Watanabe took a special interest in American track star Louis Zamperini. Zamperini was a legend to the villagers of Ofuna, Japan, and Watanabe felt that Zamperini challenged his authority for that reason. Once he made Zamperini hold a heavy wooden log over his head for over 37 minutes, at the end of which Watanabe punched him in the stomach. Watanabe openly admitted getting a sexual thrill from beating prisoners. Watanabe had unceasing mood swings. One minute he would be beating a prisoner, and the next he would be handing them fistfuls of candy and cigarettes. Zamperini was transferred to Naoetsu, a beautiful snowy mountainous region. Excited at the prospect of being free of "The Bird," his hopes were crushed when he found out that Watanabe had also been transferred to Naoetsu. In 1945, G