Kenichi Sone

Kenichi Sone (, Hepburn: ; 1909 – 7 December 1946), also rendered as Kenitji Sonei and variants, was an Imperial Japanese Army captain during the Pacific War. Following the Japanese conquest and occupation of the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia), he was the commander of the 10th Battalion prisoner of war camp from September 1942 to February 1944 and of the Tjideng civilian internment camp from April 1944 to June 1945.

Camp commandant of Tjideng Nicknamed "Sunny Boy" by camp residents, Sone developed a reputation for being a rampant Europhobe and violent drunk who made life hell for internees and subordinates who defied him. Twice a day, he had all prisoners, including children and the infirm, line up for roll call and made them stand for hours in the full sun. When an inmate was absent, roll call would be extended until they were accounted for, sometimes until past midnight.

While camp rations were meager, Sone had his dogs fed in front of the camp gate. In full view of the hungry prisoners, he personally served both animals fried eggs with meat, prepared by his cook.

Sone was said to have displayed symptoms of manic depression and was considered "moonstruck" as many of his most brutal acts of violence took place during a full moon, culminating on the night of 21–22 June 1945, when tens of women and girls were beaten and had their heads shaven. Sone was one of over 200 Japanese nationals who were executed for wartime atrocities in the Dutch East Indies, out of more than 1,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians prosecuted for war crimes in the colony.

A quote from the court documents: