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| | ==Early Life== | | ==Early Life== |
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| − | Iva Ikuko Toguri was born in south-central [[Los Angeles]] on 4 July 1916, the daughter of a [[Japan|Japanese]] immigrant. This made her a ''nisei'' (二世 lit. "Second generation", or a first generation American citizen, of Japanese descent). Her mother was crippled because of diabetes. She was raised a [[Methodist]], joined the local Girl Scouts, and dreamed of becoming a medical doctor, fueled in part by having to care for her mother. | + | Iva Ikuko Toguri was born in south-central [[Los Angeles]] on 4 July 1916, the daughter of a [[Japan|Japanese]] immigrant. This made her a ''nisei'' (二世 lit. "Second generation", or a first generation American citizen, of Japanese descent). Her mother was crippled because of diabetes. She was raised a [[Methodist]], joined the local Girl Scouts, and dreamed of becoming a medical doctor, fuelled in part by having to care for her mother. |
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| | She graduated from [[UCLA]], with a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology in 1941. Her aunt Shizu, who lived in Japan, then took ill and Iva was chosen to go to Japan to represent the Toguri family at her aunt's bedside. Her travel documents listed her occupation as "pre-med student". | | She graduated from [[UCLA]], with a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology in 1941. Her aunt Shizu, who lived in Japan, then took ill and Iva was chosen to go to Japan to represent the Toguri family at her aunt's bedside. Her travel documents listed her occupation as "pre-med student". |
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| | By now, Iva and Felipe were living together, and Iva was avoiding going to work at Radio Tokyo as much as possible. Iva and Felipe were married, following Iva's quick conversion to Catholicism, although the ceremony was interrupted by an air raid. | | By now, Iva and Felipe were living together, and Iva was avoiding going to work at Radio Tokyo as much as possible. Iva and Felipe were married, following Iva's quick conversion to Catholicism, although the ceremony was interrupted by an air raid. |
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| − | Iva was forced to return to work, after being threatened by a plainclothes member of the ''Kempeitai'', but by then the writing was on the wall and within three months, she was cheering as Emperor [[Hirohito]] broadcast Japan's unconditional surrender. She began to make plans to return to America, but unfortunately, events conspired against her. | + | Iva was forced to return to work, after being threatened by a plain-clothes member of the ''Kempeitai'', but by then the writing was on the wall and within three months, she was cheering as Emperor [[Hirohito]] broadcast Japan's unconditional surrender. She began to make plans to return to America, but unfortunately, events conspired against her. |
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| | ==The Hunt for "Tokyo Rose"== | | ==The Hunt for "Tokyo Rose"== |
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| | Following the Japanese surrender in September 1945, the search began for Japanese military leaders and others who may have committed war crimes. The military took the lead in this, with the press joining in the hunt, often following, but sometimes beating the military in tracking down the suspects. | | Following the Japanese surrender in September 1945, the search began for Japanese military leaders and others who may have committed war crimes. The military took the lead in this, with the press joining in the hunt, often following, but sometimes beating the military in tracking down the suspects. |
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| − | Two of these reporters, Henry Brundidge, from Cosmopolitan, and Clark Lee, from INS, set out to find “Tokyo Rose", unaware that no such person existed and the name was created by ''American'' troops. Still, their investigations - and the offer of $250 <ref>In post-War Japan, the $250 reward was equal to ¥3,750, or about three year’s income. Likewise, $2,000 was worth over ¥30,000 - a sizable fortune back then</ref> for information leading to Tokyo Rose - eventually led them to Iva Ikuko Toguri d’Aquino. Iva's name was provided to them by Leslie Nakashima, a ''nisei'' working at Radio Tokyo and Clark Lee promptly released this information to the public at large. | + | Two of these reporters, Henry Brundidge, from Cosmopolitan, and Clark Lee, from INS, set out to find “Tokyo Rose", unaware that no such person existed and the name was created by ''American'' troops. Still, their investigations - and the offer of $250 <ref>In post-War Japan, the $250 reward was equal to ¥3,750, or about three year’s income. Likewise, $2,000 was worth over ¥30,000 - a sizeable fortune back then</ref> for information leading to Tokyo Rose - eventually led them to Iva Ikuko Toguri d’Aquino. Iva's name was provided to them by Leslie Nakashima, a ''nisei'' working at Radio Tokyo and Clark Lee promptly released this information to the public at large. |
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| | Upon meeting Iva, Brundidge and Lee offered her $2,000, which they later reneged on paying, for exclusive rights to interview her. Iva agreed, and signed a contract that identified her as “the one and only ''Tokyo Rose''”. | | Upon meeting Iva, Brundidge and Lee offered her $2,000, which they later reneged on paying, for exclusive rights to interview her. Iva agreed, and signed a contract that identified her as “the one and only ''Tokyo Rose''”. |
