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Kaichi Hirate was a Japanese soldier during World War II who served as the Captain of the Japanese Imperial Army as well as the Camp Commander of the First Branch Camp at Hakkokate. In 1946, as part of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE)'s trials of Class B and C War Criminals at Yokohama, he was charged was Violation of the Law and Customs of War for unlawfully committing cruel and brutal atrocities and other offenses against certain Allied POWs, unlawfully disregarding and failing to discharge his duty as Camp Commander and to restrain the members of his command, and permitting members of his command to commit cruel and brutal atrocities and other offenses against allied POWS held in said camp.

During the trial, held on January 11, 1946 in Yokohama, Japan, the prosecution disclosed evidence of "concerted and continuous mistreatment" of Allied POWs over a long period of time resulting in the death of several of them. That the accused was aware of this treatment, it contested, could not be disputed because 1) he was present at the camp, 2) much of the abuse and mistreatment occurred at prison formation out of doors, and 3) "It is now settled that a commander is legally responsible and accountable for excesses and violations of the laws of war committed by the troops immediately under his command."

The defense denied blatant mistreatment of prisoners, though acknowledging that prisoners were given punishment for offenses. Furthermore, Kaichi, it argued, did not know about international standards, nor did he receive instructions in regard to treatment of prisoners of war prior to assuming commanded. Rather, the defense emphasized that Kaichi merely followed Superior Orders and treated prisoners as he was instructed to do so.

Acting Assistant Staff Judge Advocate G.R. Dougherty rejected the defense's argument and found the accused guilty of the charges against him. Kaichi Hirate was subsequently sentenced to Death by Hanging.