The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-23
JAPANESE FORMS OF TORTURE
From the Japan Gazette

MaJestys Legation IN Japan, contributed TO the
Asiatic Society a most valuable Summary Of the
Japanese Penal Codes from which take the liberty
of extracting passages that will form fitting intro
duction to this article. Mr.. Longford states:-
Where the evidence is only sufficient to raise very
| strong suspicion against the accused attempt is
made to elicit the truth by subjectng him to a
further examination, and though it is generally
admitted that the use of torture has been practically
abolished i'll japanese courts 30 far from there being
| any law absolutely forbdding it's. during this
examination the right of resortng to it would seem
be still recognized by the retention in the codes
of a section in the preliminary matter infinitely de-
scrbing the implement that is to be used in examine
ton by torture and of sections in the present chap
/ ter which provide punishments for an officer who
causes the torture of person whom he knows to be
innocent or OF persons OF advanced tender years.
or OF pregnant women.
| Mr.. Longford's opinion that power has been re-
served to the courts to resort to torture when that
course shall expedient is corroborated by the
belief Of Japanese at the present moment who
that. although torture is not practised, the
courts may nct it whenever they deem it necessary
to do The japan Mail of June "a. 1876 considered
q notification issued by His Excelency Sanjo, Prime
Minister conclusive evidence Of the abolition Of
torture; but regret to find this surmise has not
press notably the Hoch, Shtnbun and the Nci Nicki
Shinbun the latter supposed to possess the con-
dence OF the have declared that torture
applied to some of the mutineers Of the Take
bashi barracks and notwithstanding the subsequent
contradiction published by those journsls-decara-
much circumstantiality in the statements Of the
Nichi Nici Shinbn to and tho nature of the
torture applied that the contradiction IL not sufficient
destroy the impression that torture really re-
sorted to, though it desirable to conceal it from
the people Of Japan and the world at large.
Upon the assumption that torture may be used we
shall proceed to give some details which may be
worthy Of perusal:-
KE1Borsu zAssHr.
Examination preliminary or in prison. The
cused secured by handouts and occasio nally bound
is conducted to the place of examination and there
a he md A
constable il in charge of the accused. and the
officer to infict punishment is in attendance. The
magistrate accompanied by spies (nsetsuk then pro-
ceeds to question the prisoner, and if 1t appears that
he is unwilling to give such replies shall prove
his guilt other measures adopted. At signal
from the magistrate the torturer strikes the accused
person with whip. described by Mr.. Longford
a.Af haf inches in crcumference and half an
inch i'll diameter. 1t is made of three strips
Of bamboo the knots of which have been
planned off, bound tightly together with hcmpen
rope, and is called with grim humor the "Investiga-
ton Whip" Ii these blows insufficient for the
purpose heavier whip is used-one inch in dame
ter-and the blows continued until the prisoner
yields, fants becomes utterly Frustrated and
conscious is taken strike any part Of the
body where bones may be broken fatal injuries be
inflicted. When the accused makes confession Of the
crime charged against him he is unbound permitted
to drink water-the deprivation Of which is often
employed AZ an aggravation Of his suferings-and
after having ratified his confession. by axing mark
with the thumb nail to the record he is returned to
prison to await sentence the further action OF the
authorities. This system Of subjecting persons
WAS inaugurated by Toda Yamssniro No ksmi on the
18th day OF the fourth month OF the NTH year Of Kioho
IA. ID. l72O).
Persons accused Of murder, incendiarism, robbery
and other serious and capital crimes; those who
morally proved to be guilty whose accomplices
have confessed. but who themselves remain mute;
and all those charged with offences against the gov
eminent are liable to be subjected to all any Of
the following modes Of torture. not in premin-
examinations, in the presence OF the magistrate
or judge but in place set apart for the purpose pre-
.;I Ix,tl fN,su
charged with any Of those crimes refuses to plead
enters plea OF not guilty he is informed that tor
ture will be employed in his examination and that
when he desires to explain the full extent of his mis-
doing the proper officer will attend to record his
ession Arrived at the prison the accused is securely
handcuffed and may first be subjected to the
IsHI-zEME THE STONE ToRTURE).
