Did the Japanese keep any American prisoners?

Answer 1

POWs may have been rewarded for duties performed, possibly even paid. But traditionally prisoners received little respect from Japanese military men, as surrendering was looked upon as a form of cowardice.

With the possible exception(s) of captured naval personnel; it has generally been recognized that sailors swimming in the sea because their warship was sunk in battle, are swimming in the ocean because their vessel was honorably sunk in action, and not due to cowardice.

Answer 2

Of course, prisoner taking is performed in every war and the Japanese are no exception to this. The Code of Bushido held, though, that it is thoroughly humiliating to be taken prisoner and it is preferable to die on the battlefield than to surrender. As a result, battles between Japanese and where Japanese took part as one party were noted for being particularly bloody and having extraordinarily high casualty rates. Additionally, the Japanese were noted for their barbarity in treating Prisoners of War with the Bataan Death March often cited as the apex of these sorts of horrendous activities.

Answer 3

yes during the war