We're sorry. An error has occurred
Please cancel or retry.
Traitor By Default
Some error occured while loading the Quick View. Please close the Quick View and try reloading the page.
Couldn't load pickup availability
-
21 May 2024

One of the most bizarre stories to emerge at the end of the Second World War was that of Kanao Inouye. Born in Kamloops, B.C., in 1916, he had relocated to his ancestral homeland of Japan, and by 1942 was a translator for the Japanese army. He was assigned to the prisoner of war camp in Hong Kong where he became infamous as one of the “most sadistic guards” of the Canadian survivors of the Battle of Hong Kong. Scores of prisoners would attest to his brutality administered in revenge for the treatment he had received growing up in Canada.
His reputation was such that he was quickly apprehended after the war and faced charges of war crimes. But his subsequent trials became mired in questions as to who he really was. Was he a Canadian forced to serve in the Japanese military machine? Or was he a devoted soldier of his emperor obeying his superiors?
Patrick Brode is the author of many books on the history of law and the prosecution of war crimes. Five of his books have been shortlisted for awards, including Dying for a Drink for the 2019 Crime Writers of Canada Best Nonfiction Crime Book. Patrick has practised law since 1977. He lives in Windsor, Ontario.
- Introduction
- 1 Arrival
- 2 Sham Shui Po
- 3 Kempeitai
- 4 Arrest
- 5 Political Football
- 6 Godown Justice
- 7 Only Obeying Orders
- 8 Decision Annulled
- 9 Treason?
- 10 Defence Gamble
- 11 Exhibit C
- 12 Technicalities of Law
- 13 End of a Scruffy Show
- Acknowledgements
- Appendix
- Notes
- Image Credits
- Index
- About the Author