This mode of torture is identical with the soroban
zeme mentioned in the Nichi Ntchi Shntn applied
to OF the Takebashi mutneers. Five large
pieces OF cedar pine wood triangular in shape and
about three feet long, are placed upon platform
side by side, the apexes uppermost, aud upon them
the accused is maze to kneel in position which
poses the front of the lower legs the edges of the
wood. This position, painful ~ IL must be, il but
preliminary Tor upon the sufferer thighs placed
at time. pieces OF the Idsu stone each weigh
ing sixty pounds Stones are slowly added until the
accused yields and makes confession becomes in
sensible.
HAKo-zEME (Box ToRTuRE).
The accused, bound hand and loot, is placed in
crouching posture in strongly made box having
movable lid arranged to fit inside the box and to be
raised or depressed at pleasure Upon the lid Of this
machine weights are slowly added until . crushing
power is acquired under which nature must sue
cumb.
TEMBrN-zEME SCALE roRruRE).
An upright triangle is prepared. from which depend
two ropes attached to POLE forming an inner tri-
accused is fastened to the ropes by his feet and
ankles, while each arm stretched TO its fullest extent,
is bound to the pole below. While the prisoner Ii
hanging in this position. with head downward, ro-
tary motion liz given to the rope in direction
sufficient to give u force to revolvc in the other di
rection with great velocity during which the body Of
the accused IL beaten with bamboo poles.
MIDzU-zEME WATER ToHruRE).
The orgnators OF this cruel device relied upon the
torment OF thirst as more powerful than mere
poral suffering. The prisoner = for several days
confined to extremely salt diet without rice or
water. When two or three days havA passed the
craving for water becomes incessant and the suffer-
ings OF the tortured man approach the bounds of in
sanity. Efforts are then made to obtain confession
by subjecting the sufferer to the agony endured by
Tantalus when in the midst of the internal lake
thirst-distracted prisoner beholds water water for
which he would sacrifice everything-but which he
cannot touch except upon the condition Of confess
sion.
ursUsu-zEME tpErRlvAr1oS OF Sleep
This is simply permitting the accused person to sit
recline upon bed upon which water Ii continu-
ally dropping. At the appearance OF sleep attend
ants, by means OF BELLS DRUMS hre and other appli-
ances render rcposc imposssiblc the sufferer grows
wild and disordered; his mind wanders and eventu-
ally he becomes ravng and oftentimes hopeless
maniac.
This (Kamdboko) signifies baked Ash" and il . sig
nihcant title for this mode of torture. charcoal
IL uhuc III noie IN the Bruunu anu covered with
grating. The accused il then bound, the backs OF
his legs and thighs covered with coating of mud
clay. and he is placed in sitting posture the
grating. The fire is then stimulated; the clay
dries, cracks and IL replaced until the con-
tinued heat causes II to tear away the In
famed and burnt flesh. This was considered
horrible practice that IL abolished in 1851.
MoKuBA-zEME THE WOODEN HonsE).
This inhuman device equals in cruelty the method
Just described. A wooden horse with edged back IN
prepared, on which the accused il placed In . nude
state. Two cxccutioners then seize the arms and
FAINT ami ruxA haat
wooden edge. machine IL also used for the pur-
pose, by means OF which sufficient force be APP
Piled to dslocate every joint and to infic ago-
zng death upon the unfortunate wretch subjected to
the torture of the MokuJd.
HIzEME tr1REl.
In cage Of green bamboo the accused, bound
hand and loot, is suspended with head downward.
This machine rcvolves slowly in circle of charcoal
fires, famed into ferceness by the executioners.
This torture liz Objectionable account of the sud-
den fatal termination to which IL liz subject--the
,amcs OF the charcoal producing asphyxia.