitai
Kempeitai
The was the military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army from 1881 to 1945. It was not an English-style military police, but a French-style gendarmerie...
.
Early life in Canada
A NiseiNisei
During the early years of World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated from their homes in the Pacific coast states because military leaders and public opinion combined to fan unproven fears of sabotage...
(second-generation Japanese-Canadian), Kanao Inouye was born to immigrant parents in Kamloops, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. His father, Tadashi Inouye, had emigrated to British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
from Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, and had been a decorated Canadian soldier during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Although his father died in 1926, Inouye at his first trial described his life in Canada as happy. His family nevertheless maintained close ties to Japan, where his grandfather, Chotahara Inouye, was a Member of Parliament and the House of Peers. After he graduated from Vancouver Technical School
Vancouver Technical Secondary School
Vancouver Technical Secondary School, often referred to as Van Tech, is located on the East Side of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-History:...
, Inouye's family urged him to go to Japan to continue his education. He did so in 1938 and was still there when World War II began.
War years
In 1942, Inouye was conscripted into the Imperial Japanese ArmyImperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
as an interpreter. Made a sergeant, he was assigned to Sham Shui Po prison camp in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, which housed Canadian prisoners of war from the Hong Kong Garrison
Hong Kong Garrison
The Hong Kong Garrison was a British and Commonwealth force that protected Hong Kong.In December 1941 during the Battle of Hong Kong in the Second World War, the Japanese Army attacked Hong Kong and after a brief but violent series of engagements the garrison surrendered.- Kowloon Brigade :**C.O...
. Inouye was noted for his unusual brutality. He beat prisoners at random, claiming it was in retaliation for discrimination he had received in Canada. In contrast to his later trial testimony about his childhood, he allegedly told them: “When I was in Canada I took all kinds abuse. ... They called me a little yellow bastard. Now where is your so-called superiority, you dirty scum?”
Inouye was discharged from the army the following year, but in 1944 he was conscripted as an interpreter for the notorious Kempeitai
Kempeitai
The was the military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army from 1881 to 1945. It was not an English-style military police, but a French-style gendarmerie...
military police in Hong Kong. Trial testimony stated he had been an enthusiastic torturer of suspected spies and traitors. Former POWs would later testify that Inouye was responsible for the torture and death of at least eight Canadian POWs.
Conviction and execution
After the Japanese capitulationSurrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
in August 1945, Inouye was arrested in Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
and tried for war crimes by a military tribunal. He was convicted and was sentenced to death. However, the verdict was overturned on appeal, since as a Canadian citizen, he could not be prosecuted for war crimes committed by an enemy army.
In April 1947, Inouye was tried on the criminal charge of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
. He was again found guilty, and on August 27, 1947, he was executed by hanging at Hong Kong's Stanley Prison
Stanley Prison
Stanley Prison is one of the five maximum security prisons in Hong Kong and is currently the oldest institution still in service...
. His last word was "Banzai!"
Legacy
Inouye is a rare counterexample to the overall loyalty of Japanese-Canadians during World War II. He was the first Canadian in history to have faced prosecution for war crimes. In October 2010, Omar KhadrOmar Khadr
Omar Ahmed Khadr is a Canadian child soldier and one of the juveniles held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He was convicted of five charges under the United States Military Commissions Act of 2009 including murder in violation of the law of war and providing material support for terrorism,...
pleaded guilty to war crimes in Afghanistan while on trial by the Guantanamo military commission
Guantanamo military commission
The Guantanamo military commissions are military tribunals created by the Military Commissions Act of 2006 for prosecuting detainees held in the United States Guantanamo Bay detainment camps.- History :...
.