Preface
DuringDecember25-30,1949,twelveformermembersoftheJapanesearmedforceswere
triedinKhabarovsk,chargedwithpreparingandemployingthebacteriologicalweapon.
Themenbroughttotrialwere:GeneralYamadaOtozoo,formerlyCommander-in-Chiefof
the Japanese Kwantung Army; Lieutenant General of the Medical Service Kajitsuka Ryuji,
formerly Chief of the Medical Administration of the same army; Lieutenant General of the
VeterinaryServiceTakahashiTakaatsu,formerlyChiefoftheVeterinaryServiceofthesame
army; Major General of the Medical Service Kawashima Kiyoshi, formerly Chief of a
divisionofBacteriologicalDetachment731;MajoroftheMedicalServiceKarasawaTomio,
formerly Chief of a section of Detachment 731; Lieutenant Colonel of the Medical Service
Nishi Toshihide, formerly Chief of a division of Detachment 731; Major of the Medical
ServiceOnoueMasao,formerlyChiefofabranchofDetachment731;MajorGeneralofthe
Medical Service Sato Shunji, formerly Chief of the Medical Service of the 5th Army;
Lieutenant Hirazakura Zensaku, formerly a researcher in Bacteriological Detachment 100;
Senior Sergeant Mitomo Kazuo, formerly a member of the same detachment; Corporal
KikuchiNorimitsu,formerlyprobationermedicalorderlyofBranch643ofDetachment731,
andKurushimaYuji,formerlylaboratoryorderlyofBranch162ofDetachment731.
ThecasewastriedinopencourtsessionsbytheMilitaryTribunalofthePrimoryeMilitary
AreaconsistingofMajorGeneralofJurisprudenceandPresidentoftheCourt,Chertkov,
D. D., and members of the Court: Colonel of Jurisprudence I 1 n i t s k y, M. L., and
LieutenantColonelofJurisprudenceVorobyov,I.G.TheIndictmentwasupheldbyState
Counsellor of Jurisprudence of Third Class S m i r n o v, L. N. Defence Counsel were:
memberoftheMoscowBarAssociation,Belov,N.P.—defendingGeneralYamada;member
oftheMoscowBarAssociation;Sannikov,S.E.—defendingLieutenantGeneralofthe
MedicalServiceKajitsuka;memberoftheMoscowBarAssociation,Zveryev,A.V.—
defendingLieutenantGeneraloftheVeterinaryServiceTakahashi;memberoftheMoscow
Bar Association, B o r ov i k, N. K.—defending Major General of the Medical Service
Kawashima;memberoftheMoscowBarAssociation,Bogachov,P.Y.—defendingMajor
GeneraloftheMedicalServiceSato;PresidentoftheKhabarovskTerritoryBarAssociation,
Luklantsev, V. P.—defending Major of the Medical Service Karasawa and Major of the
Medical Service Onoue; member of the Khabarovsk Territory Bar Association,
Bolkhovitinov, D. E.—defending Lieutenant Colonel of the Medical Service Nishi and
LieutenantHirazakura;PresidentofthePrimoryeTerritoryBarAssociation,Prokopenko,G.
K.—defendingSeniorSergeantMitomo,CorporalKikuchiandKurushima.
The findings on matters of bacteriology and medicine were submitted to the Court by a
commission of experts consisting of: member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the
U.S.S.R.Zhukov-Verezhnikov,N.N.;ColoneloftheMedicalServiceKrasnov,V.
D.; director of the Department of Microbiology in the Khabarovsk Medical Institute,
ProfessorKosaryev,N.N.;decentintheDepartmentofMicrobiologyoftheKhabarovsk
Medical Institute, L i v k i n a, E. G.; Lieutenant Colonel of the Veterinary Service
Alexandrov;N.A.;parasitologistKozlovskaya,O.L.
2
Thepresenteditionincludesonlytheofficialmaterialsrelatingtothetrial.
Documents of the preliminary investigation: the Indictment and certain documentary
evidenceandrecordsoftheinterrogationrelatingtothemainpointsoftheIndictmenthave
beentakenfromthecasefilesforpublication.
The materials of the Court proceedings: testimony and last pleas of the accused, the
testimony of Court witnesses (abridged), the findings of the medicolegal experts, the
speechesoftheStateProsecutorandDefenceCounselaregivenverbatim.
DocumentsofthePreliminaryInvestigation
INDICTMENT
INTHECASEOFFORMERSERVICEMEN
OFTHEJAPANESEARMY
YAMADAOTOZOO,KAJITSUKARYUJI,TAKAHASHITAKAATSU,
KAWASHIMAKIYOSHI,NISHITOSHIHIDE,KARASAWATOMIO,
ONOUEMASAO,SATOSHUNJI,HIRAZAKURAZENSAKU,MI-
TOMOKAZUO,KIKUCHINORIM1TSUANDKURUSHIMAYUJI
CHARGEDWITHMANUFACTURINGANDEMPLOYINGBACTERIO-
LOGICALWEAPONS,i.e.,WITHACRIMEPUNISHABLEUNDER
ARTICLE1OFTHEDECREEOFTHEPRESIDIUMOFTHE
SUPREMESOVIETOFTHEU.S.S.R.OFAPRIL19,1943
ImperialistJapanwasformanyyearstheprincipalseatofaggressionintheFarEast.
HavingenteredintoacriminalconspiracywithHitlerGermanyandfascistItaly,theruling
cliqueofimperialistJapanplanned,launchedandwagedaggressivewarsagainstpeaceable
nationswiththeobject,inconjunctionwithHitlerGermany,ofestablishingtheirdomination
overtheworld.
Theseaggressivewarswereaimedatcreatingaso-called"GreaterEastAsiaCo-Prosperity
Sphere"—acolonialstateunderJapaneserule.Theaimofcreatingsuchastatebytheforcible
severanceofextensiveterritoriesfrompeaceableneighboursofJapanwasareflectionofthe
extremeexpansionistdesignsoftheJapaneseimperialists.
HowvoraciousweretheaggressiveappetitesoftheJapaneserulingcliquemaybejudged
byanumberofpublicstatementsmadebyresponsibleJapanesepoliticalleaders.
In an article entitled "The Greater East Asia Imperial Sphere," published on January 5,
1942,inthenewspaperTayoDainippon,HashimotoKingoro,oneofthemajorJapanesewar
criminals and "ideologist" of the aggressive Japanese militarist clique, wrote that this
"sphere" was to include the following countries: "Japan, Manchuria, China, the Soviet Far
3
East, Malaya, Netherlands India, British East India, Afghanistan, Australia, New Zealand,
Hawaii,thePhilippinesandtheislandsofthePacificandIndianoceans."
The borders of so-called "Greater East Asia" were similarly delineated in the plans and
projects of the Institute of Total War, an institution set up by special command of the
JapaneseEmperoranddirectlycontrolledbytheJapanesePrimeMinister.
Aggression against the Soviet Union figured as the principal undertaking in the criminal
plansoftheJapaneseimperialists.IntheJapanesemilitarists'strategicalplansforaggression,
theU.S.S.R.wasusuallyreferredtoas"TargetNo.1."
Widespread propaganda in favour of a war of aggrandizement against the U.S.S.R. was
carriedonamongtheJapanesepublic.Thiswarpropagandawasconducted,inparticular,in
all the organs of the Japanese press, which was completely controlled by the Information
BureauoftheJapanesegovernment.
In furtherance of their criminal plans, the Japanese ruling clique committed a series of
aggressiveacts,towit:
In1931,Japanesearmedforcesprovokedtheso-called"Mukdenincident"andthereafter
invadedandoccupiedManchuria;
In 1937, Japanese troops, after provoking the so-called "Marco Polo Bridge incident,"
invadedChina;
In 1938, the Japanese military attacked the U.S.S.R. in the Lake Hasan area, but were
routedbytheSovietArmy;
In1939,theJapaneseimperialistsattackedtheMongolianPeople'sRepublic,thefriendof
theU.S.S.R.,intheKhalkhin-Golarea,butwerelikewiseroutedbythearmedforcesofthe
M.P.R.andtheSovietUnion;
Attheendof1941,theJapanesemilitaristsbroughtJapanintothesecondworldwaronthe
sideofHitlerGermany.
Japanese aggression ended only with the surrender of Japan to the United Nations,
followingonthedecisivedefeatinflictedbytheSovietArmyonJapan'smainstrikingforce
—theKwantungArmy,whichwasconcentratedinManchuria.
The events relating to Japanese imperialist aggression were examined at the Tokyo
international trial of the major Japanese war criminals. The International Military Tribunal
found it fully established that the Japanese ruling clique had, in conjunction with Hitler
Germany,planned,launchedandwagedaggressivewars,andhadformanyyearsengagedin
active preparations for a large-scale aggressive war against the Soviet Union. The Tribunal
placedonrecordthefactthatJapanhadconductedaggressivewarsagainsttheU.S.S.R.inthe
LakeHasanareain1938andintheKhalkhin-Golareain1939.TheTribunalalsoattestedthe
4
factthatJapanhadenteredintoacriminalconspiracywithHitlerGermanyandfascistItaly
againstpeaceandhumanity.
TheTribunalfurtherestablishedthatJapanhadgrosslyviolatedthelawsandcustomsof
war,inasmuchasbrutalandinhumantreatmenthadbeenmetedoutbytheJapanesemilitary
towarprisonersandto.civilianinhabitantsoftheoccupiedterritories.
The preliminary investigation in the present case has established that, in planning and
preparing aggressive war against the U.S.S.R. and other states, the Japanese imperialists
intended to employ on a wide scale for the accomplishment of their aims, and in part did
employ, a criminal means of mass extermination of human beings—the weapon of
bacteriologicalwarfare.
FormationofSpecialUnitsforthePreparation
andProsecutionofBacteriologicalWarfare
Thepreliminaryinvestigationhasestablishedthat,shortlyaftertheseizureofManchuria,
the Japanese General Staff and Ministry for War set up there a bacteriological laboratory
forming part of the Japanese Kwantung Army and headed by Ishii Shiro, who was well
knowninJapanasanideologistofbacteriologicalwarfareandwhowassubsequently"made
a lieutenant general in the Army Medical Service. In this laboratory researches were
conducted in the use of the germs of severe infectious diseases for purposes of offensive
bacteriologicalwarfare.
Accused Kawashima Kiyoshi, formerly Major General in the Japanese Army Medical
Service, has testified that, acting upon secret instructions from Emperor Hirohito, the
JapaneseGeneralStaffandMinistryforWaralreadyin1935and1936formedinManchuria
twotop-secretunitsforpreparingandconductingbacteriologicalwarfare.
Forpurposesofsecrecy,oneoftheseinstitutions,whichhadIshii'slaboratoryasitscore,
was given the name of "Water Supply and Prophylaxis Administration of the Kwantung
Army,"andtheotherthenameof"Hippo-EpizooticAdministrationoftheKwantungArmy."
In1941,afterHitlerGermany'sattackontheU.S.S.R.theseinstitutionsweregiventhecode
names of "Detachment 731" and "Detachment 100," respectively. Detachment 731 was
placedinthechargeoftheafore-mentionedIshiiShiro,andDetachment100inthatofMajor
GeneralWakamatsuoftheVeterinaryService.
These detachments were composed of expert bacteriologists and their extensive research
and technical personnel was directed by some of the leading bacteriologists of Japan. The
scale of the work conducted by the bacteriological detachments is indicated, among other
things,bythefactthatDetachment731alonehadapersonnelofabout3,000.
TheJapaneseArmyCommandallocatedveryconsiderablesumsforthemaintenanceofthe
detachments engaged in the production of bacteriological weapons. For example, for the
accommodationofDetachment731,alargemilitarycantonment,withnumerouslaboratories
and service structures, had been erected by 1939 in the vicinity of Pingfan Station, 20
kilometresfromHarbin.Considerablestocksofrawmaterialswerelaidin.Forpurposesof
5
greater secrecy, the area around the cantonment was proclaimed a forbidden zone. The
detachmenthaditsownairforceunit,aswellasaspecialprovingground,locatednearAnta
Station.
Detachment100likewisehadextensivepremises,specialequipmentandtractsoflandfor
itsusenearthevillageofMogatong,tenkilometressouthofthetownofChangchun.
<
Detachments 731 and 100 had numerous branches, which were attached to units and
formationsoftheJapaneseKwantungArmyandlocatedintheprincipalstrategicalareason
theborderwiththeSovietUnion.(Vol.14,p.29.)
The principal function of these branches was to prepare for the practical employment in
warofthebacteriologicalweaponsproducedbythedetachments.
The bacteriological detachments and their branches were directly subordinated to the
Commander-in-ChiefoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy.
Thisiscorroborated,apartfromthetestimonyofwitnessesandaccused,byasecretorder
issuedonDecember2,1940,byGeneralUmezuYoshijiro,formerlyCommander-inChiefof
the Japanese Kwantung Army, on the formation and location of four new branches of
Detachment731(Vol.15,p.3),whichorderfellintothehandsofSoviettroopsinManchuria
in1945.
GeneralYamada,oneoftheaccusedinthiscase,whosucceededUmezuasCommanderin-Chief of the Japanese Kwantung Army, has also confirmed in his testimony that the
bacteriologicalunitsweredirectlysubordinatedtohim.(Vol.18,p.383.)
DescribingthefunctionsofDetachment731,accusedYamadaOtozootestified:
"...Detachment731wasformedforthepurposeofpreparingforbacteriologicalwarfare,
chiefly against the Soviet Union, but also against the Mongolian People's Republic and
China." (Vol. 18, p. 382.) Yamada testified that Japan was conducting preparations for
bacteriologicalwarfareagainstotherstatestoo.(Vol.18,p.383.)
Yamada also testified that the activities of Detachment 100 consisted in producing
bacteriological weapons for purposes of bacteriological warfare. (Vol. 18, p. 382.)
Detachment100,inaddition—
"...waschargedwiththedutyofcarryingoutsabotagemeasures,i.e.,infectingpastures,
cattleandwatersourceswithepidemicgerms.InthispartofitsworkDetachment100was
closelyconnectedwiththeIntelligenceDivisionoftheKwantungArmyHeadquarters...."
TheaccusedLieutenantGeneralTakahashioftheVeterinaryService,formerlyChiefofthe
VeterinaryServiceoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy,likewisetestifiedthatthefunctionofthe
6
"epizooticdetachments"wastoprepareforandconductbacteriologicalwarfareandsabotage.
(Vol.11,p.54.)
Thedetachmentsandtheirbranchescarriedonsystematicbacteriologicalresearchwiththe
object of ascertaining which types of germs were most effective for use as bacteriological
weapons,andalsoofdevisingmethodsforbreedingthemonamassscaleandtechniquesfor
utilizingthemtoexterminatelargemassesofpeopleandcauseeconomicdamagebyinfecting
cattleandcropswiththem.
Detachment 731 had eight divisions. Of these, only one (the 3rd) occupied itself with
questions of water supply and prophylaxis. But the workshops even of the 3rd Division
manufacturedcasesforspecialbacteriashells,whichwerecalled"Ishiiaerialbombs."These
shellsweretobeusedfordroppingplague-infectedfleasfromaircraft.(Vol.2,p.263.)
The other divisions of Detachment 731 worked exclusively on problems relating to
preparationforandprosecutionofbacteriologicalwarfare.
Thematerialsofthepreliminaryinvestigationhaveestablishedthatthespecialfunctionof
the lst Division was research in, and the breeding of, the germs of plague, cholera, gas
gangrene, anthrax, typhoid, paratyphoid fever and other diseases for their use in
bacteriologicalwarfare.
Inthecourseoftheseresearchesexperimentswereconductednotonlyonanimals,butalso
on human beings, for which purpose an inner prison capable of holding from 300 to 400
personswassetup.
The2ndDivision,knownastheexperimental,conductedtestsofbacteriologicalweapons
ontheprovingground,andalsounderbattleconditions.
The2ndDivisionhadunderitscontrolanaircraftunitwithspeciallyequippedplanesand
theprovinggroundnearAntaStation.Asectionengagedinthecultivationandbreedingof
parasitesintendedtocauseplagueepidemicswasalsounderthecontrolofthisdivision.
The2ndDivisiondesignedspecialweaponsforthedisseminationofgerms:sprayersinthe
formoffountainpensandwalkingsticks,porcelainaerialbombs,etc.Arosterofweapons
fortheuseofsabotagegroupswhichwasfoundinJapanesearchivesshowsthatthefountainpensprayerswerepartoftherecognizedarmamentoftheJapaneseArmy.(Vol.16,p.16.)
Oneofthedivisionswascalledthe"TrainingandEducation"Division;ittrainedspecial
cadresskilledintheuseofbacteriologicalweaponsforcombatunitsoftheJapaneseArmy
andforsabotagegroups.
For the mass production of germs in quantities sufficient for bacteriological warfare,
Detachment731hadaproductiondivision(the4thDivision),which,inthewordsofitschief,
theaccusedKawashima,wasa"factory"forthemassproductionofvariousbacteria.
7
Thisdivisionhadhigh-capacityequipment,dividedintotwosections,eachofwhichcould
produce germs independently. The main equipment of the first section consisted of four
boilers,eachofone-toncapacity,forthepreparationoftheculturemediumforthebacteria,
and14autoclavesforsterilizingthemedium,each3metreslongand1.5metresindiameter.
Eachautoclavecouldhold30cultivatorsofaspecialdesigninventedbyIshii,theChiefof
Detachment731.Thisfirstsectionhadtwocoolingchambersforthemedium,eachofwhich
couldhold100cultivatorssimultaneously.Thissectionalsohadfivethermostatswithatotal
capacityof620Ishiicultivators.
The second section had two boilers of two-ton capacity each, eight autoclaves, each
capableofcontaining60cultivators,andotherequipment.
Thedivisionalsohadaspecialrefrigeratorforpreservingthefinished"product."
Experts have calculated, on the basis of the available data regarding the capacity of its
mainitemsofgerm-breedingequipment,thatDetachment731alonewascapableofbreeding,
inthecourseofoneproductioncycle,lastingonlyafewdays,nolessthan30,000,000billion
microbes. The experts stress that this is an extraordinarily large quantity of microbes to be
producedinsuchaspaceoftime.
Thisintensiverateofproductionledthepersonnelofdetachments731and100tomeasure
the quantity of bacteria they bred in terms of kilograms. That explains why the accusedin
theirtestimonygivebacteriaquantitiesinkilograms,thisreferringtotheweightofthethick,
creamybacteriamassskimmeddirectlyfromthesurfaceoftheculturemedium.
For instance, describing the productive capacity of Detachment 731, the accused
Kawashimastated:
"...Withtheavailableequipmentanditsrate
ofoutput,theProductionDivision...couldmanufacture
asmuchas300kilogramsofplaguebacteriamonthly."
(Vol.3,p.317.)
Anotheraccused,Karasawa,gavesimilartestimony:"...Themonthlyoutputofthegermproducing
divisioncouldberaised...ifallitsequipmentwere
fullyoperated...toabout300kilogramsofplague
bacteria."(Vol.4,p.286.)
8
Thepreliminaryinvestigationhasestablished,andtheexpertshaveconfirmed,thatthese
huge masses of disease microbes, among them plague, cholera, typhoid, and other germs,
wereallintendedforthemanufactureofbacteriologicalweaponsforthemassextermination
ofhumanbeings.
Detachment731anditsbranchesalsoengagedinthewholesalebreedingoffleasfortheir
infection with germs. For the breeding and infection of the fleas—rats, mice and other
rodents were used, these being procured not only by the personnel of the bacteriological
units,butalsobyspecialsquadsdetailedfromlinetroopsoftheKwantungArmy.
The scale on which fleas were bred may be deduced from the fact that Detachment 731
possessed4,500incubatorsforthebreedingoffleasonrodents.
The output capacity of these incubators made it possible, as testified by the accused, to
obtaininveryshortperiodswholekilogramsofplague-infectedfleas,thisbeingequivalent,
according to calculations made by the experts, to many tens of millions of such parasites,
whichwereexclusivelyintendedforuseasabacteriologicalweapon.
Thescaleofworkinthebreedingoffleasisalsoindicatedbythefact,attestedbywitness
Morita, that a single branch— Branch 543, in Hailar—in the summer of 1945 had about
13,000ratsatonetime.(Vol.2,p.239.)
Thepreliminaryinvestigationhasestablishedthatsimilarpreparationsforbacteriological
warfarewerecarriedoninCentralandSouthChinabyJapanesebacteriologicaldetachments
designatedbythecodenames"Nami"and"Ei,"whichin1941-43werecommandedbythe
accusedMajorGeneraloftheMedicalServiceSato.
The accused Sato has himself admitted that Detachment Ei possessed high-capacity
equipmentforthebreedingofgermsforbacteriologicalwarfare.
Themedicolegalexpertsstateintheirfindingsthatthescaleoftheproductivecapacityof
detachments731and100,andthecharacteroftheiractivities,weredesignedfortheactive
prosecutionofbacteriologicalwarfare.(Vol.9,p.155.)
The accused Yamada testified that the Japanese Army ". . . approved and adopted three
basic methods of employing bacteriological weapons, namely, spraying of germs from
aircraft,droppingofbacteriabombsand,lastly,sabotage...."(Vol.18,p.131.)Accordingto
the plans of the Japanese imperialists, specially equipped aircraft, specially trained army
units, and sabotage squads were to disseminate large quantities of lethal germs of plague,
cholera,typhoid,glanders,anthraxandothersevereinfectiousdiseasesalongtheadversary's
frontandinhisrear,contaminatinginhabitedlocalities,wellsandotherwatersources,crops
and cattle by every possible means. Counting on the capacity of these lethal bacteria for
multiplying rapidly, the Japanese imperialists in their villainous plans intended to cause
plague, cholera and other epidemics among the troops and the civilian population, which
weretoresultindreadfulpestilencesandthepainfuldeathofmillionsofpeople.Theywere
prepared to employ this inhuman weapon, which constitutes a terrible menace to the
populationnotonlyofbelligerentstates,butalsoofneutralcountries.
9
CriminalExperimentsonHumanBeings
Criminalandinhumanexperimentsonlivingpeoplewerethechiefmethodusedfortesting
theactionofbacteriologicalweapons,andtheywerepractisedsystematicallyandonamass
scale.
ThesecriminalexperimentswereperformedonChinesepatriots—fightersintheresistance
movement against the Japanese invaders—and Soviet citizens whom the Japanese.
Gendarmeriehaddoomedtopainfuldeath.
The preliminary investigation has established that the brutal killing of human beings by
criminalexperiments upon them waspractised by the Japanese bacteriological detachments
withtheknowledgeandconsentoftheCommanderoftheKwantungArmy.
TheaccusedYamadahasadmittedthathesanctionedtheperformanceofexperimentson
livingpeople.
Yamadatestified:
"I ... permitted them, and thereby virtually sanctioned the violent killing of Chinese,
Russians and Manchurians, who were sent for experimental purposes by the Kwantung
GendarmerieandbytheJapaneseMilitaryMissionswhichweresubordinatedtome...."(Vol.
18,p.174.)
WitnessFuruichitestifiedthatexperimentshadbeenperformedininfectinghumanbeings
withtyphoid.Hesaid:
". . . It was about the beginning of 1943 that, on the orders of Tabei, Chief of the 1st
Division,Ifirsttookpartintyphoid-infectionexperimentsonpeopleconfinedintheprisonof
Detachment 731. I prepared one litre of sweetened water, which I infected with typhoid
germs. This litre I then mixed with more water, and this was administered to about 50
imprisoned Chinese, war prisoners, if I remember rightly, only some of whom had been
inoculated against typhoid." (Vol. 5, p. 308.) Questioned as to the activities of the 1st
DivisionofDetachment731,accusedKawashimaKiyoshisaid:
". . . Detachment 731 experimented widely in the action of all lethal bacteria on human
beings. For these purposes we used imprisoned Chinese patriots and Russians whom the
Japanesecounterespionageservicehadcondemnedtoextinction...."(Vol.3,p.59.)
". . . Detachment 731 had a special prison, where the persons designated for
experimentation were kept under a strict regime and in close isolation; for purposes of
secrecy,thedetachmentpersonnelusuallyreferredtothemas'logs.'"(Vol.3,p.146.)
Inhumanexperimentsonlivingpeoplewerealsoperformedunderfieldconditionsclosely
approximatingthoseofbattle,atspeciallyequippedprovinggrounds.Theprisonersweretied
to iron stakes driven into the ground, and the action of various bacteria ammunition was
10
testedonthem.
AccusedKarasawatestified:
"...IpersonallywaspresentontwooccasionsattheAntaprovinggroundwhentheaction
of bacteria was tested on human beings under field conditions. The first time I was there
towardstheendof1943.Sometenpersonswerebroughttotheprovingground,weretiedto
stakes which had been previously driven into the ground five metres apart, and a
fragmentation bomb was exploded by electric current about 50 metres away from them. A
number of the experimentees were injured by bomb splinters and simultaneously, as I
afterwardslearned,infectedwithanthrax,sincethebombwaschargedwiththesebacteria...
.
"ThesecondtimeIvisitedtheprovinggroundwasinthespringof1944;abouttenpeople
werebroughtthere,and,asonthefirstoccasion,tiedtostakes.Acylinderfilledwithplague
germswasthenexplodedatadistanceofroughlytenmetresfromtheexperimentees."(Vol.
4,p.42.)
Accused Nishi Toshihide who took part in similar criminal experiments at the Anta
provingground,testified:
"...InJanuary1945,inmypresence,LieutenantColonelIkari,Chiefofthe2ndDivision
ofDetachment731,andFutaki,aresearchofficialofthisdivision,performedanexperiment
atthedetachment'sprovinggroundnearAntaStationininfectingtenChinesewarprisoners
withgasgangrene.ThetenChineseprisonersweretiedtostakesfrom10to20metresapart,
andabombwasthenexplodedbyelectricity.Alltenwereinjuredbyshrapnelcontaminated
withgasgangrenegerms,andwithinaweektheyalldiedinseveretorment."(Vol.7,p.113.)
ThecorpsesofthevictimswereburnedinaspecialincineratorwhichDetachment731had
builtincloseproximitytotheprison.
Witnesses interrogated in the case, and the accused themselves, testified to the inhuman
torture,violenceandoutragestowhichallwhoweresentas"experimentalmaterial"tothe
torturechamberintheinnerprisonofDetachment731weresubjected.
WitnessKurakazustated:
"...Oneachfloortrjerewereseveralroomsusedaslaboratories,andinthemiddlewere
the cells where the experimentees, or 'logs,' as Sergeant Major Tasaka told me they were
calledinthedetachment,werekept....Irememberclearlythat,inadditiontoChinese,there
wereRussiansamongtheprisoners.InonecellIsawChinesewomen....Allthepeoplekept
in the cells had chains on their legs. . . . Three Chinese had no fingers, and in the case of
others, the finger bones could be seen. . .. Yoshimura told me that this was the result of
freezingexperimentswhichhehadbeenperforming...."(Vol.2,p.371.)
Yamagishi,formerlydeputychiefoftheJapaneseHogoincamp,whowasinterrogatedasa
witness,testified:"...IdonotrememberthenamesofallthepeoplesenttoDetachment731
11
forextermination.Irecallthefollowingpersons...Demchenko,asoldieroftheSovietArmy,
whocategoricallyrefusedtogiveanyinformationabouttheSovietUnion.Physicalmeansof
pressurewereusedonhimwithmypermission.Thequestionerstorturedhimbytyinghimto
abeambythehandsorthefeet.Nevertheless,Demchenkogavenoinformation.
"Ithendecidedtohavehimphysicallyexterminated,andsenthimtoDetachment731for
thispurpose."(Vol.2,p.174.)
ThatSovietcitizensweresentfromtheHogoincampforexterminationwasalsoattested
bywitnesslijima.
"...Inall,Ionvariousoccasionssentabout40
SovietcitizensfromtheHogoincamptocertaindeath;
theyalldiedundertheexperiments...."(Vol.6,p.242.)
Theinhumanexperimentsonprisonerswhofellinto
thehandsofDetachment731wentonuntilthevictim
died..
"If a prisoner survived the inoculation of lethal bacteria," accused Kawashima testified,
"thisdidnotsavehimfromarepetitionoftheexperiments,whichwerecontinueduntildeath
frominfectionsupervened.Theinfectedpeopleweregivenmedicaltreatmentinordertotest
various methods of cure, they were fed normally, and after they had fully recovered, were
usedforthenextexperiment,butinfectedwithanotherkindofgerm.Atanyrate,nooneever
leftthisdeathfactoryalive...."(Vol.3,p.60.)
In accordance with their instructions and by arrangement with the chiefs of the
detachments, the Japanese Gendarmerie and Japanese Military Missions in Manchuria sent
imprisoned Chinese, Manchurians and Soviet citizens to the detachments to be used as
"special material" for the so-called "researches." For the sake of secrecy, the term "special
consignment"wasusedfortheirdesignationintheofficialdocumentsofthegendarmerie.
Witness Tachibana Takeo, formerly Japanese adviser to the Gendarmerie of the
ManchukuoArmy,testified:
"...Therewasacategoryofpersonsunderinvestigationwhomthespecialdepartmentof
thegendarmerieadministrationundermychargedesiredtohaveputtodeath.Thesewere...
partisans,personssharplyopposedtotheJapaneseauthoritiesinManchuria,andothers.No
court proceedings were instituted against these prisoners, since we sent them to the 731st
Bacteriological Detachment to be killed. ..." (Vol. 6, p. 95.) Another witness, Kirnura,
formerly adjutant to the Chief of the Japanese Gendarmerie in Harbin, confirmed when
interrogated that in a conversation with Kasuga Kaoru, Chief of the Harbin Gendarmerie
12
Administration,atwhichhe,Kimura,waspresent,GeneralIshii,ChiefofDetachment731,
had expressed the assurance that he would continue to receive arrested persons for
"experimental"purposesinthesamewayasinthepast.(Vol.2,p.194.)
Official documents of the Japanese Gendarmerie found by Soviet troops in Japanese
archives in Manchuria corroborate that so-called "special consignments" of prisoners were
practised in 1939 and later. Among the discoveries was Order 224 of Major General
Shirokura,ChiefofGendarmerieoftheKwantungArmy,inreferencetosendinga"special
consignment"of30prisonerstoIshii'sdetachmentin1939.(Vol.17,pp.35-38.)
That prisoners were killed on a mass scale is shown by the testimony of accused
KawashimaKiyoshi:
"From 500 to 600 prisoners were consigned to Detachment 731 annually. I myself saw
wholebatchesofthembeingreceivedfromthegendarmeriebypersonnelofthedetachment's
1stDivision."(Vol.3,p.59.)
". . . From information known to me because of the character of my duties in the
detachment, I can say that not less than 600 persons died every year from experiments
performedonthembyDetachment731."(Vol.3,p.146.)
"...InthefiveyearsthatthedetachmentwaslocatedatPingfanStation,thatis,from1940
to 1945, not less than 3,000 persons passed through this death factory, and were killed by
beinginfectedwithlethalbacteria.Howmanydiedbefore1940,Idonotknow."(Vol.3,pp.
60-61.)
Similar crimes were perpetrated by Detachment 100, the 6th Section of whose 2nd
Divisionspeciallyengagedinexperimentsonhumanbeings.
WitnessHatakiAkira,whowasalaboratoryassistantinDetachment100,testifiedastothe
activitiesofthedetachmentasfollows:
"...Detachment100oftheKwantungArmywascalledanantiepizooticunit,butactually
itwasabacteriologicalunit,becauseitbredandcultivatedthebacteriaofglanders,anthrax
and cattle plague, that is, the germs of epizootic diseases. Detachment 100 investigated the
actionofbacteriabymeansofexperimentsondomesticanimalsandhumanbeings,forwhich
purposethedetachmenthadhorses,cowsandotheranimals,andalsokepthumanbeingsin
itsisolationcell,whichIknowfromwhatIsawmyself."(Vol.13,p.111.)Anotherwitness,
FukuzumiMitsuyoshi,whoservedinDetachment100asaveterinarysurgeon,testified:
"...Beinganexperimentalunit,Detachment100hadaresearchstaffofbacteriologists,
chemists, veterinaries and agronomists. All the work of this detachment was conducted in
preparationforbacteriologicalsabotageandwarfareagainsttheSovietUnion.Thepersonnel
ofthedetachmentanditsbranchescarriedonresearch...inmethodsofemployingbacteria
and virulent poisons on a large scale for the mass extermination of animals and human
beings.
13
"...Inordertoascertaintheeffectivenessofthesepoisons,experimentswereperformed
onanimalsandlivingpeople...."(Vol.13,p.48.)AccusedMitomo,wholikewiseservedin
Detachment100,admittedthathehadhimselfkilledanumberofprisonersafterperforming
inhumanexperimentsuponthem.(Vol.12,p.192.)
Mitomotestified:
"TherewasacaseofaRussianonwhom,inAugust
1944,variousexperimentswereperformedfortwoweeks.
Hisconstitutionhavingbrokendown,Matsuiordered
thatheshouldbekilledwithaninjectionofpotassium
cyanide....
"On the pretext of giving him medical treatment, I made an injection ... of potassium
cyanideandtheRussiandiedimmediately.Imadetheinjectioninthesolitaryconfinement
cell....
"AtthebeginningofSeptember1944,twoRussians
wereshotdeadinmypresencebyagendarmeatthe
cattlecemetery,andwereburiedthere.Thiswasdone
ontheordersofLieutenantNakazima.Theywereshot
becausenomoreexperimentscouldbeperformedonthem
inviewoftheirexhaustedstateandunsuitabilityfor
furtherexperimentation."(Vol.12,p.149.)
Inadditiontocriminalexperimentationininfecting
prisonerswithplagueandothersevereinfectiousdiseases,
Detachment731extensivelypractisedinhumanexperiments
infreezingthelimbsoflivingpeople.Prisonersweremade
tokeeptheirarmsandfeetinspecialboxesfilledwithice
14
untilthelimbsfroze.
WitnessFuruichitestified:
"...AgroupofRussians,Manchurians,ChineseandMongolians,withtheirlegsinchains,
wereledoutintothefrostinpartiesoffromtwotosixteenand,onpainofbeingshot,were
madeto plunge their bare hands (one or both) into barrels of water, and then to keep their
bare wet hands out in the frost for from ten minutes to two hours, depending on the
temperature of the atmosphere. When freezing had set in, they were taken to the prison
laboratory." (Vol. 5, p. 317.) In the majority of cases, these criminal experiments ended in
gangrene, the amputation of the limbs, and the death of the people experimented on. The
objectoftheseexperimentswastofindmeansofpreventingandtreatingfrozenlimbsinthe
projectedmilitaryoperationsagainsttheSovietUnion.
EmploymentoftheBacteriologicalWeapon
intheWaragainstChina
TheJapaneseimperialistswerepreparingforbacteriologicalwarfareonabigscale,andin
1940theyalreadymadepartialuseofthebacteriologicalweaponintheaggressivewarthey
hadlaunchedagainstChina.
Inthesummerof1940aspecialbacteriologicalexpedition,commandedbyGeneralJshii,
Chief of Detachment 731, was despatched to the theatre of hostilities in Central China.
Aircraft of Detachment 731 disseminated plague in the adversary's territory in the Nimpo
areawiththehelpofplagueinfectedfleas,asaresultofwhichaplagueepidemicbrokeout.
(Vol.3,p.73.)
Interrogatedwithregardtotheorganizationofthisexpedition,accusedKarasawaTomio
said:
"...Inthelatterhalfof1940,Iwasinstructedbymyimmediatesuperior,MajorSuzuki,to
prepare70kilogramsoftyphoidbacteriaand50kilogramsofcholerabacteria.MajorSuzuki
told me that he had received instructions to prepare the bacteria from the Chief of the
detachment,GeneralIshii,whowasgettingreadytoorganizeaspecialexpeditionfromthe
detachmenttoemploybacteriaagainsttheChineseArmy....Icarriedouttheseorders.At
thesametime,Ilearnedfrompersonnelofthe2ndDivisionthatthatdivisionhadbredfive
kilogramsofplague-infectedfleasasthecarriersofthisinfectionfortheuseofGeneralIshii's
expedition.InSeptember1940,GeneralIshii,accompaniedbyagroupofotherofficersofthe
detachment,leftforHankow,fromwhichtheyreturnedinDecember1940.Theofficerswho
hadgonewithGeneralIshiistatedontheirreturntothedetachmentthattheemploymentof
plague-infected fleas had yielded good results. The dissemination of the fleas had caused a
plagueepidemic.Oneofthemembersoftheexpedition,MajorNozaki,showedmeinproof
ofthisaChinesenewspapercontaininganarticlewhichreportedthatanoutbreakofplague
had occurred in the Nimpo area. The author of the article correctly concluded that the
epidemic had been caused by the Japanese, since eyewitnesses had seen a Japanese plane
flyingoverthisareaanddroppingsomethingfromalowaltitude.Ireadthisarticlemyself."
15
(Vol.4,p.43.)AccusedNishiToshihide,whohadhimselfseenatthequartersofDetachment
731 a secret documentary film showing the Japanese bacteriological unit in action against
Chinesetroops,testified:
"...Thefollowingsceneswereshownonthescreen:specialreceptaclesbeingattachedto
theplanes,withacaptionexplainingthatthesereceptaclescontainedplague-infectedfleas....
Anaircraftflyingovertheenemy'spositions.OnthegroundcouldbeseenChinesetroopsin
movement and an inhabited place." Nishi further stated that the film showed the
bacteriologicalattackitself,andalsoitsconclusion:
"Aplaneisseenreturningtotheairfield.Thisis
followedbythecaption'OperationConcluded.'Ishii
andIkarialightfromtheplane.Thencomesthecaption,
'Results.'AChinesenewspaperisshownonthescreen,
withaJapanesetranslation.TheChinesepapersays
thatasevereplagueepidemichasbrokenoutsuddenly
intheNimpoarea."(Vol.7,p.58.)
ApartfromthistestimonyoftheaccusedKarasawaand
Nishi,thefactthataspecialexpeditionwassenttothetheatre
ofhostilitiesinCentralChinaiscorroboratedbydocuments
foundinthearchivesoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy.One
ofthemwasOrderNo.659-HeiissuedonJuly25,1940,
byGeneralUtnezu,formerlycommanderoftheJapanese
Army, in which the Chief of the Field Railway of the Kwantung Army was directed to
transportanumberofpersonnelofDetachment731andaspecialtop-secretfreighttoCentral
China.AnotherofthediscovereddocumentswasOrderNo.178issuedinpursuanceofthis
order on July 26, 1940, by Lieutenant General Kusaba, Chjef of the Field Railway of the
KwantungArmy,whichalsostressedtheespecialsecrecyofthisfreight,prescribinginview
ofthisthatitsspecificationsshouldnotbeenteredinthewaybill,andinwhichtheroutewas
indicatedtobePingfan-Harbin-MukdenShanhaikwanandTientsin.(Vol.15,pp.35-39.)
In1941,Detachment731sentanexpeditiontotheChangtehareainCentralChina.Inthe
16
courseofthisexpedition,Japaneseaircraftinfectedthelocalitywithplague-carryingfleas.
Another expedition was organized by Detachment 731 in 1942, at a time when the
JapaneseforceswereretreatinginoneofthesectorsinCentralChina.
AccusedKarasawatestifiedregardingthepreparationsforthisexpeditionasfollows:
"...AnexpeditionagainsttheChinesetroopswascarriedoutinthemiddleof1942,with
GeneralIshiiincharge.
"...Asapreliminarytothisexpedition,130kilogramsofparatyphoidandanthraxbacteria
were prepared under my direction, again on the orders of Major Suzuki. According to my
information,fleaswerealsousedasepidemiccarriersinthisexpedition....Tocarryoutthe
expedition,GeneralIshiileftwithapartyforCentralChina,wheretheJapanesetroopswere
retreating at that time. The members of the expedition took advantage of the retreat to
disseminate bacteria in the abandoned territory in order to cause outbreaks of epidemic
amongtheadvancingChinesetroops."(Vol.4,p.44.)ThistestimonyofaccusedKarasawa
wasfullyconfirmedbyanotheraccused,KawashimaKiyoshi:
". . . In July 1942, after preliminary preparations had been made, the expedition left in
severalpartiesforCentralChina....""Thistimethebacteriologicalweaponwasemployedon
the ground, the contaminating of the territory being done by sabotage action. ..." "The
advancing Chinese troops entered the contaminated zone and came under the action of the
bacteriologicalweapon."
As established by the testimony of witness Mishina Takayuki, formerly Chief of the
Information and Intelligence Division of the Headquarters of the 13th Japanese Army,
membersofBacteriologicalDetachmentEialsotookpartinthisoperation.(Vol.6,p.307.)
IntensificationofPreparations
forBacteriologicalWarfareagainsttheU.S.S.R.
In1941,afterHitlerGermany'sperfidiousattackontheU.S.S.R.,theJapanesemilitarists,
while waiting for an opportune moment to enter the war against the Soviet Union, greatly
acceleratedinManchuriatheexpansionandtrainingofthebacteriologicaldetachmentsand
theirbranches,formedtowagebacteriologicalwarfare.
Inaccordancewiththe"Kan-Toku-En"Plan(theplanforthedeploymentoftheJapanese
KwantungArmyforattackontheU.S.S.R.,approvedinthesummerof1941),detachments
731and100organizedthespecialtrainingofofficersandnon-commissionedofficersinthe
useofbacteriologicalweapons.
Lieutenant General Takahashi Takaatsu, formerly Chief of the Veterinary Service of the
Kwantung Army, testified: ". . .After the 'Kan-Toku-En' operations plan
appeared,'epizootic'units wereformed under the headquarters of every army in Manchuria.
Thechiefsoftheseunitsweremedicalmen,expertbacteriologists,detailedfromDetachment
100....Theinitiatoroftheseunitswasthe1stOperationsDivisionoftheGeneralStaffof
17
theJapaneseArmy....Thefunctionoftheepizooticunitswastoprepareforandconduct
bacteriologicalwarfareandsabotageagainsttheSovietUnion...."(Vol.11,pp.53-54.)
Accused Kawashima testified as follows with regard to Japan's intensification of
preparationsforbacteriologicalwarfarein1941:
"...DuringoneofmyvisitstoGeneralIshiiinthesummerof1941,afterGermanyhad
begunwarontheSovietUnion,GeneralIshil,referringinthepresenceofdivisionalchiefs
Lieutenant Colonel Murakami and Colonel Oota Akira to the need for intensifying the
detachment's activities, read out to us an order of the Chief of the Japanese General Staff
insisting upon the speeding up of research work on plague bacteria as a means of
bacteriologicalwarfare.Theordermadespecialmentionoftheneedforthemassbreedingof
fleas as plague carriers." (Vol. 3, pp. 28-29.) Speaking of Japan's state of preparedness for
bacteriologicalwarfareatthetimeofHitlerGermany'sattackontheU.S.S.R.,accusedNishi,
formerlyChiefoftheTrainingandEducationDivisionofDetachment731,testified:
"...BythetimeofGermany'sattackontheSovietUnionin1941andtheconcentrationof
theKwantungArmyinManchuriaonthebordersoftheSovietUnion,theresearchworkof
Detachment731inthesphereofdevisingeffectivemeansofbacteriologicalattackhadinthe
main been completed, and the detachment's activities were now directed to perfecting the
process of mass production of bacteria and the means for their dissemination. It was
establishedthatplaguebacteriawerethemosteffectivemeansofattack."(Vol.7,p.124.)In
1942, detachments 731 and 100 carried out special reconnoitring operations in the border
areasoftheSovietUnioninpreparationforbacteriologicalwarfare.Forseveralyearsbefore
that,ontheordersoftheHeadquartersoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy,Detachment100had
systematicallysentbacteriologicalpartiestothebordersoftheSovietUnion,wheretheyhad
contaminatedwatersources,notablyintheTryokhrechyearea,asasabotagemove.
ThesefactsareestablishedbythetestimonyofaccusedHirazakuraandMitorno,aswellas
ofYoshikawaandotherwitnesses.(Vol.12,pp.94and192;Vol.13,pp.57-58.)
Withtheobjectoftestingtheeffectivenessofbacteriologicalweapons,Detachment100in
September1944heldso-calledmanoeuvresontheAntaprovinggroundofDetachment731.
The manoeuvres were attended by representatives of the Headquarters of the Kwantung
Army.
WitnessFukuzumiMitsuyoshi,whowaspresentatthesemanoeuvres,testified:
"...Researchinmethodsforthemassemploymentofbacteriawasconductedbymeansof
experiments on special proving grounds, special apparatus and aircraft being used. Largescale experiments of this kind were called 'manoeuvres.' Such 'manoeuvres' were held in
September1944atAntaStation....Theexperimentsweremadeon300cattleandsheep.
This experiment showed good results, as all the animals were infected and died.
RepresentativesoftheHeadquartersoftheKwantungArmyarrivedbyplanetowitnessthese
manoeuvres."(Vol.13,p.49.)
In1945therewasasecondperiodofintensifiedactivitybydetachments731and100and
18
their branches in preparation for bacteriological warfare against the Soviet Union. Accused
Nishitestifiedonthisscore:
"...WhenIwasmakingapersonalreporttoGeneralIshiiinMay1945,helaidparticular
stress on the need to speed up the work of producing bacteriological material, especially
plague germs, since, he said, developments were taking such a turn that the necessity for
bacteriologicalattackontheenemymightariseanyday."(Vol.7,p.130.)
Inlinewiththeseinstructions,allthebranchesofDetachment731intensifiedtheirworkin
themasstrappingandpropagationoftherodents(miceandrats)neededforbreedingthefleas
whichweretobeinfectedwithplague.Specialsquadswereformedforthispurposebothin
thebranchesandincombatunits.(Vol.10,pp.30,176and193;Vol.2,p.168.)
Experimental work was also intensified at this period, equipment was replaced with the
objectofincreasingoutputcapacity,andstocksofbacteriologicalmaterialwerebuiltup.
Interrogatedastotheproductioncapacityofthebacteriologicalunitssubordinatedtohim,
GeneralYamada,formerlyCommander-in-ChiefoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy,admitted
that their capacity was so great that Detachment 731 alone "could, if necessary, supply the
JapaneseArmywithsufficientweaponsforbacteriologicalwarfare."(Vol.2,p.6.)
TheSovietUnionanditsArmedForcesfoiledthecriminalschemesoftherulingcliqueof
imperialistJapantostartbacteriologicalwarfare.
EnteringtheterritoryofManchuria,theSoviettroopsdealttheenemyaswiftparalyzing
blow, in a very short period routed Japan's main military force, the Kwantung Army, and
compelledimperialistJapantosurrenderunconditionally.
". . . The Soviet Union's entry into the war against Japan, and the swift advance of the
Soviet Army into the heart of Manchuria," testified accused Yamada, "deprived us of the
possibilityofemployingthebacteriologicalweaponagainsttheU.S.S.R.andothercountries.
..."(Vol.18,p.133.)
Ontheeveofthesurrender,theJapaneseArmyCommand,withtheobjectofobliterating
the traces of their villainies, destroyed the buildings, equipment and documents of the
bacteriologicaldetachmentsandtheirbranches.
It has thus been established by the preliminary investigation that the practical activity of
bacteriological detachments 731 and 100, directed by the Japanese General Staff and the
Commander of the Kwantung Army, consisted in preparing and waging bacteriological
warfare and formed a component part of the general plan of the criminal conspiracy of
imperialistJapan'srulingclique.
It has likewise been established that, in order to accomplish their criminal plans, the
Japanese militarists did not stop at any atrocity, even performing inhuman experiments on
living people and exterminating several thousand prisoners by forcibly infecting them with
lethalbacteria.
19
PersonalResponsibilityoftheAccused
Thecriminalactivityofeachoftheaccusedinthiscasetookthefollowingspecificforms:
1.YamadaOtozoo,asCcmmander-in-ChiefoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy,from1944
till the day of the surrender of the Japanese .Army supervised the activity of special
detachments731and100inthefieldofpreparationsforbacteriologicalwarfare.
During this period Yamada, personally and through responsible staff officers, inspected
thesedetachments,onrepeatedoccasionsheardthereportsoftheirchiefs,andtookmeasures
tokeepthedetachmentsinaconstantstateofmilitarypreparedness.
Fromhispersonalobservationsandthereportsofthecommandersofthebacteriological
detachments,accusedYamadawasawarethatcriminalexperimentswerebeingperformedon
humanbeings,andheencouragedtheseatrocities.Yamadaisthusresponsibleforthebrutal
killingofthousandsofpeople,whowereputtodeathbybeinginfectedwithlethalbacteria.
SpeakmgofhisroleinthesupervisionofDetachment731,accusedYamadatestified:
"Detachment 731 was directly subordinated to me, as Commander-in-Chief of the
Kwantung Army. I had charge of the tactical direction of Detachment 731 in all matters
concerning the production of bacteriological weapons and their use. This meant that if the
necessityarosetoemploybacteriologicalweaponsagainstenemyforces,itwasIthatwould
havetogivetheordertothiseffect,sinceDetachment731wasaspecialcombatunitunder
mycontrol."(Vol.18,p.383.)BacteriologicalDetachment100wassubordinatedtoaccused
Yamadaonthesamebasis.(Vol.18,p.392.)
2.KajitsukaRyuji,whofrom1939onwardwasChiefoftheMedicalAdministrationofthe
Kwantung Army, directly supervised the work of Detachment 731, which was engaged in
activepreparationsforbacteriologicalwarfare.Kajitsukawasoneoftheinitiatorsofresearch
onmethodsofemployingbacteriologicalweapons.
As far back as 1931, Kajitsuka actively supported Ishii Shiro, one of the ideologists of
bacteriologicalwarfare,andhisrecommendationsthatresearchonbacteriologicalweaponsof
warbeintensified.
In 1934-36, as head of a division of the Medical Administration of the Japanese War
Ministry, accused Kajitsuka took an active part in the formation of Detachment 731 and in
providing it with the necessary expert staff, and, in particular, was instrumental in having
IshiiShiroappointedChiefofDetachment731.
Interrogated as an accused person, Kajitsuka admitted that he was fully informed of the
activities of Detachment 731 and its branches, beginning with the criminal experiments on
humanbeingsandendingwiththeuseofbacteriologicalweapons.
20
"... I was well informed," accused Kajitsuka stated, "that Detachment 731 experimented
continuously on human beings with the object of discovering the most effective types of
bacteriologicalweapons.IknewthatDetachment731employedbacteriologicalweaponsin
1941-42againsttheChineseArmyandChinesecivilians....
"The detachments and the army medical service under my charge were prepared for
bacteriological warfare." (Vol. 1, pp. 115 and 119-21.) Kajitsuka denies that he personally
tookpartintheimmediatepracticalworkofpreparingforbacteriologicalwarfareagainstthe
U.S.S.R.,butheisfullyincriminatedonthiscountbythetestimonyofaccusedYamadaand
Takahashi,andofKawanoNobukatsiandotherwitnesses.(Vol.2,pp.49-63andVol.18,p.
427.)
3.TakahashiTakaatsu,whofrom1941untilthedayofJapan'ssurrenderwasChiefofthe
Veterinary Service of the Japanese Kwantung Army, and who directly supervised the
activities of Detachment 100, took an active part in the preparations for bacteriological
warfare.
ReferringtohisroleintheactivitiesofDetachment100,accusedTakahashitestified:
"... I directed the preparations for bacteriological warfare and bacteriological sabotage
againsttheSovietUnion.
"IgaveordersforDetachment100toprepare,andcontrolleditsproductionofthebacteria
ofglandersandanthraxandthevirusofcattleplagueandmosaicdisease,withaviewtotheir
employment in bacteriological warfare and bacteriological sabotage against the Soviet
Union."(Vol.11,p.117.)
Besides supervising the work of Detachment 100, accused Takahashi constantly
propagatedtheuseofbacteriologicalweaponsasoneofthemosteffectivemeansofwarfare.
(Vol.11,pp.113and117-20.)
4. Kawashima Kiyoshi was from 1941 to 1943 Chief of the Production Division of
Detachment731andorganizedthemassproductionofbacteriologicalweapons.
Accused Kawashima himself took part in the criminal "researches" and "experiments"
which the detachment performed on a mass scale on human beings. Accused Kawashima
testifiedonthispoint:
"...Iacknowledgethatthemethodsweemployedofexperimentingonhumanbeingsand
oftheirmassannihilationbytheactionoflethalbacteriawerebarbarousandacrimeagainst
humanity." (Vol. 3, p. 147.) In 1942, accused Kawashima took part in supplying means of
warfare to the special expedition sent to Central China for the purpose of employing
bacteriologicalweaponsinmilitaryoperations.(Vol.3,pp.141and145-47.)
5. Nishi Toshihide, who from January 1943 till 1945 was Chief of Branch 673 of
Detachment731inSunyu,directedalltheworkofthebranchunderhischargeinsupplying
Detachment731withmaterialneededfortheproductionofbacteriologicalweapons.
21
From July 1944 onward, accused Nishi was at the same time Chief of the so-called
TrainingandEducationDivisionofDetachment731,andsupervisedthetrainingofpersonnel
forspecialunitsintendedforbacteriologicalwarfare.
AccusedNishihimselftookpartincriminalandinhumanexperimentsonlivingpeople.
In 1945, when the Soviet forces were drawing near, accused Nishi, in order to obliterate
thetracesofhiscriminalactivity,destroyedbyfirealltheservicepremisesanddocumentsof
Branch673,whichhedirected.(Vol.7,pp.108and112-15).
6.KarasawaTomio,whofrom1943to1945headedasectionoftheProductionDivision
of Detachment 731, was one of the active organizers of the mass production of
bacteriologicalweapons.
In 1940-42, accused Karasawa took an active part in supplying bacteria to the special
expeditions sent by Detachmenf 731 to Central China for the purpose of employing
bacteriologicalweaponsinmilitaryoperations.
In 1943-44, accused Karasawa took a direct part in criminal experiments in which lethal
bacteriaweretestedonprisoners.(Vol.4,pp.158and162-65.)
7.OnoueMasao,whofromOctober1943to1945wasChiefofBranch643ofDetachment
731,directlysuperviseddiverseresearchworkonthebacteriologicalweaponsmosteffective
formilitaryuseandonmethodsofproducingthemonamassscale.
"...Iknew,"accusedOnouetestified,"thatDetachment731wasconductingresearchon,
andmassproductionof,bacteriaforuseinbacteriologicalwarfareagainsttheSovietUnion..
..
"Branch643,whichwasundermycharge,bredrodentsandplague-carryingfleas,which
were consigned to Detachment 731, where they were used for the manufacture of
bacteriological weapons." (Vol. 8, p. 102.) Under the direction of accused Onoue, the
branch's Training Division systematically trained special personnel for bacteriological
warfare.
In 1945, with the object of covering up the crimes in the sphere of preparation for
bacteriologicalwarfare,accusedOnouedestroyedtheequipmentandallthedocumentsofthe
branch.(Vol.8,pp.98and102-04.)
8. Sato Shunji was from 1941 to 1943 Chief of the Nami and Ei detachments, and from
1944 onward, as Chief of the Medical Service of the 5th Army, which formed part of the
JapaneseKwantungArmy,hesupervisedtheactivitiesofBranch643ofDetachment731.
AsChiefoftheNamiandEidetachments,accusedSatotookanactivepartinresearchon,
andproductionof,bacteriologicalweapons.
22
Later,asChiefoftheMedicalServiceofthe5thArmy,accusedSatoactivelyassistedand
supportedBranch643inincreasingitsoutputofbacteriologicalmaterial,andissuedaspecial
ordertothetroopsofthe5thArmytoprocurerodentsforthisbranch.
Interrogatedasanaccusedperson,Satostated:
"As Chief of Detachment Ei . . . I directed the detachment's work in devising
bacteriologicalweapons^andproducingthemonamassscale.ForthispurposetheNanking
DetachmentEiwassuppliedwithhigh-capacityequipmentandwithbacteriologicalexperts,
anditproducedlethalbacteriaonamassscale.
"Undermydirection...theTrainingDivisioneveryyeartrainedabout300bacteriologists
withtheobjectofemployingtheminbacteriologicalwarfare."(Vol.9,pp.150and154-57.)
Apartfromhisowntestimony,Satoisincriminatedby
thetestimonyoftheaccusedOnoue,andofMishinaandother
witnesses.(Vol.2,p.251;Vol.17,pp.59-64.)
9. Hirazakura Zensaku, who from July 1942 till Japan's surrender served in Detachment
100,tookanactivepartinresearchon,andthemassproductionof,bacteriologicalweapons
foruseinanattackontheSovietUnion.
In 1942-44, accused Hirazakura headed reconnoitring and sabotage groups made up of
personnel of Detachment 100 and repeatedly took part in special reconnoitring operations
against the Soviet Union with the object of ascertaining the most effective means of
employing bacteriological weapons against the U.S.S.R. During this period, he also
repeatedly contaminated water sources on the Soviet border, notably in the Tryokhrechye
area,asasabotagemove.(Vol.18,pp.89and93-96.)
10.MitomoKazuoservedfromApril1941to1944inDetachment100andtookanactive
partinthebreedingoflethalbacteriaforuseinbacteriologicalwarfareandsabotageagainst
theSovietUnion.
Mitomo himself took part in putting prisoners to painful death by testing the action of
variousbacteriologicalweaponsuponthem.
InJulyandAugust1942,asamemberofareconnoitringandsabotagegroupmadeupof
personnelofDetachment100,accusedMitomotookpartinsabotageoperationsagainstthe
SovietUnionintheTryokhrechyearea.(Vol.12,pp.187and191-93.)
11.KikuchiNorimitsuservedfromApril1943toAugust1945asaprivateinBranch643
ofDetachment731.FromFebruary1944toFebruary1945Kikuchiwasalaboratoryassistant
inthe1stSectionofthisbranchandhelpedintheresearchworkonbacteriologicalweapons
by cultivating typhoid and dysentery germs. In June 1945 Kikuchi took a bacteriological
course at the classes of Detachment 731, where personnel for bacteriological warfare were
23
trained.
This is established both by Kikuchi's own admissions and by the testimony of Saito
Masateru,OkadaMitsushigeandotherwitnesses.(Vol.19,pp.11-15and25-27.)
12.KurushimaYuji,afterreceivingspecialtraininginOctober1944,servedinBranch162
ofDetachment731and,asalaboratoryorderlyinthe1stSectionofthebranch,tookpartin
cultivatingcholera,typhoidandothergerms.
Kurushima has admitted to having been aware that Detachment 731 was preparing for
bacteriologicalwarfareandwasmanufacturingbacteriologicalweapons.(Vol.20,pp.H-16.)
TheaccusedYamadaOtozoo,TakahashiTakaatsu,KarasawaTomio,KawashimaKiyoshi,
Onoue Masao, NishiToshihide, Hirazakura Zensaku, Sato Shunji, Mitomo Kazuo, Kikuchi
Norimitsu and Kurushima Yuji have fully pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against
them.
AccusedKajitsukaRyujihaspleadedguiltyinpart.
Besides their own admissions, the guilt of all the accused in this case is established by
abundant testimony of witnesses, documentary evidence and the findings of medicolegal
experts.
OntheBasisoftheAforesaid:
1. Yamada Otozoo, born 1881 in the city of Tokyo, General, formerly Commander-inChiefoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy;
2. Kajitsuka Ryuji, born 1888 in the town of Tajiri, physician and bacteriologist,
LieutenantGeneraloftheMedicalService,formerlyChiefoftheMedicalAdministrationof
theJapaneseKwantungArmy;
3.TakahashiTakaatsu,born1888inthePrefectureofAkita,YuriCounty,townofHonze,
biological chemist, Lieutenant General of the Veterinary Service, formerly Chief of the
VeterinaryServiceoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy;
4.KawashimaKiyoshi,born1893inthePrefectureofChiba,SanimuCounty,villageof
Hasunuma, physician and bacteriologist, Major General of the Medical Service, formerly
ChiefoftheProductionDivisionofDetachment731oftheJapaneseKwantungArmy;
5.NishiToshihide,born1904inthePrefectureofKagoshima,SatsumaCounty,villageof
Hiwaki, physician and bacteriologist, Lieutenant Colonel of the Medical Service, formerly
ChiefoftheTrainingandEducationDivisionofDetachment731oftheJapaneseKwantung
Army;
6.KarasawaTomio,born1911inthePrefectureofNagano,ChisagataCounty,villageof
24
Toyosato, physician and bacteriologist, Major of the Medical Service, formerly sectional
chiefoftheProductionDivisionofDetachment731oftheJapaneseKwantungArmy;
7. Onoue Masao, born 1910 in the Prefecture of Kagoshima, Izumi County, town of
Komenotsu, physician and bacteriologist, Major of the Medical Service, formerly Chief of
Branch643ofDetachment731oftheJapaneseKwantungArmy;
8. Sato Shunji, born 1896 in the Prefecture of Aichi, town of Toyohashi, physician and
bacteriologist,MajorGeneraloftheMedicalService,formerlyChiefoftheMedicalService
ofthe5thArmyoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy;
9. Hirazakura Zensaku, born 1916 in the Prefecture of Ishikawa, town of Kanazawa,
veterinary surgeon, Lieutenant of the Veterinary Service, formerly member of Detachment
100oftheJapaneseKwantungArmy;
10. Mitomo Kazuo, born 1924 in the Prefecture of Saitama, Chichibu County, village of
Haraya, Senior Sergeant, formerly member of Detachment 100 of the Japanese Kwantung
Army;
11. Kikuchi Norimitsu, born 1922 in the Prefecture of Ehime, nine years of schooling,
corporal, formerly probationer laboratory orderly of Branch 643 of Detachment 731 of the
JapaneseKwantungArmy;
12. Kurushima Yuji, born 1923 in the Prefecture of Kagawa, Shoozu County, village of
Noo,eightyearsofschooling,formerlylaboratoryorderlyofBranch162ofDetachment731
oftheJapaneseKwantungArmy—
AREHEREBYCHARGED:
Yamada, Kajitsuka, Takahashi and Sato, with having, when occupying commanding
positionsintheJapaneseArmy,supervisedtheactivitiesofthespecialbacteriologicalunits
of the Japanese Army and directed these activities to the production of bacteriological
weaponsinpreparationforbacteriologicalwarfareagainsttheU.S.S.R.andotherstates.
Therebytheseaccusedtookanactivepartinimplementingthecriminalplansoftheruling
clique of imperialist Japan to unleash aggressive wars and prepare bacteriological weapons
forthemassexterminationofcivilians.
Furthermore, accused Yamada, Kajitsuka and Takahashi wittingly allowed criminal and
inhumanexperimentstobeperformedonlivingpeople,whichresultedinthepainfuldeathof
notlessthan3,000persons,whileaccusedSato,asChiefof-theNamiandEidetachments,
personallydirectedtheproductionofbacteriologicalweaponsbythesedetachments.
ThecriminalactionsofYamada,Kajitsuka,TakahashiandSatoarepunishableunderArt.
1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.
25
Kawashima, Karasawa, Nishi, Onoue and Hirazakura, with having, as responsible
membersofthespecialbacteriologicalunitsoftheJapaneseArmy,whichwereengagedin
preparingforandwagingbacteriologicalwarfare,takenanactivepartinresearchon,andthe
productionof,bacteriologicalweaponsforthemassexterminationofhumanbeings.
The accused Kawashima and Karasawa took an active part in bacteriological warfare
againstChina,andHirazakurainbacteriologicalsabotageagainsttheU.S.S.R.
Furthermore, Kawashima, Karasawa and Nishi themselves took part in criminal and
inhumanexperimentsonlivingpeople.
TheiractionsarepunishableunderArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupreme
SovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.
Mitomo,KikuchiandKurushima,withhaving,asmembersofthespecialbacteriological
unitsformedintheJapaneseArmyforthepurposeofpreparingandwagingbacterio
logicalwarfare,takenpartinthecriminalactivitiesoftheseunitsinproducingbacteriological
weaponsforthemassexterminationofhumanbeings.
Mitomoisalsochargedwithhavingpersonallytakenpartinthevillainouskillingofpeople
byperforminginhumanexperimentsuponthem,andinbacteriologicalsabotageagainstthe
U.S.S.R.
ThesecrimesarepunishableunderArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupreme
SovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.
All the accused are subject to trial by Military Tribunal. TESTIMONY OF ACCUSED
ANDWITNESSES
MilitaryProsecutor
ofthePrimoryeMilitaryArea,
ColonelofJurisprudenceA.BEREZOVSKY
December16,1949
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFACCUSEDYAMADAOTOZOO
December6,1949CityofKhabarovsk
26
The interrogation is conducted in Japanese through interpreter T s v i r o v, who was
warnedofhisliabilitytoprosecutionfordeliberatelyfalseinterpretationunderArt.95ofthe
CriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Tsvirov
Question: Do you understand the substance of the charge brought against you in
conformitywiththeorderofDecember5,1949,underArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidium
oftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943?
Answer: I understand the charge brought against me under Art. 1 of the Decree of the
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. of April 19, 1943 in conformity with the
orderofDecember5,1949.
Question:DoyoupleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstyouunderArt.1oftheDecree
ofthePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943,inconformitywith
theorderofDecember5,1949,ofwhichyouwereinformed?
Answer:Yes,Ifullypleadguiltyonallthepointsofthechargebroughtagainstmeandset
forthintheorderofDecember5,1949,tobringthechargeagainstme.
Question:Towhat,concretely,doyoupleadguilty?
Answer: First of all I plead guilty to having, from 1944 to the day of surrender, as
Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army, exercised direct guidance of the activities of
bacteriologicaldetachments731and100,whichwereundermycommand,andwhichwere
engagedindevisingthemosteffectivemethodsofemployingbacteriologicalweaponsandin
their mass production for war purposes. In other words, I plead guilty to having exercised
directguidance of preparations forconducting bacteriological warfare against the U.S.S.R.,
China,theMongolianPeople'sRepublic,England,theU.S.A.andothercountries.Imustalso
admitthat,inthemain,thesepreparationsweredirectedagainsttheSovietUnion.Itisthis
thatexplainswhybacteriologicaldetachments731and100,andtheirbranches,werelocated
nearthefrontieroftheSovietUnion.
Concretely, my practical activities as Commander-inChief of the Japanese Kwantung
Army in guiding the preparations for conducting bacteriological warfare consisted in the
following:
On my arrival in Manchuria, after taking over the post of Commander-in-Chief of the
KwantungArmy,IlearnedfromreportssubmittedtomeinJuly1944bymysubordinates,
Kajitsuka and Takahashi, chiefs of the medical and veterinary administrations, that
bacteriological detachments 731 and 100 were engaged in devising and in the mass
productionofbacteriologicalweapons.
SomewhatlaterImyselfvisitedDetachment731withtheobjectofinspectingitsworkin
makingbacteriologicalweapons.IvisitedDetachment731inAugust1944andmademyself
familiarwiththisdetachment'sworkindevisingandinthemassproductionofbacteriological
27
weapons.Whileinspectingtheworkofthisdetachment,Iwasamazedatthescaleonwhich
the work was proceeding for the purpose of producing huge quantities of bacteria intended
foruseasbacteriologicalweapons.Afterinspectingthiswork,Iapprovedofitandthereby
sanctioneditscontinuation.Thus,whileIwasCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,
detachments731and100,withmyknowledge,continuedtodevisethemosteffectivetypes
ofbacteriologicalweaponsandtoproducelethalbacteriaonamassscaletobeusedaswar
weapons.Ireceivedreportsabouttheprogressofthisworkfrommysubordinatesandinthis
way was constantly informed about all the preparations that were being made to conduct
bacteriologicalwarfare.Ireceivedthesereportsfromthechiefsofthemedicalandveterinary
administrations to which I have already referred, from the Chief of Detachment 731, and
from my subordinate staff officers who were directly connected with the activities of
detachments 731 and 100 in preparing to conduct bacteriological warfare. As regards
questionsconcerningthetacticalemploymentofbacteriologicalweapons,Ireceivedreports
onthesefromtheChiefofStaff,andfromthecompetentofficersoftheOperationsDivision.
BeinginformedabouttheworkofthesedetachmentsI,asCommander-in-Chief,tookthe
necessarymeasurestoensurethattheywereinaconstantstateofpreparednessforaction.
InJune1945,onmyinstructions,ChiefofthePersonnelDivisionoftheHeadquartersof
the Kwantung Army, Tamura, inspected the work of Detachment 731. His inspection was
calledforbythenecessityoftakingpropermeasurestoensureanincreaseintheoutputof
bacteriologicalweapons.Ontheresultsofthisinspection,Tamurasubmittedadetailedreport
tome.
AsCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmyI,personally,onreportssubmittedtome
bytheChiefofDetachment731,approvedtwoofthemosteffectivemethodsofemploying
bacteriologicalweapons.
In November 1944, the Chief of Detachment 731 Kitano delivered a report to me in the
presence of Chief of Staff Kasahara Yukio, Chief of the Operations Division Matsumura
Tomokatsu, and staff officer of the Operations Division Lieutenant Colonel Miyata (Prince
Takeda).
KitanodeliveredhisreportatHeadquartersoftheKwantungArmy.Kitano,inhisreport,
summed up the results of the experiments made in employing plague-infected fleas as a
bacteriologicalweapon.Kitano'sreportwasillustratedwithvariouschartsshowingtheresults
of the experiments, and with a special cinema film demonstrating experiments in causing
plagueinfectionswiththeaidoffleas.
I approved this report, and the method of using plagueinfected fleas proposed by Kitano
wasregardedasacceptedforpracticaluseasoneofthetypesofbacteriologicalweapons.
Inthesameyear,1944,attheendofJuly,IreadawrittenreportfromChiefofDetachment
731Ishii,inwhichtheIshiibacteriabombandthemethodofemployingitweredescribed.I
approvedthisreporttooandrecognizedthemethodproposedinitaseffective.
In the spring of 1945, after the work of devising the most effective methods of using
28
bacteriologicalweaponshadbeencompleted,orderswerereceivedfromtheMinistryforWar
to increase the output of bacteriological weapons. I, accordingly, took all the measures
necessarytocarryouttheseorders.
I remember that in this connection I instructed the Chief of the 1st Operations Division
Matsumura to take measures through the Strategical Division to ensure the production of
variouskindsofbacteriainconformitywiththeordersreceived.AtthesametimeIordered
that Detachment 731 be supplied with the necessary number of specialist officers and with
thenecessaryequipment.
With reference to the work of Detachment 100 in preparing to conduct bacteriological
warfare,ImustsaythatDetachment100waschargedwiththedutyofcarryingoutsabotage
measures,i.e.,infectingpastures,cattleandwatersourceswithepidemicgerms.Inthispart
of its work, Detachment 100 was closely connected with the Intelligence Division of the
Kwantung Army Headquarters. Bearing in mind the general function of Detachment 100, I
knew that the detachment was conducting the necessary work in producing bacteriological
weapons,andwasalsostudyingmethodsofemployingthem.
Ididnot,however,knowhowthisworkwasproceedingpractically,asallthesequestions
weredirectlydealtwithbytheIntelligenceDivisionundermycommand.Inparticular,Ido
not remember having received reports about the bacteriological reconnoitring operations
carriedout in the districts ofthe North Khingan Province borderingon the 5oviet Union. I
affirmthatallthisworkwasconductedbyor-.derofHeadquartersoftheKwantungArmy
andIdonotdenyresponsibilityforit,astheseoperationswereconductedatthetimethatI
was Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army. I do not deny that Detachment 100, the
aims and objects of which were also to prepare for conducting bacteriological warfare,
conducted researches to devise concrete methods of carrying out sabotage measures and
madeactivepreparationstocarryoutthissabotageagainsttheSovietUnion,whichfollowed
logicallyfromitspracticalfunctions;butIwasnotfullyinformedaboutthispartofitswork.
With the object of testing the effectiveness of the bacteriological weapons produced by
Detachment 731, the detachment performed experiments in using these weapons on human
beingsunderlaboratoryconditionsandalsounderfieldconditionsapproximatingtocombat
conditions.Detachment731conductedtheexperimentsunderfieldconditionsonaproving
groundespeciallyequippedforthepurposeatAntaStation.
IlearnedabouttheexperimentsonlivingpeoplefromthereportssubmittedbyKitanoand
Tamura.Furthermore,IalsolearnedfromthecinemafilmIsawthatexperimentsintesting
the action of bacteriological weapons were performed on living people. From the report
submitted to me by Kitano in November 1944 I learned that experiments on living people
werebeingmadeintheprovinggroundatAntaStation.Fromthereportsubmittedtomeby
TamurainJune1945Ilearnedthatexperimenteeswereconfinedinaspecialprisonunderthe
chargeofDetachment731.
Experiments on living people were sanctioned by my predecessors General Umezu, or
Ueda. On this point, I plead guilty to the fact that, knowing that experiments were being
performedonlivingpeople,Ipermittedthemandtherebyvirtuallysanctionedthekillingof
Chinese, Russians and Manchurians who were sent for experimental purposes by the
29
KwantungGendarmerieandtheJapaneseMilitaryMissionswhichweresubordinatedtome.
Thesendingofprisonerstobeexperimentedon,ortheso-called"specialconsignments,"
was also sanctioned by one of my predecessors, Ueda or Umezu. I did not cancel this
sanction either, and the established system of "special consignments" continue-d to operate
whileI was in command.-I do not know how many people were killed as a result of these
experimentsasIdidnotenquire.
Asregardsthetrainingofspecialcadrestobeemployedinusingbacteriologicalweapons,
Imustsaythatsuchcadreswereindeedtrainedbydetachments731and100.Asthesecadres
became trained they were distributed among the branches of the afore-mentioned
detachmentsandamongtheunitsandformationsoftheKwantungArmy.Thesecadreswere
tobeusedinwartimefortheformationofspecialbacteriologicalcombatunits,whichwereto
use bacteriological weapons. I do not know how many of these cadres were trained, but I
believe that their number was quite sufficient for the practical employment of means of
bacteriologicalwarfare.•
WhenhostilitiesbrokeoutinAugust1945,inconformitywithmyorders,bacteriological
detachments731and100,andtheirbranches,werecompletelyliquidatedwiththeobjectof
wipingoutthetracesofthepreparationsthathadbeenmadeforconductingbacteriological
warfare.Thepersonneloftheafore-mentioneddetachmentswerewithdrawntoKorea.
Question:Howwasitintendedpracticallytoemploybacteriologicalweaponsagainstthe
SovietUnionintheeventoftheoutbreakofhostilities?
Answer: Questions concerning the employment of bacteriological weapons were not
includedinplansofoperation.However,inconnectionwiththepreparationsthatwerebeing
made for using bacteriological weapons, these questions were studied by the Operations
DivisionofHeadquarters.
I,asCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,wasoftheopinionthat,intheeventof
theoutbreakofhostilitiesagainsttheSovietUnion,bacteriologicalweaponsoughttobeused
againsttheSovietUnionwiththeaidofaircraftwiththeobjectofinfectingthereardistricts
oftheSovietUnion,andbymeansofsabotagemeasurestobeconductedbyDetachment100.
If hostilities against the Soviet Union had not broken out, the bacteriological weapons
couldhavebeenusedagainsttheU.S.A.andothercountries.
Question:Withwhatobjectwerethe97thand3rdinfantryregimentsformed?
Answer: I do not know anything about the existence of these regiments among the units
undermycommand.
Question:WithwhatobjectwasIshiireappointedtoDetachment731in1945?
Answer:Detachment731wasofIshii'smaking,andthatiswhyhewasreappointedchief
30
ofthatdetachment.ImyselfthinkthatIshii'sappointmentasChiefofDetachment731was
directlyconnectedwiththetaskofactivizingtheworkofthebacteriologicaldetachmentsat
thattime,andwiththeordersoftheMinistryforWartoincreasetheoutputofbacteriological
weapons....
Ihavenomoretosayonthesubstanceofthecase,thestatementsIhavemadehavebeen
recordedcorrectlyandhavebeenreadtomebytheinterpreterinJapanese.
Yamada
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor^Memberofthestaff
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
ofJurisprudenceBAZENKOforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,CaptainGOIKHMAN
Presentduringinterrogation:
MilitaryProsecutor
ofthePrimoryeMilitaryArea,
ColonelofJurisprudenceBEREZOVSKYInterpreterTSVIROV
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFACCUSEDKAJITSUKARYUJI
December6,1949CityofKhabarovsk
TheinterrogationisconductedthroughinterpreterBolkhovitinov,whowaswarnedofhis
liability to criminal prosecution for deliberately false interpretation under Art. 95 of the
CriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Bolkhovitinov
Question: You are presented with the order to take pro." ceedings against you as an
accusedinconformitywithArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietof
theU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.Doyouunderstandwhatyouareaccusedof?
31
Answer:Yes,Iunderstand.
Question: Do you plead guilty to the charge brought against you in conformity with the
orderofDecember5,1949,ofwhichyouhavebeeninformed?
Answer:Ipleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstme,exceptthatpartwhichaccusesme
ofhavingdirectlyguidedtheactivitiesofDetachment731inmaking,testingandemploying
bacteriologicalweapons,asthatworkwasdirectlyguidedbythechiefsofDetachment731,
IshiiandKitano.
Question:Towhat,concretely,doyoupleadguilty?
Answer: Concretely, I plead guilty to the fact that, having shared since 1931 the idea of
Ishii Shiro that Japan must prepare to conduct bacteriological warfare, I, as head of the
SanitaryDivisionoftheMedicalAdministrationoftheJapaneseMinistryforWarfrom1934
to1937,tookanactivepartinformingwithintheKwantungArmyaspecialunit,Detachment
731,forthepurposeofdevisingbacteriologicalweaponsandforantiepidemicwork,andalso
in supplying that detachment with specialists in these lines, and helping to secure the
appointment of Ishii Shiro, one of the ideologists of bacteriological warfare, to the post of
ChiefofDetachment731.Being,fromDecember1939toAugust1945,ChiefoftheMedical
AdministrationoftheKwantungArmy,Iexercisedgeneraldirectionofthescientificresearch
workconductedbyDetachment731forthecomprehensivestudyandcultivationofbacteria,
forthestudyofinsectdisseminatorsofepidemicdiseases,forthestudyoflittle-investigated
epidemic diseases, and for devising the most effective means and methods of healing and
preventingepidemicdiseases.
IalsoadmitthatDetachment731conductedscientificresearchnotonlyforantiepidemic
purposes,butalsoforthepurposeofdevising,makingandtestingbacteriological.weapons;
but the work of making, testing and practically employing bacteriological weapons was
conductedunderthedirectguidanceofthechiefsofDetachment731,IshiiandKitano.Inthis
work,IshiiandKitanowereguidedbytheordersoftheOperationsDivisionoftheKwantung
ArmyHeadquartersandoftheJapaneseGeneralStaff.
I knew about the experiments conducted by Detachment 731 in devising and testing
bacteriological weapons, and in devising means and methods of healing and preventing
epidemicdiseases,andIknewthattheseexperimentswereperformedonlivingpeople.
Concerning the results of the experiments in testing bacteriological weapons, and the
practical employment by Detachment 731 of bacteriological weapons against the Chinese
ArmyandthelocalChinesepopulationin1940-42,averbalreportwassubmittedtomeby
theChiefofDetachment731,Kitano.Concerningtheresultsofexperimentsindevisingthe
most effective means and methods of healing epidemic diseases and in studying littleinvestigated epidemic diseases, and concerning freezing experiments, the chiefs of
Detachment731,IshiiandKitano,periodicallysubmittedtomewrittenreports.
I took a direct part in forming, in 1940, along the frontier of the Soviet Union, four
branches of Detachment 731: in Hailin, Linkow, Sunyu and Hailar; I supplied Detachment
32
731 and its branches with equipment and other technical appliances, and trained cadres for
conductingbacteriologicalwarfare.
I also admit that Japan prepared to conduct bacteriological warfare chiefly against the
SovietUnion,theMongolianPeople'sRepublicandChina,andalsoagainstEnglandandthe
UnitedStatesofAmerica.
Question:Tellus,whatdoyouknowaboutthefreezingexperimentsthatwereperformed
byDetachment731?
Answer:IknowthatDetachment731performedfreezingexperimentsforthepurposeof
devisingthemosteffectivemeansandmethodsofhealingfrostbite.Concerningtheresultsof
theseexperimentstheChiefofDetachment731submittedtomewrittenreportsinwhichit
wasstatedthatfreezingexperimentsweremadeonanimals.
Question: We will read to you the evidence of witnesses: that of Oosawa Matsuo of
October23,1949,andofFuruichiYoshioofDecember5,1949,totheeffectthatDetachment
731performedfreezingexperimentsonlivingpeople.Doyouconfirmtheevidenceofthese
witnesses?
Answer: I cannot deny the evidence read to me of the witnesses Oosawa Matsuo and
FuruichiYoshioonthequestionofthefreezingexperimentsonlivingpeopleconductedby
Detachment 731, because Detachment 731 did perform freezing experiments, and the
researcherofthe1stDivisionofDetachment731Yoshimura,towhomthewitnessFuruichi
refersinhisevidence,sentmewrittenreportsaboutthefreezingexperimentsheperformed
and their results. But in his reports Yoshimura did not say that these experiments were
performedonhumanbeings.
Question: And so, you took part in forming Detachment 731 and its branches, which
engaged in devising, making and testing bacteriological weapons intended for war chiefly
against the Soviet Union, the Mongolian People's Republic and China, and also against
EnglandandtheUnitedStates;youknewabouttheexperimentsDetachment731performed
on human beings in testing bacteriological weapons, and you trained cadres for
bacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Yes,thatisso.
ThisrecordofmystatementsiscorrectandwasreadtomeinJapanese.
Kojttsuka
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor;Memberofthestaff
33
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
ofJurisprudenceKACHANforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,LieutenantColonelPAPKOV
InterpreterBOLKHOVITINOV
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFACCUSEDTAKAHASHITAKAATSU
December6,1949CityofKhabarovsk
InterrogationconductedthroughinterpreterProtasov,AnatoliNikolayevich,whowas
warnedofhisliabilitytoprosecutionfordeliberatelyfalseinterpretationunderArt.95ofthe
CriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Protasov
Question:Youarepresentedwiththeordertotakecriminalproceedingsagainstyouunder
Art. 1 of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. of April 19,
1943.Thesubstanceofthechargeissetforthintheorderwhichhasbeenpresentedtoyou.
Doyoupleadguilty?
Answer:Yes,IfullypleadguiltytothechargeunderArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidium
oftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.WhileinthepostofChiefofthe
VeterinaryServiceoftheKwantungArmy,from1941toAugust1945,i.e.,untilthedayof
Japan's surrender, I took an active part in the Kwantung Army's preparations to conduct
bacteriologicalwarfareandsabotageagainsttheSovietUnion.
Ilearnedoftheplantopreparetoconductbacteriologicalwarfareataconferenceheldin
September1941,fromthelipsoftheCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmyUmezu.
MyactivitiesintheKwantungArmy'spreparationstoconductbacteriologicalwarfareand
sabotageconsistedinthatwhiledirectingthepracticalworkofDetachment100,Igaveorders
for the mass production of bacteriological weapons, in particular, the germs of severe
infectiousdiseases:glanders,anthrax,cattleplague,sheepplagueandmosaicdisease.
I kept check on the way Detachment 100 carried out these orders to produce
bacteriologicalweaponsonamassscale.ForthispurposeImyselfvisitedDetachment100
about once a month and verified the execution of my orders as regards the manufacture of
meansofbacteriologicalwarfare.Inaddition,Ireceivedverbalreportsonthesemattersfrom
theChiefofDetachment100,Wakamatsu.
34
Toincreasetheoutputofbacteriologicalweapons,inDecember1943,byagreementwith
the2ndIntelligenceDivisionofHeadquartersoftheKwantungArmy,andonmyorders,a
sixthsectionwasformedinthe2ndDivisionofDetachment100,thefunctionofwhichwas
toproducebacteriologicalweaponsonamassscale....
Forthepurposeofdevisingbacteriologicalweaponsandproducingthemonamassscale,
Detachment100,onmyorders,performedallsortsofexperimentsonanimals.
Inthesummerof1942,onmyorders,agroupofmenfromDetachment100,headedby
researcherIdaKiyoshi,experimentedintheregionoftheriverDerbul,intheTryokhrechye
area,ininfectinganimalstotesttheeffectivenessofbacteriologicalweaponsunderclimatic
conditionsmostcloselyapproximatingthoseprevailingonSovietUnionterritory.
In March 1945, in conformity with my orders, an experiment in infecting animals with
severe infectious diseases was made on the proving ground of Detachment 731 at Anta
Station.IknowfromthereportofChiefofDetachment100,Wakamatsu,thatthisexperiment
was successful—all the ten cows that were experimented on died. In March 1944, on my
orders and with the knowledge of the 2nd Intelligence Division of Headquarters of the
Kwantung Army, a special expedition of members of Detachment 100—later headed by
Lieutenant Hirazakura—was organized to the districts of North Khingan Province to
reconnoitretheroads,summerandwintercattlepastures,thestateofwatersourcesandthe
number of cattle belonging to the local population, with the object of preparing to conduct
bacteriologicalsabotageagainsttheSovietUnion.Thisgroupwasformedinconformitywith
anoperationsorderoftheCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy.
While carrying out this order, Hirazakura reported to me twice on the work that he had
performed. He made the first report in September 1944 in the office of the Chief of
Detachment 100, Wakamatsu. In his report he gave the information he had collected about
the number of cattle, pastures, water sources, the state of the roads and the nomad
encampmentsofthepopulationofNorthKhinganProvince.
IreceivedHirazakura'ssecondreportinmyofficeinMarch1945.InhisreportHirazakura
indicatedtomeonthemapthesummerandwinterpasturesandwatersources,thestateofthe
roadsandthenumberofcattlebelongingtothelocalpopulation.
Hirazakura's group was commissioned to conduct reconnoitring and also to purchase
livestock:500sheep,100headofcattleand90horses,whichweretobeinfectedwithsevere
infectiousdiseasesandthenleftintherearoftheSoviettroops.
At the time Hirazakura made his second report I discussed with the researchers of
Detachment 100, Osaka and Ida, and the Chief of Detachment 100, Wakamatsu, what
bacteria should be used to infect the cattle belonging to the inhabitants in North Khingan
Province.Thefollowingmethodsofinfectingthecattlewereagreedto:thecattleweretobe
infectedwithanthraxandcattleplaguewiththeaidofaircraftbelongingtoDetachment731.
Onlythecattleofthelocalpopulationinthepastureswastobeinfected.Thehorseswereto
beinfectedwithanthrax.
35
Later we decided that the livestock purchased by Hirazakura in 1945 be infected as
follows: sheep—by the injection of sheep-plague germs; cattle—with cattle-plague germs,
and horses with anthrax. The infected cattle, sheep and horses were to be dispersed in
differentdirectionssothattheyshouldwanderintotheareaoftheoperationsoftheSoviet
troops.Idonotrememberthedetailsofallthemeasureswethendecidedonasithappeneda
longtimeago.
Question: What other veterinary units of the Kwantung Army besides Detachment 100
madepreparationstoconductbacteriologicalwarfareandsabotageagainsttheSovietUnion?
Answer: Detachment 100 had two branches, one in Dairen and the other in Rako. In
addition, in July 1941, army epizootic detachments were formed in each army. All these
detachments, located in the towns of Kokuzan, Toan, Keinei and Tonei, were to serve as
specialunitsforemployingbacteriologicalweaponsagainsttheSovietUnion.
Question:Whotrainedthecadresofbacteriologicalspecialistsforthesedetachments?
Answer:ThechiefsofthebranchesofDetachment100andoftheepizooticdetachments
werebacteriologistphysicians;therestofthepersonnelofthesedetachmentswereveterinary
surgeonswhohadnotraininginbacteriology.Totrainnewbacteriologistsandtoimprovethe
qualificationsoftheoldspecialists,thepersonnelofthesedetachmentswentthroughspecial
coursesorganizedbyDetachment100.
Question:Whatdoyouknowabouttheexperimentsonlivingpeoplethatwereperformed
byDetachment100thatwasunderyourcommand?
Answer: I learned of this from the evidence of witnesses that was read to me during the
interrogationonNovember24,1949.Ididnotknowthatexperimentswerebeingmadeon
livingpeople,butIdonotdenyresponsibility,asDetachment100wassubordinatedtome.
Question:WhenandwhatdidyoureporttoformerCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantung
ArmyYamadaabouttheactivitiesofDetachment100?
Answer:IreportedthreetimestoGeneralYamadaaboutwhatDetachment100wasdoing
indevisingandmakingbacteriologicalweapons.
ImadethefirstreporttoGeneralYamadainJuly1944,afewdaysafterIhadofficially
presentedmyselftohim,thenewCommander-in-Chief.Ireportedtohimonthesecretwork
Detachment100wasdoinginmakingbacteriologicalweapons.Inparticular,Itoldhimabout
the mass production of cattle-plague, sheep-plague, glanders and red-rust germs by the 6th
Sectionofthe2ndDivisionofDetachment100.InthisconnectionIreportedtoYamadathe
quantityofbacteriaproducedbyDetachment100.
I made the next report to Yamada in November 1944, in the presence of Chief of Staff
Kasahara, his deputy Ikeda, Chief of the 2nd Division Sasai, Chief of Detachment 100
Wakamatsuand,Ithink,ChiefofthelstDivisionMatsumura.Ireportedontheresultsofthe
research work especially conducted by a group of members of Detachment 100 headed by
36
LieutenantHirazakuraforthepurposeofinvestigatingthepossibilityofinfectingcattleinthe
districtsofNorthKhinganProvince.IreceivednocommentsonthereportfromYamada,and
Ibelieveheapprovedthereport.
InFebruary1945ImadeathirdreporttoGeneralYamadaabouttheworkDetachment100
wasdoinginmakingbacteriologicalweapons.Itwasaverybriefreport.Iinformedhimthat
theworkwascontinuingasbefore,andthattherehadbeennochange.Ididnotreceiveany
specialinstructionsfromYamadaonthisreport.
Question:WhofinancedtheworkofDetachment100,andhow?
Answer: The detachment was financed from two sources: the Japanese Ministry for War
assigned funds for the maintenance of the personnel of Detachment 100 and for preparing
substancesforprophylacticalworkintheKwantungArmy.
Money for devising and making bacteriological weapons was provided out of the secret
fundsofHeadquartersoftheKwantungArmythroughthe2ndIntelligenceDivision.
Question:Whatsumwasassignedfortheseneeds?
Answer:IwejlrememberthatfortheperiodAprilI,1944,toApril1,1945,theJapanese
MinistryforWarassignedforthemaintenanceofthepersonnelofDetachment100andfor
preparing prophylactical substances the sum of 600,000 yen. For devising and making
bacteriologicalweapons,the2ndDivisionofHeadquartersoftheKwantungArmyassigned
forthesameperiodthesumof1,000,000yen.Thissumdidnotlimitusintheleast,however,
for if necessity demanded, all the money requested would have been granted. What sums
weregrantedbefore1944,Idonotremember.
Question: What do you know about the activities of Detachment 731 in preparing to
conductbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:InSeptember1941,formerCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,Umezu,
stated at a conference of chiefs of divisions and administrations of the Army Headquarters
that orders had been received from the General Staff of Imperial Headquarters that the
Kwantung Army prepare to conduct bacteriological warfare. At this conference Umezu
ordered the Chief of Detachment 731, Ishii, to start the mass production of the germs of
infectious diseases. From that time onwards I knew that Detachment 731 was preparing to
conductbacteriologicalwarfare.
Question: Who directed the practical work of Detachment 731 in preparing to conduct
bacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer: In September 1941, Commander-in-Chief Umezu imposed the function of
directing and supervising the practical work of Detachment 731 in preparing to conduct
bacteriologicalwarfareuponChiefoftheMedicalServiceoftheKwantungArmy,Kajitsuka.
37
ThisrecordofmystatementsiscorrectandwasreadtomeinJapanese.
Takahashi
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,Memberofthestaff
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
ofJurisprudenceANTONOVforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,CaptainSEROV
InterpreterPROTASOV
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFACCUSEDKAWASHIMAKIYOSHI
December6,1949CityofKhabarovsk
The interrogation is conducted through interpreter Plyachenko, who was warned of his
liabilitytoprosecutionunderArt.95oftheCriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Plyachenko
Question: You are charged with a crime punishable under Art. 1 of the Decree of the
PresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.Doyoupleadguiltyto
thecharge?
Answer:ThesubstanceofthechargesetforthintheorderofDecember5,1949isclearto
me.Ifullypleadguilty,andonthesubstanceofthechargebroughtagainstmeIadmitthat
from1941to1943IservedinDetachment731,inwhichIperformedthedutiesofChiefof
theGeneral,the1st,theProduction,andthe3rddivisions.
Detachment 731 of the Kwantung Army conducted research in bacteriological weapons,
andwithmyactiveparticipationpreparedlargequantitiesofpathogenicgermsforuseasa
weaponofwar.IadmitthatDetachment731manufacturedmeansofbacteriologicalwarfare
againsttheSovietUnionandChina.
Detachment731wastohavebeenaunitofabout3,000officers,menandemployees.A
largepartofthedetachment'spersonnelconsistedofmenwhohadreceivedspecialtraining
38
inbacteriologyandwhousedtheirknowledgetoconductscientificresearchandexperimental
workforthepurposeofdevisingnewtypesofbacteriologicalweaponsandofmanufacturing
themonamassscaleasameansofactiveaggression.
Detachment731wassuppliedwithequipmentsufficientforthemassproductionofmeans
ofbacteriologicalwarfareandcouldthereforemeettheKwantungArmy'srequirements,Jin
bacteriologicalweapons.
Detachment731hadanumberofdivisions—thefunctionsofwhichIdescribedatprevious
interrogations—whichengagedindevisingnewtypesofgermsofinfectiousdiseasessuitable
for war purposes, in devising methods of long storage of bacteria, of increasing their
durabilityandofproducingthemonamassscale.
Thedetachment'sGeneralDivision,ofwhichIwasalsoinchargeintheperiodofAprilJune1941,dealtwiththedistributionofpersonnel,finance,theplanningofthedetachment's
workandalsowithorganizingsuppliesfortheprisonersintheprisonofDetachment731.At
thattime,throughtheGeneralDivisionofwhichIwasincharge,Imaintainedcontactwith
theJapaneseGendarmerieforthepurposeofobtainingprisonersuponwhomexperimentsin
forcibleinjectionwithlethalbacteriaweretobemade.
The4th(production)Division,ofwhichIwasinchargefrom1941to1943,wasactuallya
factoryforthemanufactureofpathogenicgerms.TheProductionDivisionwassuppliedwith
excellentapparatusforcultivatingbacteriaandthisenabledustoproducemonthlyinapure
formabout300kilogramsofplaguegerms,or500-600kilogramsofanthraxgerms,or800900kilogramsoftyphoid,paratyphoidordysenterygerms,orasmuchas1,000kilogramsof
choleragerms.Suchquantitiesofbacteriawerenotactuallyproducedeverymonth,theywere
the calculated wartime requirements. Actually, the division produced bacteria in the
quantitiesneededforthedetachment'scurrentwork.
For the purpose of testing the types of bacteriological weapons produced, and also of
devising means of treating epidemic diseases, Detachment 731 constantly performed
experiments on living people—Chinese and Russian prisoners, whom the Japanese
GendarmerieinManchuriaespeciallysenttothedetachmentforthispurpose.
Tokeeptheprisonerexperimentees,Detachment731hadaspecialprisonsituatedinthe
interior of the detachment's premises; here the experimentees were kept in strict isolation.
The members of the detachment called the prisoners "logs." I myself frequently heard this
termappliedtotheexperimenteesbytheChiefofDetachment731,GeneralIshii.
LaboratoryexperimentsonlivingpeoplewereperformedbythelstDivision.
Inthespringof1942,inadditiontomyotherduties,I,foronemonth,actedasChiefofthe
1stDivision.
ThelstDivisionconductedresearchworkinthesphereofantiepidemicmeasures,butthe
mainobjectofthisworkwastodevisethemosteffectivemeansofbacteriologicalwarfare;
and it tested the final results of its work on living people who were confined in the prison
39
whichwaspartofthe1stDivision.
AsChiefofthelstDivisionI,intheperiodmentioned,directedtheworkofthedivisionin
thechannelrequiredtofulfilthedivision'stasksofdevisingbacteriologicalweapons.
In addition to the laboratory experiments performed by the lst Division, experiments on
livingpeoplewereperformedontheprovinggroundsofDetachment731andalsounderfield
conditions.OnoneoccasionImyselftookpartinanexperimentonlivingpeople.
In June 1941, I, with other members of the detachment, took part in the testing, on the
detachment'sprovinggroundatAntaStation,ofbombsfilledwithplague-infectedfleas.This
experiment tested the action of bacteria aerial bombs on 10-15 prisoners who were tied to
stakes.Onthatoccasionmorethantenbombsweredroppedfromanaeroplane.
ItookpartinthisexperimentasChiefofthedetachment'sGeneralDivisionforthepurpose
ofverifyingtheorganizationoftheexperimentandtheexecutionoftheorderoftheChiefof
Detachment 731 on this matter, which I myself had drafted. Furthermore, I was also
interested in this experiment as Chief of the Production Division; but practical direction of
thisexperimentwasexercisedbytheChiefofthe2ndDivision,ColonelOota.
Onthegroundsoftheinformationatmydisposal,whichIobtainedfromthenatureofmy
dutiesinthedetachment,IcansaythatthenumberofprisonersofDetachment731whodied
fromtheeffectsofexperimentsininfectingthemwithsevereinfectiousdiseaseswasnoless
thanabout600perannum.
In 1942, by order of the Command of the Kwantung Army, Detachment 731 sent an
expeditionofaboutahundredmenintoCentralChinaforthepurposeofusingbacteriological
weaponsagainsttheChinesetroopsintheregionofChekang.Menfromthe1st,2ndand4th
divisions took part in this expedition. I assigned for it eight men from the Production
Division. On my instructions, based on the order of General Ishii, the Production Division
prepared about 130kilograms of paratyphoid and anthrax germs, with which I supplied the
expedition. In addition, the men of the 1st Division had with them cultures of cholera and
plaguegermswhichtheyhadcultivatedinthenecessaryquantitiesattheheadquartersofthe
Nanking Detachment Ei. The men of the 2nd Division were supplied with a sufficient
quantityofplague-infectedfleas.
Iknowthattheexpeditioncarriedoutitsassignmentsuccessfully.
Furthermore, in 1941, Detachment 731 also used bacteriological weapons against the
ChinesetroopsintheregionofChangteh,andin1940,anexpeditionofDetachment731used
bacteriologicalweaponsagainstChinesetroopsintheregionofNimpo.
As one of the leading members of the detachment I attended conferences called by the
Chief of the detachment, General Ishii, and from the summer of 1942 onwards by General
Kitano, at which questions were discussed connected with research, the preparation of
bacteriologicalmaterialanditspracticalemploymentinwar.
40
I admit that in directing the Production Division of Detachment 731, which produced
enormous quantities of bacteriological material as a weapon of war, and in exercising
temporarydirectionofthe1stDivision,whichengagedinscientificresearchindevisingnew
typesofbacteriologicalweapons,Icommittedacrimeagainsthumanity.
I admit that testing the action of bacteriological weapons on living people by forcibly
infectingthemwithsevereinfectiousdiseases,aswaspractisedbythedetachmentwithmy
participation,andalsothewholesaleslaughteroftheexperimenteeswithlethalbacteriaare
barbarousandcriminal.
I admit that Detachment 731, commanded by General Ishii and later by General Kitano,
wasacriminalorganization...andI,asamemberofit,amreadytopaythepenalty.
Question:Whatwouldyouliketoaddtoyourtestimony?
Answer:AtallthepreviousinterrogationsIgavetruthfultestimonyabouttheactivitiesof
Detachment731andsetforthindetailthenatureofthedutiesIperformedduringtheperiodI
served in that detachment. I have tried earnestly to help the investigation to expose the
criminalcharacterofDetachment731andquiteobjectivelythrewlightonthefactsknownto
me, hence I have nothing to add to my testimony. It is quite possible that I have not
mentioned certain details of the criminal activities of Detachment 731 because I have
forgottenthemowingtothelapseoftime.
ThisrecordofmystatementsiscorrectandwasreadtomeinJapanese.
Kawashima
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,Memberofthestaff
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
ofJurisprudenceBUSLOVICHforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,CaptainBRAVE
InterpreterPLYACHENKO
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFACCUSEDNISHITOSHIHIDE
December6,1949CityofKhabarovsk
41
The interrogation is conducted through interpreter Lamanov, Georgi Grig o r i e v i c h,
who was warned of his liability to prosecution under Art. 95 of the Criminal Code of the
R.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Lamanov
Question: You are charged with crimes punishable under Art. 1 of the Decree of the
PresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.
Doyoupleadguiltytothesubstanceofthecharge?
Answer:Yes,IfullypleadguiltytothechargemadeagainstmeintheorderofDecember
6,1949underArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.of
April19,1943,andIwishtostatethefollowing:
It is true, from January 1943 to the day I was taken prisoner (August 1945), I served in
Detachment 731 of the Kwantung Army as Chief of Branch 673 and also as Chief of the
TrainingDivisionofthatdetachment.
I took an active part in carrying out the chief function of Detachment 731, namely:
manufacturing bacteriological weapons to be used for conducting war against the Soviet
Union and the Mongolian People's Republic, devising methods of conducting this war and
trainingcadresforthispurpose.
I was well aware of the fact that Detachment 731 and its branches in Sunyu, Hailar,
Linkow and Hailin were engaged in manufacturing weapons for conducting bacteriological
warfarefromthemomentIarrivedinDetachment731,foralreadyatthattimeImademyself
familiar with the exhibits, charts and diagrams of the work done by the 1st, 2nd and 4th
divisions of the detachment, with the secret data kept in a special room of the General
DivisionoftheheadquartersofDetachment731.
FromJanuary1943toJuly1944,andthenfromJunetoAugust1945,Iwasinchargeof
Branch673ofDetachment731inthetownofSunyu,whichwasengagedinbreedingwhite
rats,miceandguineapigs,incatchingfieldrodentsandinbreedingfleas.
AlltheseweresenttoDetachment731forthepurposeofmakingbacteriologicalweapons
that had been taken into commission by the Japanese Army for the purpose of conducting
bacteriologicalwarfare.
In March 1945, owing to the military reverses sustained by the Japanese forces in the
regionoftheSouthSeasandtothepreparationsforwaragainsttheSovietUnion,theworkof
theSunyuBranch,asofDetachment731asawhole,begantobeactivizedonordersfromthe
Chief of Detachment 731, Lieutenant General Ishii, in conformity with the operation and
strategicalplansoftheKwantungArmy.
Inparticular,thebreedingandcatchingofrodentsandthebreedingoffleastobesentto
42
Detachment731wereintensified,sincethespreadingofplaguegermsbyscatteringplagueinfectedfleaswasregardedasthemosteffectivemeansofbacteriologicalwarfare.
OnAugust11-12,1945,owingtotheadvanceoftheSovietArmy,andwiththeobjectof
concealing the fact that weapons for conducting bacteriological warfare had been
manufacturedintheJapaneseKwantungArmyandthatBranch673ofDetachment731under
my command had been involved in these criminal activities, on my orders all the branch's
servicepremisesandlivingquarters,equipment,materialsanddocumentsweredestroyedby
fire, and for the same purpose, on my orders, on August 14, 1945, poison in the shape of
potassium cyanide was issued to the entire personnel (120 men) to be taken by them to
commitsuicideintheeventofthedangerarisingoftheirbeingcapturedbytheSovietforces.
...
FromJuly1944toAugust1945(i.e.,untilthedayIwastakenprisoner),I,asChiefofthe
Training Division of Detachment 731, directed the training of cadres, and the supplying of
the detachment and its branches with same, for the purpose of waging aggressive
bacteriologicalwarfare.
Cadresweretrainedatcourses,trainingcampsandoneyeartrainingcoursesorganizedby
the Training Division for men, mainly youths of 17-18, recruited in Japan for service in
Detachment731.
Allthosewhojoinedandarrivedinthedetachmentforservicewentthroughaseven-day
course of preparation and instruction organized by the Training Division, after which the
divisioncertifiedastotheirsuitabilityforserviceinthedetachment.
Duringtheinstructioncourse,specialstresswaslaidonthesecrecyoftheworkinwhich
thedetachmentwasengaged.
DuringtheperiodIoccupiedthepostofChiefoftheTrainingDivisionofDetachment731,
atotalof15officers,60employeesand150privateswentthroughacourseofinstructionand
verification.
WiththeobjectofverifyingtheworkoftrainingcadresatthebranchesofDetachment731,
inconnectionwiththegraduationofmedicalorderlytrainees,I,togetherwithformerChiefof
Detachment731,MajorGeneraloftheMedicalServiceKitano,inSeptember1944,inspected
allthedetachment'sbranches.
FromthenatureofmyworkinthedetachmentandthepostIoccupied,Iknewthatforthe
purposeoftestingbacteriologicalweapons,experimentswereperformedinforciblyinfecting
with lethal bacteria people of Russian and Chinese nationality (including prisoners of war
detained in the detachment's prison). These people were supplied to the detachment by the
gendarmerieandtheJapaneseMilitaryMission.
Theseexperimentswereconductedalltheyearround,andwhenthepeoplewhohadbeen
forciblyinfectedwithbacteriadied,theirbodieswereincineratedatacrematoriumkeptfor
thispurpose.
43
IknowthatinJanuary-March1945,experimentswereperformedintheprisonininfecting
Russians and Chinese with typhus; in October 1944, an experiment was performed on the
provinggroundatAntaStationininfectingfiveChinesewarprisonerswithplague(bymeans
ofplague-infectedfleas);inthewinterof1943-44,thedetachmentperformedexperimentson
RussiansandChineseinfreezingtheirlimbs(Ireadaboutthisintheexperimenter'sreports
andsawaspecialcinemafilmdepictingit).
Furthermore, in January 1945, an experiment, in which I participated, was performed in
infectingtenChinesewarprisonerswithgasgangrene.Theobjectoftheexperimentwasto
ascertain whether it was possible to infect people with gas gangrene at a temperature of
2CTC.belowzero.
Thisexperimentwasperformedinthefollowingway:tenChinesewarprisonersweretied
to stakes at a distance of 10-20 metres from a shrapnel bomb that was charged with gas
gangrene.
Topreventthemenfrombeingkilledoutright,theirheadsandbackswereprotectedwith
special metal shields and thick quilted blankets, but their legs and buttocks were left
unprotected. The bomb.was exploded by means of an electric switch and the shrapnel,
bearinggas-gangrenegerms,scatteredalloverthespotwheretheexperimenteeswerebound.
Alltheexperimenteeswerewoundedinthelegsorbuttocks,andsevendayslatertheydiedin
greattorment.
I also know of two cases of the practical employment by the Japanese Army of
bacteriologicalweaponsmanufacturedbyDetachment731.
1. During the Japanese forces' operations against the Soviet and Mongolian forces in the
region of Khalkhin-Gol, in 1939, bacteriological weapons—the germs of typhoid,
paratyphoidanddysentery—wereusedtocontaminatetheriverKhalkhin-Golintheareaof
militaryoperations.
2. In May-July 1940, in Central China, in the region of Nimpo, an expedition of
Detachment 731 under the command of Lieutenant General Ishii employed plague germs
againsttheChineseforcesbyscatteringplague-infectedfleas.
IknowthisfromdocumentsthatImyselffoundinthesafeoftheTrainingDivisionwhich
contained the suicide pledges given by the members of the expedition who were
commissioned to use the lethal germs. Furthermore, I myself saw a cinema film that was
takenintheareaofmilitaryoperationsattheplaceinfected,illustratingtheeffectivenessof
thebacteriologicalweaponsemployed.
Onthebasisoftheforegoing,IadmitthatthepurposeofthepracticalworkIperformedin
Detachment731andatitsbranchinSunyuwastopreparetoconductbacteriologicalwarfare,
mainlyagainsttheU.S.S.R.andtheM.P.R.
Iamawarethatthewarthatwasbeingpreparedforwouldhavecausedgreatsacrificeof
life among the civilian population, that these weapons of bacteriological warfare and the
44
testingofbacteriologicalweaponsuponlivingpeoplebyforcibleinfectionwerecriminaland
inhuman.
Ihavenomoretosayonthecase,thisrecordofmystatementiscorrectandwasreadto
mebyinterpreterofJapaneseLamanov.
Nishi
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,Memberofthestaff
MajorofJurisprudenceBOGODoftheOfficeoftheMinistry
forInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,
MajorNIKITIN
InterpreterLAMANOV
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFACCUSEDKARASAWATOMIO
December6,1949CityofKhabarovsk
Interrogation conducted through interpreter Pakhomov, Mikhail Yakovlevich, who was
warnedofhisliabilitytoprosecutionunderArt.95oftheCriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Pakhomov
Question: You are presented with the order of December 5, 1949, to charge you with
crimespunishableunderArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietofthe
U.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.Doyoupleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer:IfullypleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstmeunderArt.1oftheDecreeof
thePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.
From1939to1944IdidindeedserveinDetachment731oftheJapaneseKwantungArmy
in Manchuria, which detachment carried on active research in devising the most perfect
methodsofproducingbacteriaonamassscaleandofusingthemasmeansofbacteriological
45
warfare.
Inperformingitsfunctionofpreparingtoconductbacteriologicalwarfare,thedetachment
systematically performed experiments in forcibly infecting with contagious diseases people
whomtheJapaneseGendarmeriesenttoDetachment731tobedoneawaywith.
In 1940 and in 1942, Detachment 731 carried out special expeditions for the purpose of
employing bacteria as bacteriological weapons in the war against the Chinese people. . . .
Question: To what, concretely, do you plead guilty? Answer: Concretely, I plead guilty to
havingforalongperiodoftime,namely,fromDecember1939toAugust1944,servedinthe
criminal organization, Detachment 731, first as an ordinary officer and later as Chief of a
section, and from the end of 1942, or beginning of 1943, as Chief of a unit of the 4th
(production)DivisionofDetachment731.
Thesection,andlatertheunit,ofwhichIwasincharge,engagedincultivatingthegerms
oftyphoid,paratyphoid,cholera,plagueandanthraxinhugequantitiesinproportionasthey
were needed for practical use, in particular, for the performance of experiments in the
employmentofbacteriaunderfieldconditionsontheprovinggroundattheAntaStation,and
for the practical employment of bacteria as a bacteriological weapon in the war against the
Chinesepeople.
Whileproducinghugequantitiesofbacteria,I,asabacteriologistphysician,knewthatthey
were intended for the purpose of exterminating human beings. Nevertheless, at that time, I
wasoftheopinionthatthiswasjustifiedbymysenseofdutyasanofficeroftheJapanese
Armyandthereforedidallinmypowersuccessfullytocarryoutmydutiesasdefinedinthe
ordersofmysuperiors.
During my service in the detachment, I was in command of 50-70 officers, noncommissioned officers and civilian employees and had at my disposal all the equipment
necessaryfortheproductionofbacteriaonamassscale....
Utilizingtheavailableequipment,theunitofwhichIwasincommandcouldproducethe
followingquantityofagiventypeofbacteriapermonth:plague—100kilograms,anthrax—
200 kilograms, typhoid—300 kilograms, paratyphoid "A"—300 kilograms, cholera—330
kilograms,anddysentery—300kilograms.
In the latter half of 1940, the group of which I was in charge produced 70 kilograms of
typhoidgermsand50kilogramsofcholeragermsforaspecialexpeditionofthedetachment
carriedoutunderthecommandofformerChiefofthedetachmentGeneralIshii,who,witha
group of other detachment workers, went into Central China. In addition to typhoid and
choleragerms,theafore-mentionedexpeditionusedplague-infectedfleasagainsttheChinese
Army.
In the middle of 1942, the section of which I was in charge produced 130 kilograms of
paratyphoid"A"andanthraxgermsforananalogousexpeditionunderGeneralIshii,which
went into Central China with the object of using bacteria against the Chinese Army. As I
have learned from the evidence of witnesses that has been presented to me, the
46
aforementioned expedition also took with it typhoid germs, but I myself do not exactly
rememberthis.
TheobjectofGeneralIshii'sexpeditionsof1940and1942wastoperformexperimentsto
devisemethodsforthemassdisseminationofbacteriaunderdefinitefightingconditions.At
thesametime,however,therewereactualcasesofthepracticalemploymentofbacteriaasa
weaponofwaragainsttheChineseArmy.Theplague-infectedfleasusedbyGeneralIshii's
expeditionin1940causedoutbreaksofplagueintheareainwhichtheyweredisseminated,
concerningwhichIgavedetailedevidenceattheinterrogationonOctober22,1949.Whether
theobjectwasachievedasaresultoftheuseoftheafore-mentionedbacteria,Idonotknow.
Thebacteriathatwereproducedundermydirectionwereusedforexperimentstodevise
methodsofdisseminatingbacteriaunderfieldconditionsthatwerecarriedoutonaproving
ground especially equipped for this purpose at Anta Station. These experiments were
performedonlivingpeoplewhowerecalled"logs."
AtthetimeIservedinthedetachment,Iknewthatthedetachment,hadaspecialprisonin
whichtokeepthepeopletobeexperimentedon,andwhoweredoomedtodieasaresultof
theseexperiments.
Experiments on the proving ground at Anta Station were carried out systematically. I
myselftookpartintwoofthem—thefirstattheendof1943,andthesecondinthespringof
1944.
On each occasion ten experimentees, who looked like Chinese, were brought to the
proving ground; preliminary to the experiments they were tied to stakes driven into the
ground,thenbombscontainingbacteriawereexplodednearthem.Asaresultofthefirstof
theafore-mentionedexperiments,someoftheexperimenteeswereinfectedwithanthraxand,
asIlearnedlater,theydied.
OnboththeseoccasionsIwenttotheAntaprovinggroundforthepurposeofascertaining
onthespottheeffectivenessoftheactionofthebacteriaIproduced....
In addition to the foregoing, I know that Detachment 731 systematically performed
experiments on living people under laboratory conditions. In these cases the experimentees
were forcibly infected with various kinds of bacteria, after which they were kept under
observationforthepurposeofdiscoveringthemosteffectiveinfectious-diseasegerms.
Theperformanceofexperimentsonlivingpeopleacceleratedthesolutionoftheproblem
thatconfrontedthedetachmentofdevisingthemostactivemeansofbacteriologicalwarfare
andmethodsofdisseminatingthemforthepurposeofinfectinghumanbeings.
Preparingtoconductbacteriologicalwarfare,theJapaneseHighCommandtookmeasures
to increase the potentialities of bacteria production. It was for this purpose that, in 1944,
Detachment731begantoreceivefromJapannewequipmentwhich,asformerChiefofthe
detachment's4thDivision,OotaKiyoshi,toldme,wasmoreperfectthantheold,andenabled
theworkofcultivatingbacteriatobeconductedontheconveyersystem.
47
In the same year, on the orders of former Chief of the Detachment, Kitano Masazo, I
myselfvisitedthedetachment'sbranchesinSunyu,Hailar,HailinandLinkowforthepurpose
of investigating on the spot the possibility of installing at these branches equipment for
cultivatingbacteriaonamassscale.Inbriefingmebeforemydepartureonthistour,General
Kitanotoldmethatitwasnecessarytoorganizetheproductionofbacteriaatthebranches,
firstly,inordertoincreasebacteriaoutputcapacity,andsecondly,topreventthestoppageof
bacteria production in the event of the detachment's equipment being put out of action by
enemyaircraft.
Asaresultofmyreport,inthesameyearequipmentwassenttothedetachment'sbranches
in Sunyu, Hailin, and Linkow, but what kind of equipment I do not know, nor do I know
whethertheequipmentwasinstalled.
Asabacteriologistphysicianandaspecialistinthecultivationofbacteria,Iattendedthe
conferences of the officers and scientific personnel that were convened in the detachment,
andattheseconferencesIreportedonmethodsofcultivatingbacteriaonamassscaleandof
employingalreadyutilizedmedia.
For the purpose of improving the qualifications of the personnel under my command, I
conductedclasses,andinthebeginningof1940Iwasalectureronbacteriologyatcourses
organizedfornewcivilianemployeeswhojoinedthedetachment.
Question:Whatdoyouwishtoaddtoyourtestimony?
Answer: I fully realize that Detachment 731 was a criminal organization which
manufactured means for exterminating human beings by barbarous methods prohibited by
internationalrules.
Servinginthedetachment,Iwasaparticipantinthesecriminalactivitiesandcommitteda
crimeagainsthumanity,forwhichImustpaythepenalty.
Realizing this, I have tried from the very beginning of the investigation earnestly and
objectivelytorevealthedetachment'scriminalactivitiesandthepartImyselfplayedinthem.
Ihavenothingfurthertoaddtomytestimony,asinthecourseoftheinvestigationIhave
relatedallthefactsknowntomeaboutthedetachment'scriminalactivities.
Thisrecordofmystatementsiscorrect.TheRussiantextoftherecordwasreadtomein
Japanese.
Kurosawa
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,Memberofthestaff
48
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
ofJurisprudenceBUSLOVICHforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,LieutenantColonelIVANOV
InterpreterPAKHOMOV
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFACCUSEDONOUEMASAO
December6,1949CityofKhabarovsk
InterrogationconductedthroughinterpreterGuryanov,whowaswarnedofhisliabilityto
prosecution for deliberately false interpretation under Art. 95 of the Criminal Code of the
R.S.F.S.R.
Signed:GURYANOV
Question:IntheorderofDecember5,1949youarechargedunderArt.1oftheDecreeof
thePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.Doyouunderstand
whatyouarechargedwithanddoyoupleadguiltytothecharge?
Answer:Iunderstandthenatureofthechargebroughtagainstme.Ipleadguiltytothefact
that Branch 643, of which I was in charge, trained cadres of bacteriologist laboratory
assistants;duringtheperiodIwasinchargeofthebranch160weretrained.Thebranchalso
engaged in breeding and catching rodents (guinea pigs, white rats and mice and rabbits)
which were sent to headquarters of Detachment 731, where they were used for making
bacteriological weapons and for experiments in the study of "songo" fever. Furthermore,
Branch643engagedinbreedingfleas,whichwerealsosenttoDetachment731where,after
beinginfectedwithplaguegerms,theyservedasoneofthetypesofbacteriologicalweapons.
ThelstSectionofthebranchengagedinresearchongreyratsforthepurposeofdevisingthe
most effective means of breeding plague-infected fleas, but no favourable results were
achievedand,consequently,allfurtherresearchwasconductedonlyonwhiteratsandmice.
By order of Lieutenant General of the Medical Service Ishii, Chief of Detachment 731, on
August 13, 1945, I destroyed by fire Branch 643 with all its materials, equipment and
documents,exceptforthecodeand20-25gramsoffleas,whichIsenttotheheadquartersof
Detachment731.WhatthecommandofDetachment731hadinviewinorderingthebranch
tobedestroyedbyfire,Idonotknow.IknewthatDetachment731engagedindevisingand
manufacturing large quantities of means of bacteriological warfare, such as the germs of
plague, anthrax and other lethal bacteria, which were tested on living people, for which
purpose the detachment had an inner prison and a proving ground where the experiments
wereperformed.Inthespringof1944,I,togetherwiththeChiefoftheGeneralDivisionof
Detachment 731, travelled by aeroplane to the proving ground where experiments were to
havebeenmadeinpracticallytestingbacteriologicalweaponsonlivingpeople;butowingto
49
thefactthatthecommandofthedetachmentcancelledtheexperiments,forreasonsunknown
tome,Iflewbacktothedetachment'sheadquartersnextday.
As regards the charge that on my initiative Major General of the Medical Service Sato,
Chief of the Medical Service of the 5th Army, issued an order obliging commanders of
military units and hospital chiefs to organize the catching of rats and mice to be sent to
Branch643,Ipleadnotguiltytothis,forInevermadesucharequesttoGeneralSato.
Question:ForwhatpurposedidDetachment731manufacturebacteriologicalweapons?
Answer: Detachment 731 manufactured bacteriological weapons on a mass scale for the
purpose of using them in war, but against which enemies of Japan these weapons were
intendedtobeused,Idonotknow....
Question:WereBranch643,itsequipment,andtheworkitengagedin,militarysecrets?
Answer:Inmyopinion,thebranchassuch,itsequipmentandtheworkitengagedinwere
notmilitarysecrets.
Question: Do you assert, then, that the breeding of fleas and rodents was not a military
secret?
Answer:No,thatisnotso.Thebreedingoffleasbythebranchwaskeptsecret;asregards
thebreedingofrodents,inmyopinionitwasnotasecret.
Question:Doyouwishtoaddanythingtoyourtestimony?
Answer:Ihavenothingtoaddtomytestimony.
Thisrecordofmystatements,readtomebyinterpreterGuryanovinJapaneseiscorrect,
whichIcertify.
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor^Memberofthestai.
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
ofJurisprudenceBUSHUYEVforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory*MajorFURSENKO
InterpreterGURYANOV
50
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFACCUSEDSATOSHUNJI
December6,1949CityofKhabarovik
TheinterrogationisconductedthroughinterpreterKorni1ov,whowaswarnedofhis
liabilitytoprosecutionunderArt.95oftheCriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Kornilov
Question:BytheorderofDecember5,1949,youarechargedunderArt.1oftheDecreeof
thePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.Doyouunderstand
thepointsofthecharge,anddoyoupleadguiltytothecharge?
Answer:Thepointsofthechargebroughtagainstmeareclear.Ifullypleadguiltytothe
charges brought against me under Art. 1 of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme
SovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.MyguiltliesinthatIdid,indeed,fromDecember
1941toFebruary1943,directtheactivitiesoftheCantonDetachmentNami8604andfrom
February 1943 to March 1944, I also directed the activities of the Nanking Detachment Ei
1644. Both these detachments engaged in devising and producing on a mass scale lethal
bacteriatobeusedasweaponsagainsttheChineseforcesandcivilianpopulation....The
NankingDetachmentEi1644,jointlywithBacteriologicalDetachment731oftheJapanese
KwantungArmy,tookadirectpartinemployingbacteriologicalweaponsagainsttheChinese
forcesandlocalinhabitantsduringthemilitaryoperationsoftheJapanesetroops....
As Chief of Detachment Ei 1644, I directed the detachment's work in devising
bacteriologicalweaponsandproducingthemonamassscale.Forthispurpose,theNanking
Detachment Ei 1644 was supplied with high-capacity equipment and with bacteriological
expertsanditproducedlethalbacteriaonamassscale.Itistruethatundermydirection,the
Training Division of the Nanking Detachment Ei 1644 every year trained about 300
bacteriologists with the object of employing them in bacteriological warfare. From March
1944onwards,asChiefoftheMedicalServiceofthe5thArmyoftheJapaneseKwantung
Army,IrenderedBranch643ofDetachment731activeassistanceandsupportinincreasing
theoutputofbacteriologicalmaterial.
Withthisobject,inMay1945Iissuedaspecialordertotheunitsofthe5thArmytocatch
rodents,whichwereneededfortheproductionofbacteriologicalweapons,andtosendthem
toBranch643ofDetachment731.
Question: Precise your testimony as regards the output capacity of the Nanking
DetachmentEi1644anditstechnicalequipment.
Answer: The output capacity of the Nanking Detachment Ei 1644 for the production of
lethal bacteria was up to 10 kilograms per production cycle. To produce this quantity of
bacteria, Detachment Ei 1644 had the following equipment: Ishii cultivators, about 200;
51
incubator room, 1, dimensions 5X5X3 metres; 2 cylindrical autoclaves, 1.5 metres in diam
eter and 2.5 metres long; incubators, about 40-50; steam sterilizers, 40-50, Koch boilers,
about40-50,andforcookingmedia,thedetachmenthadlargeretorts,buthowmanyIdonot
remember.
MystatementhasbeenrecordedcorrectlyandtherecordwasreadtomeinJapanese.
Sato
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,Memberofthestaff
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
ofJurisprudenceBUSHUYEVforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,MajorAGRYZKOV
InterpreterKORNILOV
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFACCUSEDHIRAZAKURAZENSAKU
December6,1949CityofKhabarovsk
The interrogation is conducted through interpreter Y e 1 g i n, who was warned of his
liabilitytoprosecutionfordeliberatelyfalseinterpretationunderArt.95oftheCriminalCode
oftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Yelgin
Question:YouhavehadreadtoyoutheordertochargeyouwithacrimeunderArt.1of
theDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.Doyou
understandthesubstanceofthechargebroughtagainstyou,anddoyoupleadguiltytoit?
Answer: Yes, I fully plead guilty to the charge brought against me under Art. 1 of the
DecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943,andonthe
substanceofitIwishtostatethefollowing.
ItistruethatfromJune1942toAugust1945IservedinDetachment100oftheKwantung
Army, the chief function of which, apart from taking prophylactic measures, was to
52
manufactureactivemeansofbacteriologicalwarfareagainsttheSovietUnion.
The bacteriologists, chemists and veterinary surgeons who constituted the staff of
Detachment 100 engaged in the cultivation of various species of bacteria, in studying their
properties,andindevisingmethodsforthewholesaleinfectionofanimalsandhumanbeings.
With this object, the detachment conducted experiments to test the action of bacteria and
poisonsonhumanbeingsandanimals.
Beingaveterinarysurgeon,asaresearcher,firstinthelstSectionofthe2ndDivisionof
thedetachment,andlaterinthe6thSectionofthesamedivisionformedinDecember1943,I
studiedtheactionofglandersandanthraxgerms,engagedinthebreedingofthesegerms,and
tookpartindevisingallsortsofmethodsofusingthesegermsinbacteriologicalwarfare.
For this purpose, in July-August 1942, I took part in an expedition, called "summer
manoeuvres," in the area of Tryokhrechye. The object of this expedition was to investigate
thepossibilityofusinganthraxandglandersgermsundernaturalconditionsapproximatingto
thoseintheareaofanticipatedhostilities—onthefrontieroftheSovietUnion.Duringthis
expedition,experimentsweremadeincontaminatingtheriverDerbulandwatersourceswith
glanders, and the soil and grass surface with anthrax. The germs for this purpose were
cultivatedinafieldlaboratoryandtestedonhorses,sheepandguineapigs.
FromJune1944onwards,IwaswithagroupofresearchersfromDetachment100inNorth
Khingan Province and, on the orders of the Command of the Kwantung Army, conducted
reconnoitring operations for the purpose of gaining information on the whereabouts and
numberofcattlebelongingtotheinhabitantsofthedistrictsborderingontheSovietUnion
and the Mongolian People's Republic, on the condition of these cattle, the whereabouts of
summerandwinterpasturesandhayfields,andtheconditionoftheroadsandwatersources.
The Japanese Command needed this information in order, in the event of war against the
Soviet Union, to carry out the wholesale infection of cattle as a means of bacteriological
sabotage.
Inthisgroup,fromJunetoSeptember1944,Icarriedoutanumberofassignmentsonthe
ordersofCaptainAsao,andfromSeptember1944tothedayIwastakenprisoner(August
1945)IwasinchargeofthisgroupforAsaohadbeenrecalled.
IknewfromwhatIwastoldbytheChiefofDetachment100,MajorGeneralWakamatsu,
thatin conformity with theinformation I had collected, aircraft wereto spray the germs of
glanders,anthraxandcattleplagueforthepurposeofinfectingcattleinthedistrictsbordering
ontheSovietUnionandMongoliaintheeventofwarbreakingout.
Concerning the work of my group I made two written reports to Major General
Wakamatsu, enclosing topographical maps giving reconnoitring results (condition of water
sources,pastures,cattle,etc.).OnoneoccasionImadeaverbalreportonthesamesubjectto
the Chief of the Veterinary Service of the Kwantung Army, Lieutenant General Takahashi
Takaatsu.
Furthermore, I gave information on the work performed to Chief of the Hailar Military
53
Mission,LieutenantColonelAmano,who,asIhadlearnedfromMajorGeneralWakamatsu,
was aware of the assignments my group had received. I know that in his report to the
Kwantung Army Headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel Amano commended the work we had
done.
Simultaneously with the afore-mentioned work, I, on the orders of Major General
Wakamatsu, in the summer of 1945 purchased from the inhabitants of North Khingan
Province 500 sheep, 100 head of cattle and 90 horses with the 80,000 yen which had been
assignedforthispurpose.
IknewfromwhatMajorGeneralWakamatsuhadtoldmethatintheeventofwaragainst
theSovietUnion,thecattleweretobeinfectedwithanthraxandglandersandthesheepwith
sheepplagueand,forsabotagepurposes,leftintherearoftheSoviettroopsinordertocause
outbreaksofsevereinfectiousdiseases.Iknewthatforthispurposethenecessaryquantities
oftheafore-mentionedgermsweretobecarriedbyaircrafttotheplaceswherethecattleI
hadboughtwouldbe,andthecattleweretobeinfectedbysabotagegroupsformedforthe
purpose.
IalsopleadguiltytothefactthatwhileIwasinNorthKhinganProvince,I,ontheorders
of Major General Wakamatsu, purchased cattle (10 calves) to be used for experiments
conducted early in the spring of 1945 in the region of the river South Khan-gol. I learned
from Major Yamaguchi, who took part in these experiments, that during the experiments
called"wintermanoeuvres,"testsweremadeoftheactionofcattle-plagueandsheep-plague
germs under winter conditions by spraying these germs on the snow and on cattle feed
scatteredonthesnow.Theseexperimentsweremadeunderconditionssimilartothoseunder
whichbacteriologicalsabotageagainsttheMongolianPeople'sRepublicwastobeconducted,
foritisknownthat,inMongolia,cattlegaintheirfoodinthewintertimebygrazing.
Inadditiontothis,inthesummerof1943,withtheobjectofascertainingtheamountof
poison that was needed to kill horses (with potassium cyanide, strychnine, etc.), I, on the
ordersofChiefofthe2ndDivision,Hasaka,experimentedon40-50horsesfromunitsofthe
KwantungArmy.Asaresultoftheseexperiments,tenhorsesdied.Ididnotknowforwhat
purpose these experiments were made, but I presume thaf methods were being sought of
usingpoisonsforsabotagepurposes.
Ihavenothingmoretosayonthecase,therecordofmystatementsiscorrectandwasread
tomeinJapanese,whichIherebycertify.
Hirazakura
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,Memberofthestaff
MajorofJurisprudenceBOGODoftheOfficeoftheMinistry
54
forInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,
LieutenantNAZAROV
InterpreterYELGIN
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFACCUSEDMITOMOKAZUO
December6,1949CityofKhabarovsk
InterrogationconductedthroughinterpreterYe1gin,GrigoriGeorgievich,whowas
warnedofhisliabilitytoprosecutionunderArt.95oftheCriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Yelgin
Question: You are charged with crimes punishable under Art. 1 of the Decree of the
PresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.Doyoupleadguiltyto
thechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer: I fully plead guilty to the charge brought against me in conformity with the
announced order of December 5, 1949, under Art. 1 of the Decree of the Presidium of the
SupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril.19,1943,thesubstanceofwhichIunderstand.
Question:Towhat,concretely,doyoupleadguilty?
Answer:IpleadguiltytothefactthatinApril1941IvoluntarilyjoinedDetachment100of
the Kwantung Army which engaged in manufacturing germs of anthrax, glanders, cattle
plagueandsheepplague,andalsothat,knowingthatthesegermswerebeingmanufactured
especiallyforthepurposeofwagingwaragainsttheSovietUnion,Itookanactivepartin
theirmanufactureinthespeciallaboratoryofDetachment100.
Onjoiningtheafore-mentioneddetachmentIwentthroughaspecialcourseoftrainingin
thecultivationofthegermsofanthraxandglanders,whichImyselfcultivatedinanincubator
thatwasespeciallyassignedtome.IconductedthisworkthroughoutthewholeperiodIwas
inthedetachment,i.e.,fromApril1941toOctober1944.
Furthermore,onmanyoccasionsItookpartinexperimentstotestonanimalsandliving
peopletheeffectivenessofthelethalbacteriaIhadcultivatedinanticipationoftheiruseby
theCommandoftheKwantungArmyinwaragainsttheSovietUnion.Thus,inJuly-August
1942,I,withagroupofresearchersfromDetachment100,tookpartinanexpeditioninthe
areaofTryokhrechye,wherethedurabilityofglandersgermswastestedintheriverDerbul
55
andofanthraxinstagnantwatersources.ThisexpeditionwasunderthecommandofChiefof
the 2nd Division of Detachment 100, Major Muramoto. There, too, I myself cultivated the
germsofglandersandanthrax,whichourgroupusedforexperimentsontheriverDerbuland
instagnantwatersources.Thesetestsweremade...ontheriverDerbul,whichflowsintothe
riverArgunonthefrontieroftheU.S.S.R.
In August-September 1944, under the direction of researcher Matsui Tsunetaka, at the
headquartersofDetachment100,Iperformedexperimentsonlivingpeople,tothenumberof
7-8 arrested Russian and Chinese citizens, to test on them the action of the poisonous
substanceswithwhichIhadpoisonedthefoodissuedtotheprisoners.
AttheendofAugust1944,ontheordersofMatsui,Iputasmuchasagramofheroininto
someporridgeandgavethisporridgetoanarrestedChinesecitizenwhoateit;aboutthirty
minuteslaterhelostconsciousnessandremainedinthatstateuntilhedied15-16hourslater.
Weknewthatsuchadoseofheroinisfatal,butitdidnotmakeanydifferencetouswhether
hediedorlived.
OnsomeoftheprisonersIexperimented5-6times,testingtheactionofKoreanbindweed,
heroin, bactal and castor-oil seeds.One of the prisoners of Russian nationality became so
exhaustedfromtheexperimentsthatnomorecouldbeperformedonhim,andMatsuiordered
metokillthatRussianbygivinghimaninjectionofpotassiumcyanide.Aftertheinjection
thatmandiedatonce.
