Unit 731 Member Confesses to Atrocities in Newly Released Video

A former member of Unit 731, the infamous germ-warfare detachment of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, has admitted to conducting human experiments. These included dissecting bodies that were still warm and developing biological weapons. This confession is documented in video evidence that has been released for the first time.

The 83-minute video features the oral testimony of Masakuni Kurumizawa. It was released by the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crimes Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army, a museum located in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province. The release coincided with the 88th anniversary of the Lugou Bridge Incident.

Kurumizawa's testimony detailed his involvement in the dissection of human bodies. He stated that he dissected 300 bodies, with approximately one-third being preserved as specimens and the remainder burned. He described the bodies as still warm and blood spurting out during the dissections.

Unit 731 was responsible for developing and mass-producing bacteria intended to cause diseases such as bubonic plague, cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and anthrax. The unit utilized living test subjects, including both animals and human prisoners, to cultivate more virulent bacteria. These human subjects, known as "marutas" by the Japanese, included Chinese, Korean, Mongolian, and Soviet prisoners of war. Kurumizawa mentioned that the unit maintained a stock of over 40 individuals for research purposes, replenishing it as needed.

Due to the strict confidentiality regulations of Unit 731, Kurumizawa's family was unaware of his criminal activities. Unit 731 was a top-secret biological and chemical weapon research base established in 1932. It served as the nerve center for Japan's germ warfare during WWII. The unit conducted experiments on at least 3,000 people, and Japan's biological weapons resulted in the deaths of over 300,000 people across China.

According to Jin Shicheng, deputy secretary-general of Harbin History Association of Biological and Gas Warfare of Japanese Army, Unit 731 treated humans and animals as equivalent, demonstrating a complete lack of respect for human life. The brutal details confirm an extreme disregard for human life. This is a major reason why incriminating evidence against Unit 731 was not immediately released to the public after WWII. Japanese Imperial Army registration forms record a total of 3,497 personnel attached to Unit 731, most of whom are now deceased.

The new evidence is a crucial supplement to the study of Unit 731, with oral testimonies complementing written records, artifacts, and sites to further reveal the atrocities committed during the war. After the war, only a few former members of Unit 731 came forward voluntarily, while most others remained silent. Exposing all evidence related to Unit 731 should be a joint effort of peace forces worldwide.