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| | The prosecution presented a total of 46 witnesses, many of whom were flown in from Japan at government expense and who received $10 per-diem allowance. Iva's defense, paid for by Iva’s father, could only afford to present depositions from witnesses in Japan, many of whom had already been visited by the FBI and CIC. Evidence of perjury in the Grand Jury that had indicted Iva was ruled inadmissible by the judge, because the alleged perjurer (Brundidge) was not testifying at the actual trial. Brundidge never did testify at Iva's trial, due to this taint of perjury, nor was he prosecuted for subornation of perjury. Recordings of the shows, which were present in the courtroom were never entered into evidence, nor played to the jury and all references to Iva’s work with the POWs was also ruled inadmissible as being irrelevant to the question of treason. Most of the witnesses proved to be ineffective, and their stories were picked apart during cross-examination by Collins. Even the Japanese Army’s chief of propaganda at Radio Tokyo, Major Tsuneishi, admitted on the stand that "Zero Hour" never was the morale-draining propaganda weapon he had envisioned it to be. | | The prosecution presented a total of 46 witnesses, many of whom were flown in from Japan at government expense and who received $10 per-diem allowance. Iva's defense, paid for by Iva’s father, could only afford to present depositions from witnesses in Japan, many of whom had already been visited by the FBI and CIC. Evidence of perjury in the Grand Jury that had indicted Iva was ruled inadmissible by the judge, because the alleged perjurer (Brundidge) was not testifying at the actual trial. Brundidge never did testify at Iva's trial, due to this taint of perjury, nor was he prosecuted for subornation of perjury. Recordings of the shows, which were present in the courtroom were never entered into evidence, nor played to the jury and all references to Iva’s work with the POWs was also ruled inadmissible as being irrelevant to the question of treason. Most of the witnesses proved to be ineffective, and their stories were picked apart during cross-examination by Collins. Even the Japanese Army’s chief of propaganda at Radio Tokyo, Major Tsuneishi, admitted on the stand that "Zero Hour" never was the morale-draining propaganda weapon he had envisioned it to be. |
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| − | However, the most damning evidence against her came from two former co-workers, Kenkichi Oki and George Mitsushio. Both were former ''nisei'', both of whom had given up their American citizenship. They worked on "Zero Hour" with Iva and the POWs, although Iva was never close to them, due to their renouncing of their citizenship. Both were bought in to testify, because a person can only be convicted of treason if there have been at least two witnesses to each overt act of treason. Their testimony was clearly well-prepared, almost identical in wording and devastating for the defense. Both claimed that during a broadcast following the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]], she made reference to the loss of U.S. ships during the battle and had spoken the following words into the microphone: "Now you fellows really have lost all your ships. Now you really are orphans of the Pacific. How do you think you will ever get home?" Iva denied ever speaking these words, or even writing them in her script, during her testimony and she appeared clearly shocked by their testimony. <ref>World War II Chronicles; Quarterly Publication of the World War II Veterans Committee; Issue XXVII; Winter 2004-05; Pg 15</ref> | + | However, the most damning evidence against her came from two former co-workers, Kenkichi Oki and George Mitsushio. Both were former ''nisei'', both of whom had given up their American citizenship. They worked on "Zero Hour" with Iva and the POWs, although Iva was never close to them, due to their renouncing of their citizenship. Both were bought in to testify, because a person can only be convicted of treason if there have been at least two witnesses to each overt act of treason. Their testimony was clearly well-prepared, almost identical in wording and devastating for the defence. Both claimed that during a broadcast following the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]], she made reference to the loss of U.S. ships during the battle and had spoken the following words into the microphone: "Now you fellows really have lost all your ships. Now you really are orphans of the Pacific. How do you think you will ever get home?" Iva denied ever speaking these words, or even writing them in her script, during her testimony and she appeared clearly shocked by their testimony. <ref>World War II Chronicles; Quarterly Publication of the World War II Veterans Committee; Issue XXVII; Winter 2004-05; Pg 15</ref> |
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| − | The defense was bolstered, however, by the arrivals of Charles Cousens, who flew from Australia at his own expense, and Wallace Ince. Both delivered glowing testimony in her favour. In addition, Normando Reyes recanted his earlier testimony for the prosecution and claimed his statements had been coerced. | + | The defence was bolstered, however, by the arrivals of Charles Cousens, who flew from Australia at his own expense, and Wallace Ince. Both delivered glowing testimony in her favour. In addition, Normando Reyes recanted his earlier testimony for the prosecution and claimed his statements had been coerced. |
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| | Sent to consider their verdict, the jury remained hung, unable to unanimously declare Iva's guilt or innocence. The judge issued the jury with an "[[Allen charge|Allen Charge]]", informing them - in contravention of the guidelines of such a charge - that the trial had already cost the U.S. government over half a million dollars, before instructing them to resume deliberation and bring in a verdict. | | Sent to consider their verdict, the jury remained hung, unable to unanimously declare Iva's guilt or innocence. The judge issued the jury with an "[[Allen charge|Allen Charge]]", informing them - in contravention of the guidelines of such a charge - that the trial had already cost the U.S. government over half a million dollars, before instructing them to resume deliberation and bring in a verdict. |
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| | {{cquote| | | {{cquote| |
| | “What do you mean?” Oki asked, in response to my question.<br> | | “What do you mean?” Oki asked, in response to my question.<br> |
| − | “I mean, the evidence against her seems to flimsy, so contrived,” I said.<br> | + | “I mean, the evidence against her seems too flimsy, too contrived,” I said.<br> |
| | Oki and Mitsushio looked at one another and for an instant a mutual, unspoken covenant was established between them. They would finally tell the truth.<br> | | Oki and Mitsushio looked at one another and for an instant a mutual, unspoken covenant was established between them. They would finally tell the truth.<br> |
| | Oki cleared his throat. “She didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. He looked at Mitsushio, who nodded. “That’s right, Iva is innocent,” Mitsushio said.<br> | | Oki cleared his throat. “She didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. He looked at Mitsushio, who nodded. “That’s right, Iva is innocent,” Mitsushio said.<br> |