I was also present when gendarmes shot three prisoners on whom I had performed
experiments....
Question:Doyouwishtoaddanythingtoyourtestimony?
Answer:Ihavenothingmoretoadd.Thisrecordofmystatementsiscorrectandwasread
tomeinJapanesebyinterpreterYelgin,whichIherebycertify.
Mitomo
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,Memberofthestaff
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
ofJurisprudenceANTONOVforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,SeniorLieutenantBOIKO
InterpreterYELGIN
56
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFACCUSEDKIKUCHINORIMITSU
December6,1949CityofKhabarovsk
InterrogationconductedthroughinterpreterPoluyanov,whowaswarnedofhisliabilityto
prosecutionunderArt.95oftheCriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Poluyanov
Question: You are presented with the order to take proceedings against you for crimes
punishableunderArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.
ofApril19,1943,thesubstanceofwhichhasbeenexplainedtoyou.Doyoupleadguiltyto
thechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer: I plead guilty to the charge under Art. 1 of the Decree of the Presidium of the
SupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.
Question:Towhat,concretely,doyoupleadguilty?
Answer:Ipleadguiltytohaving,whileservinginBranch643ofDetachment731inthe
period from April 1943 to the day I was taken prisoner, engaged in the cultivation of the
germs of typhoid, paratyphoid, dysentery and tuberculosis for the purpose of research on
thesegermsandofstudyingtheirpropertiesandabilitytocauseepidemics.Whileengagedin
the cultivation of bacteria I studied the media on which they bred in order to procure a
medium on which they could be cultivated faster and preserve their vitality for a longer
period.
I also tried to devise a faster method of preparing the medium for these bacteria. The
objectsofmyworkincultivatingbacteriaandinstudyingmediaforthemwastoenableme,
andthe1stResearchSectionasawhole,quicklytoproducebacteriaonamassscalewhen
ordersfrommysuperiorstodosowerereceived.
IknewthattheJapaneseKwantungArmywaspreparingtoconductbacteriologicalwarfare
againsttheSovietUnion,thatpreparationsforthiswerealsobeingmadebyDetachment731
andBranch643,whichhelpedDetachment731initspreparationstoconductbacteriological
warfare,andthattheobjectofmyworkinthe1stResearchSectionofthebranch...wasalso
to prepare to conduct bacteriological warfare. Consequently, I myself took part.in the
preparationstoconductthiswarfare,andtothisIpleadguilty.
I committed this crime not of my own free will, but by order of my superiors whom I
obeyed.Icouldnotrefusetoobeytheirorders,forIwouldhavebeenpunishedforrefusalto
obeyorders.
57
Question:Whatdoyouwishtoaddtoyourtestimony?
Answer:Ihavenothingmoretoaddtomytestimony....
ThisrecordofmystatementiscorrectandwasreadtomeinJapanese.
Kikuchi
INTERROGATORS
AssistantMilitaryProsecutorMemberofthestaff
ofthePrimoryeMilitaryArea,oftheOfficeoftheMinistry
LieutenantColonelforInternalAffairs
ofJurisprudenceANTONOVfortheKhabarovskTerritory,
SeniorLieutenantBULANOV
InterpreterPOLUYANOV
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFACCUSEDKURUSHIMAYUJI
December10,1949CityofKhabarovsk
The interrogation is conducted through interpreter Storozhkov, who was warned of his
liabilitytoprosecutionfordeliberatelyfalseinterpretationunderArt.95oftheCriminalCode
oftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Storozhkov
Question:YouarepresentedwithachargeunderArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumof
theSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.Doyouunderstandthesubstanceofthe
chargeagainstyou,anddoyoupleadguilty?
Answer:ThesubstanceofthechargeagainstmesetforthintheMilitaryProsecutor'sorder
of December 9, 1949 and defined in Art. 1 of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme
SovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943iscleartome,andIfullypleadguiltytothecharge
broughtagainstme.
58
OnthesubstanceofthechargeIwishtostatethefollowing:
ItistruethatafterIwasenrolledintheJapaneseArmy,andaftergoingthroughgeneral
militarytraininginthe97thInfantryRegiment,I,inApril1944,wassenttoserveinBranch
162ofDetachment731,locatedinLinkow.
Soon after my arrival at this branch I realized from the nature of the work that was
conducted and from the warnings I received about the secret character of the activities of
Detachment731that,althoughDetachment731wasofficiallysupposedtobeengagedwith
questionsconcerningwatersupplyandprophylaxis,itactuallyengagedinbreedingthegerms
of severe infectious diseases (typhoid, paratyphoid, cholera, plague, etc.), and also in
breedingfleasandrodentsforthispurpose.
59
Whilegoingthroughasix-monthmedicaltrainingcourseatBranch162,I,withtheother
trainees,underthedirectionofChiefofthelstSection,MajorHosoya,paidspecialattention
tothestudyofbacteriology.
On completing the course, I, in a group of servicemen under the command of Sergeant
HyodoYoshitake,wassenttoDetachment731totakepartinthetestingofbacteriabombs.
Thesetestswerecalled"manoeuvres."
WhileinDetachment731,beforeleavingforthedistrictwherethetestsweretobemade,I
learned from the members of the detachment that the germs of severe infectious diseases
cultivatedhereonamassscalewereforciblytestedonlivingpeopleofRussianandChinese
nationality,whowereimprisonedbythedetachment.
Here, too, I learned that I was to take part in tests to ascertain the possibility of
disseminatingfleasandinfectinglocalitieswiththemwiththeaidofaircraft.
FromOctober6to30,1944,ItookpartinthesemanoeuvresnearthevillageofWutung,
guardingthepremisesinwhichthetestingstaffwashoused.
Furthermore,Itookpartincountingthefleasthatwerecaughtinboxesplacedaboutinan
area of 2 sq. km. after the porcelain bombs containing these fleas and dropped from an
aeroplanehadexploded.
On November 2, 1944, I arrived back in Branch 162 and was appointed to work in the
bacteriological laboratory of the lst Section, where I performed the duties of a probationer
laboratoryassistant.
Here,underthedirectionofSeniorSergeantKanYutakaandofChiefofthelstSection,
Major of the Medical Service Hosoya, I planted the germs of tuberculosis, typhoid and
paratyphoid in media, prepared laboratory test tubes, regulated the temperature in the
incubatorsforcultivatingbacteria,andsoforth.
Furthermore,on two occasions (fora period of seven days oneach occasion) I went out
intothefieldstocatchrodents.Icaughtatotalof300suchrodents,whichwerelatersentto
Detachment731tobeusedforthepurposeofmakingbacteriologicalweapons.
Ipleadguiltytohaving,inallmypracticalactivitiesinDetachment731andinitsBranch
162, participated in the manufacture of bacteriological weapons for the wholesale
exterminationofhumanbeings;Iaskyoutotakeintoconsideration,however,thatintaking
part in the performance of this crime, I was obeying the orders of the Japanese Military
Command.
ThisrecordofmystatementiscorrectandwasreadtomeinJapanese.
Kurushima
60
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutorMemberofthestaff
MajorofJurisprudenceBOGODoftheOfficeoftheMinistry
forInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,
MajorKONONOV
InterpreterSTOROZHKOV
EXCERPTFROMRECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFYAMADAOTOZOO
November3,1949CityofKhabarovsk
. . . The official name of Detachment 731 was "The Water Supply and Prophylaxis
Administration of the Kwantung Army," and served as some disguise for the detachment's
actual function. For the same purpose the members of Detachment 731 wore the ordinary
armyuniformswithouttheinsigniaoftheMedicalService.Wewereafraidthatthepresence
ofalargenumberofmedicalservicemenwouldrouseundesirablesuspicionconcerningthe
actualcharacteroftheactivitiesofDetachment731.
... In August 1944, I visited Detachment 731 and inspected the work of all its divisions.
During this inspection I received reports on the production processes in the cultivation and
mass production of bacteria. I remember that in one of the divisions I saw a high-capacity
systemofspecialapparatus,withtheaidofwhichitwaspossibletoproducealargequantity
ofpathogenicgerms.Thechiefofthedivisiongavemethefiguresofthedetachment'soutput
capacity,butIcannotquotethemnow.
I must say that in this division the production of bacteria was organized on an immense
scale,anditcouldproducequantitiessufficienttoenablethemtobeusedonamassscale.In
anotherofthedetachment'sdivisions,inwhichfleaswerebredforthepurposeofspreading
epidemicsofplague,Isawspecialrepositoriesinwhichlargequantitiesoffleaswerekept.
Theofficersofthedetachmentwhoaccompaniedmeduringtheinspectioninformedmethat
thefleaswereintendedforthepurposeofcausingplagueinfection,andthattheywereoneof
thebacteriologicalweapons.
After I had inspected all the detachment's divisions, I and the officers accompanying me
wentupintoatowertowatchcontrolexperimentsinsprayingfleasfromaircraft,andfrom
61
which I viewed the aerodrome. One of the officers informed me that plague-infected fleas,
whichwereoneofthebacteriologicalweapons,weretestedonaspecialprovinggroundby
spraying from aircraft. At the same time I was informed of the results of these tests under
differentweatherconditions.
While inspecting Detachment 731, I was extremely amazed at the scale on which the
detachment's research and production activities in preparing to conduct bacteriological
warfarewerecarriedon.
Question:Thus,Detachment731oftheKwantungArmywasorganizedforthepurposeof
preparingforabacteriologicalattackupontheSovietUnion?
Answer: I must admit that Detachment 731, posted in Manchuria, was formed for the
purposeofproducingweaponsofbacteriologicalwarfaretobeusedchieflyagainsttheSoviet
Union,butalsoagainsttheMongolianPeople'sRepublicandChina...f
Question: To what degree was Detachment 731 subordinated to the Kwantung Army
Headquarters?
Answer:Detachment731wasdirectlysubordinatedtomeastheCommander-in-Chiefof
theKwantungArmy.
Detachment731wassubordinatedtotheCommander-inChiefoftheKwantungArmyby
orderoftheJapaneseMinisterforWaratthetimethedetachmentwasorganized.
Tactical direction of Detachment 731 connected with all questions concerning the
production and employment of bacteriological weapons was exercised by me. This means,
that if the necessity arose of employing bacteriological weapons against enemy forces, the
order to do so could come only from me, for Detachment 731 was a special military unit
undermycommand....
Yamada
INTERROGATORS
Membersofthe,staff
oftheOfficeoftheMinistry
forInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,
BRAVfi,GOIKHMANInterpreterTSVIROV
62
EXCERPTFROMRECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFYAMADAOTOZOO
November5,1949CityofKhabarovsk
Question:WhendidyouvisitDetachment731?
Answer:IvisitedDetachment731onlyonce.AftertakingoverthepostofCommander-inChiefoftheKwantungArmyIinspectedalltheunitsandsub-divisionsundermycommand,
includingDetachment731.ThiswasinAugust1944.
IwasaccompaniedonmyinspectionofthedetachmentbystaffofficeroftheKwantung
Army Lieutenant Colonel Hara. I left Harbin for the detachment's headquarters not in the
evening,asIstatedbefore,butat12noon,andstayedinthedetachmentaboutanhouranda
half.Imadeanentryinmydiaryaboutthisvisit.
Attheentrancetothedetachment'spremisesIwasmetbyChiefofDetachment731Major
General Kitano and all the officers. After the welcome ceremony I proceeded to Major
General Kitano's office where he informed me that the detachment consisted of seven
divisions:General, Clinical, Materials, Production,Researchand Training. I have forgotten
thenameoftheseventhdivision.
Inreportingonthedetachment'sobjectsandfunctions,Kitanosaidthatthedetachmenthad
twofunctions,oneofwhichwasconnectedwiththeantiepidemicserviceandwatersupplyof
theKwantungArmy,whiletheotherwastostudyvariousproblemsconnectedwithpreparing
meansforconductingbacteriologicalwarfare.Furthermore,GeneralKitanoinformedmein
broadoutlineofthedetachment'snumericalstrength,butIdonotrememberthefiguresnow.
Dealing with the character of the activities of each division he said that the Research
Divisionstudiedformsandmethodsofemployingbacteriologicalweapons.Iunderstoodthat
in the event of it being necessary to employ bacteria for sabotage purposes, they would be
usedonland,andfor the extensive employment of bacteriological weapons, they would be
usedwiththeaidofaircraft.
ConcerningtheProductionDivision,GeneralKitanoinformedmethatitwasengagedin
preparingspecial bacteria substances inlarge quantities, sufficient for conducting offensive
operations.
Later, after I had fully acquainted myself with the activities of Detachment 731, I was
convinced that its output capacity was sufficient for the employment of bacteriological
weapons on an extensive scale, concerning which I gave evidence at the previous
interrogation.
AccordingtowhatGeneralKitanosaid,theTrainingDivisionofDetachment731trained
63
cadresofmedicalmenwhowereafterwardsdistributedamongallthedetachment'sdivisions,
includingthosewhichdevisedandmanufacturedbacteriologicalweapons.
The Materials Division supplied the necessary materials and medical supplies needed by
Detachment731.
When General Kitano finished his report I proceeded to inspect the detachment. It is
difficultformenowtorecallwhatIsawineachdivisionseparately;IcandescribewhatI
saw only in general outline, without saying definitely which division carried out any
particular process of the detachment's work. Nevertheless, I distinctly remember that I
learned the character of the work carried on by all the most important of the detachment's
divisions.Inonedivision(production,Ithink)Isawtheprocessofbreedingbacteriainlarge
quantities.Thatdivisionhadhigh-capacityequipment—boilersandotherapparatusnecessary
forthemassproductionofbacteriologicalweapons.
In other premises I saw special boxes containing a vast quantity of live fleas. I was
informedthatthesefleasweretobeinfectedwithplague,afterwhichtheycouldbeusedas
carriersofplagueepidemics.WhatIsawinotherpremisesIcannotnowrecall.
AfterIhadinspectedthedetachment'schiefpremises,I,andtheofficerswhoaccompanied
me, went up into the detachment's tower, from which I viewed the aerodrome, concerning
whichIgavedetailedevidenceatthepreviousinterrogation.
After I had fully inspected the detachment's work and had gained an impression of the
character of its activities, I was extremely amazed at the scale on which the research work
was conducted and at the detachment's colossal potentialities for manufacturing
bacteriologicalweapons.
Yamada
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,Membersofthestaff
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
ofJurisprudenceBAZENKOforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,
SeniorLieutenantBRAV&
SeniorLieutenantGDIKHMAN
64
InterpreterTSVIROV
EXCERPTFROMRECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFYAMADAOTOZOO
November17,1949CityofKhabarovsk
...Amongtheunitsundermycommandengagedindevisingandinthemassproduction
ofbacteriologicalweaponswereDetachment731,Detachment100,andtheirbranches.
...Concerningtheactivitiesofdetachments731and100inthepreparationstoconduct
bacteriological warfare, it must be said that Detachment 731 engaged in devising and
producing bacteriological weapons intended for the wholesale extermination of human
beings.TheactivitiesofDetachment100,inthisrespect,wereofsomewhatnarrowerscope,
andwerelimitedtodevisingandproducingbacteriologicalweaponsofsabotageintheform
ofexterminatinganimalsandcontaminatingcrops.
. . . The Operations Division under my command exercised guidance in questions
concerning the production of the necessary quantities of bacteria, supplying technical
equipment,andalsointrainingskilledcadresforthepersonnelofdetachments731and100..
..
Question:Thatbeingthecase,whatdidyouhaveinmindwhen,duringtheinterrogation
onNovember3,1949,yousaidthatthemanufactureofmeansofbacteriologicalwarfarewas
carriedonchieflyagainsttheSovietUnion?
Answer:Ifullyconfirmthatstatement,butImustexplainthatpreparationsweremadeto
conductbacteriologicalwarfarenotonlyagainsttheSovietUnion,butagainstothercountries
too.
Question:Moreprecisely,whatcountrieshaveyouinmind?
Answer:ChieflyagainsttheSovietUnion,butalsoagainstChina,theMongolianPeople's
Republic,theUnitedStatesofAmericaandEngland.
Question: What concrete measures were taken in preparing to conduct bacteriological
warfareagainsttheSovietUnion?
Answer: The preparations to conduct bacteriological warfare against the Soviet Union
consisted in a series of researches into methods of employing epidemic bacteria, the mass
production of bacteriological weapons, and in experiments to test the effectiveness of the
actionofgivenspeciesofbacteria.
Question:Telluswhatmethodsofemployingbacteriologicalweaponsweredevised?
65
Answer: As far as I remember, the chief and most effective methods of employing
bacteriological weapons were: dropping bacteria from aircraft, and using bacteria on land.
Bacteria were dropped from aircraft either in special bombs containing microbes, or were
sprayedwiththeaidofspecialappliancesfittedintotheaircraft.Thelandmethodconsisted
ininfectingwatersources,pasturesandcattlewithbacteria.
...ImustadmitthatinJune1945,Idid,indeed,sendColonelTamuratoDetachment731
to inspect the'detachment's work on the spot and to ascertain whether it was necessary to
increase the number of specialists. I sent Colonel Tamura to Detachment 731 because the
KwantungArmyHeadquartershadreceivedordersfromtheMinistryforWartoincreasethe
output of bacteriological weapons. This order was conveyed for execution to the Chief of
Detachment 731, Lieutenant General Ishii, who, in the execution of this order, wrote me a
letter,inMay1945,requestingthatthenumberofspecialistsassignedtohimbeincreased.
Incidentally,IhavejustrecalledthatIdidindeedthenhaveIshii'sreportonbacteriabombs.I
requestthatthetestimonyIgavebeforebeaccordinglyamendedonthispoint.
I had kept Ishii's report in my safe and later I handed it to the Chief of the Operations
DivisionMajorGeneralMatsumuraTomokatsu.Iwellrememberthatthisreportwaswritten
onred-linedpaper.Ialsorememberthatthereportwasheaded:"TheIshiiBacteriaBomb,"
andIrecallthatduringmyvisittoIshii'sdetachmentImyselfsawspecimensofthesebombs
thatwereintendedforthepurposeofusingplague-infectedfleasasbacteriologicalweapons.
... I remember that I saw such bombs in Detachment 731 during my inspection. Those
bombshad been made by Detachment 731. I do not remember how many, but the number
wasdeterminedbythenecessaryrequirements.Ihaveseentheillustrationofthebombgiven
inthediagrampresentedtomeinIshii'sreportwhichIhavementioned....
Tostudymethodsofemployingbacteriologicalweapons,specialcommissionsweresetup,
consistingoftheChiefofStaffoftheKwantungArmy,theChiefoftheOperationsDivision,
theChiefofBacteriologicalDetachment100or731,accordingtotheoneconcerned,andof
individual staff officers. The chairman of these commissions was the Chief of Staff. The
Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army took no part in the proceedings of these
commissions. The decisions of the commissions concerning the employment of means of
bacteriologicalwarfareweresubmittedtotheCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,
andafterhehadendorsedthemtheywerecommunicatedtotheJapaneseGeneralStaff.The
General Staff informed the Kwantung Army Headquarters what method had been put in
commission,andtheKwantungArmyHeadquartersaccordinglyissuedorderstodetachments
731 and 100 to proceed with the mass production of the necessary epidemic bacteria.
Detachments 731 and 100 were supplied with the necessary equipment, raw materials and
auxiliarymaterialsbytheJapaneseMinistryforWarinconformitywiththeGeneralStaff's
requirementsintheproductionofanygiventypeofbacteriologicalweapon.
Theemploymentofbacteriologicalweapons,andtheformationofthenecessaryunitsthat
weretoemploybacteriologicalweaponsinpractice,wereplannedbytheJapaneseGeneral
StaffonthebasisofinformationreceivedfromtheKwantungArmyHeadquarters.
Question:Whatmethodsofemployingbacteriologicalweaponswereputincommissionin
theKwantungArmyduringtheperiodyouoccupiedthepostofCommander-inChief?
66
Answer:Allthemethodsofemployingbacteriologicalweaponsputincommissioninthe
KwantungArmyweresanctionedbeforemy.appointmenttothepostofCommanderin-Chief
oftheKwantungArmy.Imyselfregardedthesprayingofbacteriafromaircraftasthemost
effectivemethod,sinceitmadeitpossibletoinfectlargerareas.
Question: What type of aircraft had been chosen for the employment of bacteriological
weapons?
Answer: In peacetime, Detachment 731 had several special aeroplanes at its disposal. In
wartime,ifitwerenecessary,theaircraftofanyairunitcouldhavebeenusedaftertheyhad
beenequippedwiththenecessaryappliances.
Question:InwhatconcretewaydidyouasCommander-inChieftakepartindirectingthe
preparationsforconductingbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer: I have already stated that all the methods of employing the bacteriological
weapons at the disposal of the Kwantung Army had been examined and sanctioned by the
Japanese General Staff before I was appointed to the post of Commander-in-Chief. These
methodsremainedinforcewhileIwasincommand.Furthermore,throughthedivisionsand
administrations under my command, and in conformity with the orders of the Japanese
Ministry for War and General Staff, I, as Commander-in-Chief, exercised direction of the
activities of bacteriological detachments 731 and 100 in devising and producing
bacteriologicalweapons.MyfunctionasCommander-in-Chiefalsoincludedtheexerciseof
tacticaldirectionoftheemploymentofmeansofbacteriologicalwarfareinwartime.Inthis
respect, it would have been my function in the event of war to determine what formations
weretoemploybacteriologicalweapons,andinwhatdirection.
Forthepurposeofcarryingoutabacteriologicalattackcommandersoffrontsandseparate
armiesweretohavehadattheirdisposalspecialbacteriologicaldetachmentswhichwereto
havebeenformedonthebasisofdetachments731and100andtheirbranches....
. . . Question: What, concretely, did you do to increase the output of bacteriological
weaponsinconformitywiththeinstructionsoftheMinistryforWar?
Answer: As I have stated already, in conformity with the orders issued by the Deputy
Minister for War, I sanctioned the increase in the output of bacteriological weapons within
thelimitsoftheordersreceivedfromtheMinistryforWar.Idonotremember,however,how
muchtheoutputwasincreased....
. . . Question: From whom was the decision to employ bacteriological weapons to have
come?
Answer:TheordertoemploybacteriologicalweaponswastohavecomefromtheImperial
Headquarters....
Yamada
67
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,Memberofthestaff
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
ofJurisprudenceBAZENKOforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,CaptainGOIKHMAN
InterpreterTSVIROV
.
EXCERPTFROMRECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFYAMADAOTOZOO
December11949CityofKhabarovsk
...Question:Whywastheproductionofbacteriologicalweaponsactivizedin1945?
