Vice-Admiral Kamada Executed for War Crimes in 1947, Highlighting Post-WWII Justice

Vice-Admiral Michiaki Kamada of the Imperial Japanese Navy was executed by hanging on October 18, 1947, in Pontianak, Dutch East Indies, following his conviction for war crimes. Kamada, who had ordered the 1943 execution of Australian commando Sergeant Leonard Siffleet, faced charges related to the deaths of 1,500 West Borneo natives and the mistreatment of 2,000 Dutch POWs. His execution brought a measure of justice for atrocities committed under his command during World War II.

Sergeant Leonard Siffleet, an Australian commando with M Special Unit, was captured in Papua New Guinea in September 1943. After two weeks of interrogation and torture, Siffleet and two Ambonese companions were publicly beheaded on Aitape Beach on October 24, 1943, under Kamada's orders. A photograph capturing the moment before Siffleet's execution became one of the war's most enduring and stark images, discovered on the body of a dead Japanese major in 1944.

The officer who carried out Siffleet's execution, Yasuno Chikao, was also tried for war crimes, initially sentenced to hanging, but his sentence was later commuted to ten years imprisonment. Kamada, as the commanding Vice-Admiral, was held accountable for the broader atrocities committed under his authority in the region.

The historical event was recently referenced in a tweet by Shaun O'Dwyer, who stated, > "A wumao just shared this 'gotcha' image with me. It shows the execution of Australian POW Leonard Siffleet by the orders of Admiral Kamada in 1943. Kamada was justly executed for war crimes in 1947." O'Dwyer further noted a contemporary perspective, adding, > "But WWII is history for Australians like me, and we’ve moved on. So has Japan."

This sentiment reflects the significant evolution in Australia-Japan relations since the war. Following initial post-war hostilities, Australia and Japan have forged a robust relationship built on economic interdependence, shared democratic values, and strategic alignment. Key milestones like the 1957 Commerce Agreement laid the groundwork for strong trade ties, and both nations now engage in extensive political, strategic, and people-to-people cooperation, including through forums like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). While memories of the war persist, particularly among older generations, both countries have actively pursued reconciliation and a forward-looking partnership.