(Courtesy of Warfare History Network)
"We can potentially benefit from an exchange of information with the U.S. for [war crime] immunity."- Ryoichi Naito during the Sanders Negotiations
Profile
Naito was third in command of Unit 731 and head of the germ warfare division of Unit 731. He was one of Shiro Ishii's key disciples, and he was one of the first microbiologists recruited into the program.
Encounter with the United States
When Sanders was interrogating Unit 731 members, Naito served as his translator (Sanders was unaware that he was connected to Unit 731). Naito informed Colonel Sanders that Unit 731 members would only speak to him if they were granted immunity. Sanders agreed to comply, and told General MacArthur, "My recommendation is that we promise Naito that no one involved in BW will be prosecuted as war criminal."