Iwane Matsui was arrested by the American occupation authorities after the surrender of Japan. He was then tried by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, in Tokyo.
The Tribunal convicted him on count 55 (failure to take all adequate steps in order to ensure respect and to prevent violations of the conventions and laws and customs of war as regards prisoners of war and civilian internees), considering that that he could not have been unaware of the atrocities committed by his troops in Nanking. As Commander of the army which was responsible for the happenings in that city, it was his duty to prevent or put an end to such actions. His failure to fulfil said duty entailed criminal responsibility.
Matsui was however acquitted on all other counts. In particular, the Tribunal held that his military service in China in 1938 and 1939 could not, as such, be considered as participation in a war of aggression, the prosecutor having failed to demonstrate that Matsui was aware of the illegal nature of the war.
Matsui was sentenced to death on 12 November 1948.
He was hanged on 23 December 1948.
Trial Watch would like to remind its users that any person charged by national or international authorities is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