Answer: The production of bacteriological weapons by detachments 731 and 100 was
activized at that time because the preparatory period of the most effective bacteriological
weaponsthathadbeentestedhadended.IhaveinmindtheemploymentoftheIshiibacteria
bomb, the spraying of plague-infected fleas from aircraft, and methods of bacteriological
sabotage on land, about which I had learned from the reports of Generals Kitano and
Takahashi,andfromotherpersons.
In 1945, when all the preparatory work in perfecting the most effective means of
employingbacteriologicalweaponshadbeensuccessfulycompleted,theperiodsetinofthe
massproductionofbacteriologicalweaponsforthepurposeoftheirpracticalemploymentin
anydirection,assoonastheordertodosowasreceivedfromtheImperialHeadquarters.In
viewoftheaforesaid,andinconformitywiththeordersoftheJapaneseDeputyMinisterfor
War, I, in the spring of 1945, ordered detachments 731 and 100 to increase the mass
production of bacteriological weapons and, accordingly, to increase and improve the
equipment of Detachment 731 and to provide it with the necessary number of additional
specialists.
Furthermore,Ithinkthattheincreaseintheproductionofbacteriologicalweaponsin1945
wasduetotheworseningofthewarsituationinthedifferenttheatresofmilitaryoperations.
This,however,ismyownpersonalopinion,asIdidnotreceiveanyofficialinformationon
thisquestion.
68
Question: Precisely, when did the Kwantung Army Headquarters receive the order from
theJapaneseDeputyMinisterforWartoincreasetheproductionofbacteriologicalweapons?
Answer:AsfarasIremember,thatorderwasreceivedinMarch1945....
. . . Question: What changes took place during the period you occupied the post of
Commander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmyindevisingmeansandmethodsofemploying
bacteriologicalweapons?
Answer:AsIhavesaidalready,thechiefmethodsofemployingbacteriologicalweapons
hadbeenputintocommissionintheKwantungArmyandsanctionedbytheJapneseGeneral
StaffbeforeItookupthepostofCommanderin-Chief,andinthisrespect,nochangestook
placewhileIwasinCommand.I,too,approvedthesemethodsandtheyremainedinforce.
WhileIwasintheKwantungArmy,however,workwasconductedtoimprovethemethods
of employing one or another type of bacteriological weapon. This work was conducted by
Detachment731andbyDetachment100.Inparticular,whileIwasincommand,themethod
of using plague-infected fleas by spraying them from aircraft with the aid of special
appliances and by dropping bombs was finally perfected. Concerning this method, General
Kitanosubmittedaspecialreporttome.
Question:WhatdecisiondidyouadoptonIshii'sreportonthebacteriabomb?
Answer:ThedecisiononIshii'sreportontheemploymentofspecialbacteriabombswas
taken by my predecessor, General Umezu. After reading Ishii's report I, too, approved this
method.Nofurtherspecialsanctiononthisquestionwasrequired.
...InOctoberorNovember1944,GeneralKitanosubmittedtomeadetailedreportonthe
results of experiments in employing plague-infected fleas as a means of bacteriological
warfare.Kitano'sreportwasaccompaniedbyaspecialcinemafilmbroughtfromDetachment
731, and also by maps showing the places where experiments had been made in spraying
plague-infected fleas from aircraft. Kitano's report generalized all the experiments and
researchesthathadbeenmadeinthisdirectionandsummedupallthework.Whilereporting,
heexhibitedvarioustablesdemonstratingtheresultsoftheresearchesandtestsininfecting
territory with plague germs. Being of the opinion that the plagueinfected flea method was
extremelyeffective,IapprovedKitano'sreportandthemethodofemployingbacteriological
weaponsthatheproposed.
The results of the experiments in using plague-infected fleas were communicated to the
ImperialHeadquartersdirectbythecommanderofDetachment731anddidnotgothrough
theKwantungArmyHeadquarters.
Question: Previously you stated that all decisions on questions concerning devising and
producing bacteriological weapons were endorsed by the Commander-in-Chief after these
questions had been examined by a temporary commission, and that they were submitted to
theGeneralStaffandtheJapaneseMinistryforWarbytheKwantungArmyHeadquarters.
Whichisthecorrectversion?
69
Answer:IfullyconfirmwhatIsaidinprevioustestimonyanditseemstomethatthereis
nocontradictioninmytestimony.ThepointisthatthereportsImentionedbeforeconcerned
the more important questions and, as a rule, dealt with devising methods of employing
bacteriologicalweapons,orothermoreurgentquestions.Suchreportsweresenttothecentre
bytheKwantungArmyHeadquarters.Reportsdealingwiththesolutionofvariousparticular
problems, such as the study of the effectiveness of one or another type of bacteriological
weapon were sent by the command of Detachment 731 direct, either to the Imperial
Headquarters, to the Ministry for War, or to the Military Medical Academy, depending on
theircontents.
. . . Question: How was the work of devising and producing bacteriological weapons
financed?
Answer:Theworkofdevisingandproducingbacteriologicalweaponswasfinancedbythe
Japanese Ministry for War through the Kwantung Army Headquarters. I have no detailed
informationabouttheamountsandmethodsoffinancingthiswork.
Question: Why were detachments 731 and 100, and their branches, posted in close
propinquitytothefrontieroftheSovietUnion?
Answer:Nobodygavemeanyspecialexplanationofthis,butmyownpersonalopinionis
thatitwasdoneinordermostconvenientlyandquicklytoemploybacteriologicalweapons
againsttheSovietUnion.
Question:HowwasitproposedtousebacteriologicalweaponsagainstEngland,theU.S.A.
andothercountries?
Answer: I think bacteriological weapons would have been used against the U.S.A.,
England and other countries if the Soviet Union had not taken action against Japan. The
Soviet Union's entry into the war against Japan, and the swift advance of the Soviet Army
intotheheartofManchuria,deprivedusofthepossibilityofemployingthebacteriological
weaponagainsttheU.S.S.R.andothercountries....
Yamada
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,Memberofthestaff
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
ofJurisprudenceBAZENKOforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,CaptainGOIKHMAN
70
InterpreterTSVIROV
EXCERPTFROMRECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFKAJITSUKARYUJI
October23,1949CityofKhabarovsk
Question: What, concretely, was done by Detachment 731 in preparing to conduct
bacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:InFebruary1941,theChiefofDetachment731,ColoneloftheMedicalService
Ishii,inmyofficeinChangchun,whilereportingtomeonthedetachment'swork,withthe
permission of Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army Umezu, told me what the
detachment had done in preparing to conduct bacteriological warfare, thereby fulfilling the
promisehehadgivenmewhenIvisitedDetachment731in1940.
AccordingtowhatIshiisaid,researchescarriedoutbythedetachmenthadshownthatthe
droppingofbacteriacontainedinaerialbombswasoflittleeffectbecause,asaconsequence
of strong air pressure and excessively high temperature, the germs of dysentery, typhoid,
paratyphoid,cholera,andplague,beingfrail,perishalmost100percent.Ishiisaidthatgreat
hopes had been reposed in these researches, but these hopes had been disappointed, as the
bombsandalsoshellscontainingthesebacteriadidnotspreadinfectiononaswideanareaas
hadbeenanticipated.
Asregardsthehardiestbacteria,suchasthegermsofanthrax,Ishiisaidthatitwaspossible
tousetheminthisway,andthatfurtherresearchwasproceeding.
Research had also shown that the dropping of bacteria from aircraft, in the same way as
wasdonewithpoisonoussubstances,hadrelativelylargeeffect.
Ishiitoldmethatbacteriacouldnotbedroppedfromhighaltitudes,becausethebacteria
perished; they could be dropped from an altitude not exceeding 500 metres, but when
droppedfromalowaltitude,theareaoverwhichthebacteriascatteristoosmall....
IlearnedfromIshiithatdroppingcholeragermsonenemyterritorywasoflittleeffectand
difficult to carry out, firstly, because they had to be dropped from a low altitude, which
enables the enemy easily to fire at the aircraft, and secondly, because an excessively large
quantityofgermsisneededforthispurpose.
Ishii told me further that it was much more effective to drop bacteria not in their "bare"
shape, but in conjunction with an insect medium, fleas in particular. Fleas, being the most
tenaciousinsects,wereinfectedwithplagueanddroppedfromaircraft,andtheplaguegerms,
remaininginthefleas,successfullyreachedthegroundwiththem.Thismethodreducedthe
vulnerabilityofaircrafttoenemyantiaircraftartillery.
71
Ishii told me that the researches in this method had not yet been completed and, for
example,thequestionastowhatareathefleasdroppedfromhighaltitudescoveredhadnot
yetbeenclearedup.
Speakingabouttheinfectionoffoodstuffs,Ishiitoldmethatintheresearchesinthisfield,
the germs of cholera, dysentery, typhoid and paratyphoid were being used, and that
vegetables, fruit, fish and meat were so infected. Vegetables were found to be the most
suitable for bacteriological warfare: especially such as had numerous leaves, cabbage, for
example; root crops, having smooth surfaces, proved to be less suitable. The injection of
bacteriaintofoodproducts,fruit,forexample,wasfoundtobemoreeffectivethaninfecting
theirsurfaces.Themostsuitablemediumforspreadinginfectiousdiseases,accordingtowhat
Ishiisaid,werevegetables;nextinordercamefruit,fishand,last,meat....
In confirmation of this, Ishii told me that his detachment was conducting practical
experiments:experimentswithbacteriacontainedinartilleryshellsandaerialbombs;bacteria
were dropped from aircraft on to a proving ground next to the detachment's aerodrome at
PingfanStation;experimentswiththemostdangerouskindsofbacteriawereconductedon
some uninhabited territory, but where, Ishii did not say. He also said that Detachment 731
was conducting experiments on living people, but who these people were, and when and
wheretheexperimentswereperformed,hedidnotsay;hemerelysaidthatthosepeoplewere
Chinese and added that he had no right to say who these people were because that was a
"secretofsecrets."
Inconclusion,Ishiitoldmethatafteralltheexperi.mentsthathadbeenconductedunder
hisdirection,hehadarrivedattheconclusionthatthedeliberatespreadingofepidemicswas
not such an easy task as some people supposed, and as he himself had thought before. In
nature,epidemicsspreadveryeasily,buttheartificialspreadingofepidemicsencountereda
numberofobstacleswhichinsomecasesareovercomewithgreatdifficulty.Inhisopinion,
success in undertakings of this kind depended on the individual susceptibility of people to
variousinfectiousdiseases,andhehaddecidedtostudythisproblem.
... In March 1944, I had a similar conversation in my office with Major General of the
MedicalServiceKitanoMasazo,whofromAugust1942toMarch1945wasActingChiefof
Detachment731.
Supplementing what I had heard from Ishii, Kitano, in answer to my enquiry about the
workthedetachmentwasdoing,toldmethatsomesuccesshadbeenachievedsincehehad
beenincommandofDetachment731.Inparticular,hetoldmethatagroupofmembersof
Detachment731hadgonetotheChinesefront,toadistrictsouthofShanghai,andhadthere,
fromahighaltitude,droppedalargequantityofplague-infectedfleasonterritoryinhabited
byChinese.Thesefleasremainedaliveandanepidemicofplaguebrokeoutintheplacein
which they had dropped. Kitano added that it was not a big epidemic, but this method of
bacteriologicalwarfarecouldberegardedaseffective.
Furthermore, Kitano told me that in the region of Anta Station experiments had been
performed with delayed action bombs containing anthrax germs. The fragments of these
bombs,onwoundinghumanbeingsandcattle,infectedthemwithanthrax.
72
According to what Kitano said, the detachment had commenced experiments for the
purpose of ascertaining the susceptibility of human beings to infectious diseases. These
experiments were directed by a researcher in the detachment, Professor Kawakami Zen, a
specialist in pathology. These experiments had started with an analysis of the blood of
healthyJapaneseandChinese,buttheyhadstoppedowingtothedeathofKawakami.
Asfar as I know fromwhat Ishii and Kitanosaid,Detachment731engagedinthemass
production of means of bacteriological warfare: germsof different infectious diseases, and
alsomediaofinfection—fleasandmice.
I do not know in what quantities these were produced; at all events, they were
considerable.
Question:WhenwasDetachment731formed?
Answer: Detachment 731 was formed by command of the Emperor of Japan Hirohito,
issuedin1936.
...TheEmperor'scommandwasprintedandcopiesofitweresenttoalltheunitsofthe
JapaneseArmyfortheinformationofalltheofficers.Imyselfwasshownthiscommandand
thedetachment'spersonnellistaccompanyingit,andcertifiedthefactwithmyprivateseal.
After that I took part in recruiting the junior officer personnel of the detachment and in
examining the list of proposed senior officers which had been sent me by the Personnel
AdministrationoftheMinistryforWar.
The detachment's location was determined by the Kwantung Army Headquarters. Until
1941, the detachment had no number, but was called The Water Supply and Prophylaxis
Administration of the Kwantung Army, and also the Ishii Detachment, because it was the
customintheJapaneseArmytocallarmyunitsbythenamesoftheircommanders.
Thedetachmentwasgiventhenumber731in1941byorderoftheCommander-in-Chiefof
theKwantungArmy,whogavedefinitenumberstoallarmyunitsandinstitutions.
ThisrecordwasreadtomeinJapanese,mystatementsarerecordedcorrectly.
Kajitsuka
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,Memberofthestaff
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
73
ofJurisprudenceDUBTSOVforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,LieutenantColonelPAPKOV
InterpreterTSVIROV
EXCERPTFROMRECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFKAJITSUKARYUJI
October24,1949CityofKhabarovsk
...Detachment731wasreorganizedin1939-40underaspecialsecretdecreeissuedby
EmperorHirohitoofJapanin1939.IwasacquaintedwiththisdecreeattheKwantungArmy
HeadquartersapproximatelyinFebruary1940,signingapledgeofsecrecy.
Besides this, by one or perhaps two secret decrees, issued by Emperor Hirohito in 1940,
fourbranchesofDetachment731weresetupadditionallyinthesecondhalfofthatyear,to
belocatedinthetownsofHailarandSunyu,andatHailinandLinkowstations,thedatesof
theirformationbeingindicated.Theappendedtablesoforganization,signedbyWarMinister
Tojo,showedthateachofthesebrancheshadapersonnelofupto300men.
Orders issued by Japanese War Minister Tojo in accordance with the emperor's decrees
listedthehospitalsandDetachment731whichassignedadefinitenumberofarmymedical
specialists,non-commissioned officers and privates. Theorders also indicated that civilians
mightbeemployed,butnomorethan30percentoftheentirepersonnel....
Question:Fromwhomdidtheideaofpreparingforbacteriologicalwarfareoriginate?
Answer:TheideaofpreparingbacteriologicalwarfareoriginatedfromIshii.
Ishii Shiro, born around 1893 in the Prefecture of Chiba, comes from the family of a
wealthylandowner,andin191920graduatedfromtheCollegeofMedicineoftheImperial
University in the town of Kyoto. He then entered the service of the Japanese Army as a
volunteer.Soonafter,heappliedforenlistmentinregulararmyservice.Halfayearlaterhe
received his first commission, as lieutenant, and was appointed army physician in an army
unit.FromtherehewastransferredtotheFirstMilitaryHospitalinthecityofTokyo,whereI
becameacquaintedwithhiminOctober1922asacolleague.FromApril1924toMarch1926
hewasapostgraduatestudentinpathologyandbacteriologyattheuniversityfromwhichhe
had graduated in 1919-20. Then, until April 1928, he worked as resident physician at the
militaryhospitalinthetownofKyoto,fromwherehewassentabroadonamission,returning
attheendof1930.
OnhismissionabroadhevisitedalmostallthecountriesofEurope,includingtheU.S.S.R.,
where he acquainted himself with the work of medical research institutes in Moscow and
Leningrad.
74
Upon his return from abroad Ishii became an instructor of epidemiology at the Military
MedicalAcademyoftheJapaneseArmyinthecityofTokyo.
From this post he was appointed Chief of Detachment 731 in 1936 by an order of the
Japanese Minister for War. His rank at the time was Lieutenant Colonel of the Medical
Service.
In 1931, after returning from his mission abroad, in the circle of his comrades at the
Military Medical Academy, of whom I was one, as well as among authoritative and
influential officers of the Japanese General Staff, Ishii began to propagate Japan's need to
prepareforbacteriologicalwarfare....
Beginningwith1933MajorGeneralNagata,ChiefoftheMilitaryAffairsDivisionofthe
Japanese Ministry for War, supported Ishii's idea, and beginning with 1935, also Colonel
SuzukiYorimichi,Chiefofthe1stSectionoftheStrategicalDivisionoftheJapaneseGeneral
Staff.
Allthesecircumstances,aswellasthefactthatIshiiwasabigspecialist,ledtohisbeing
appointed Chief of Detachment 731, and upon taking up this post he began research on
weaponsofbacteriologicalwarfare.
As head of a division in the Medical Administration of the Japanese Ministry for War I
went over the order drafted by the Appointments Section of the Personnel Division
appointingIshiiChiefoftheabove-mentioneddetachment.Iagreedwiththisdraftorderand
visaedit.
SoonafterthistherefollowedanorderoftheJapaneseMinisterforWarappointingIshii
Chiefofthedetachment....
MilitaryProsecutor,Memberofthestaff
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
ofJurisprudenceDUBTSOVforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,LieutenantColonelPAPKOV
InterpreterTSVIROV
75
EXCERPTFROMRECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFTAKAHASHITAKAATSU
October30,1949CityofKhabarovsk
... I gave orders for Detachment 100 to prepare, and controlled its production of the
bacteriaofglandersandanthraxandofcattleplagueandmosaicdisease,withaviewtotheir
employmentinbacteriologicalwarfareandbacteriologicalsabotageagainsttheSovietUnion.
Question:When,andtowhom,didyougiveorderstopreparegermsofglanders,anthrax,
cattleplagueandmosaicdisease?
Answer:InSeptember1941IorderedtheChiefofDetachment100,ColonelWakamatsu,
subsequentlyMajorGeneraloftheVeterinaryService,tobeginproductionofthebacteriaof
glanders, anthrax and red rust. In March 1944 I ordered him to begin production of cattleplagueandmosaic-diseasegermsinplaceofredrust.
. . . Question: In what connection did you in September 1941 order the Chief of
Detachment100tobeginproductionofthebacteriaofglanders,anthraxandredrust?
Answer:InconnectionwiththereceiptfromtheGeneralStaffofImperialHeadquartersof
instructions to the Commander of the Kwantung Army to launch preparations for
bacteriologicalwarfareagainsttheSovietUnion.
Question: When were the instructions of the General Staff of Imperial Headquarters
concerningpreparationsforbacteriologicalwarfarereceived?
Answer:Theseinstructionswerereceivedatthetimethe"Kan-Toku-En"Planwasbeing
drawnup,inJuly1941.
Question:Howdoyouknowthis?
Answer: I learned it from the Commander of the Kwantung Army personally at a
conference in September 1941. The conference was conducted by the Commander of the
KwantungArmyonthequestionofpreparingforbacteriologicalwarfareagainsttheSoviet
Union.Heannouncedthistoallpresentattheconference....
Takahashi
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,Memberofthestaff
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
76
ofJurisprudenceANTONOVforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritoryCaptainSEROV
InterpreterPROTASOV
EXCERPTFROMRECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFTAKAHASHITAKAATSU
November21,1949CityofKhabarovsk
Question: What decisions were taken about ways and means of waging bacteriological
warfare in the light of the data on bacteriological reconnoitring against the U.S.S.R.
submittedbyHirazakura'sgroup?
Answer:Wakamatsu,HosakaandIdawerepresentwhenLieutenantHirazakuramadehis
report.Idonotrememberwhoofthosepresentvoicedhisopinionsconcerningthequantity
of pathogenes of anthrax, glanders, cattle plague and sheep plague required to infect the
districtinwhichHirazakura'sgroupconductedbacteriologicalreconnoitring.
EverythingwastobecarriedoutduringhostilitiesbetweentheSovietUnionandJapan.On
thatsameoccasionwaysandmeansofemployingbacteriologicalweaponsagainsttheSoviet
Unionwerediscussed.Weoutlinedmethodsofinfectinglivestock:cattlewastobeinfected
withanthraxandcattleplaguewiththeuseofaircraft.Itwasalsointendedtoinfectlivestock
belongingtothelocalpopulationandwhichwasgrazinginnomadicpasturages.
Horsesweretobeinfectedwithanthraxbyusingaircraft.
Sincetheepizooticspreadofglandersinvolvesbigdifficultieswedecidedtoinfecthorses
onlywithanthrax....ThesheepwhichHirazakura'sgrouppurchasedweretobeinfectedby
inoculation with the pathogene of sheep plague and let loose for the purpose of sabotage
againsttheSovietUnion.Thecattlepurchasedwasalsotobeinfected,byinoculationwith
thevirusofcattleplague.
Theinfectedcattle,sheepandhorsesweretobeloosedinvariousdirectionswiththeaim
oftheirlandingontheterritoryofthemilitaryoperationsoftheSoviettroops.Owingtothe
longlapseoftimeIcannotrecallthedetailsofallthemeasureswethenoutlined.
Question: Did you report to the Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army on the
measuresoutlined?
Answer:Yes,Idid.Inparticular,IreportedtoGeneralYamada.
Question:Whenandwhatdidyoureporttohim?
77
Answer:InNovemberorDecember1944GeneralYamadasummonedmeandaskedfora
report on the plan of bacteriological sabotage against the Soviet Union with the use of
aircraft. Basing myself on the bacteriological reconnoitring data received from Lieutenant
Hirazakura, in the presence of General Kasahara and General Ikeda I reported to General
Yamada my plan for bacteriological sabotage, which we subsequently discussed in March
1945 in my office, with Hirazakura present. Commander-in-Chief Yamada endorsed this
plan.
Ireportedtheplaningeneraloutlines.ThetechnicalpartoftheplanIdidnotreport....
Takahashi
INTERROGATOR
Memberofthestaff
oftheOfficeoftheMinistry
forInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory;
CaptainSEROVInterpreterPROTASOV
EXCERPTFROMRECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFKAWASHIMAKIYOSHI
October21,1949CityofKhabarovsk
Question:WhatdoyouknowabouttheoriginofDetachment731oftheKwantungArmy
andwhatwerethereasonsforitsformation?
Answer:Detachment731wasformedin1936byasecretdecreeofEmperorHirohitoof
Japan.OriginallythedetachmentwastobequarteredinthecityofHarbin,andbyanorderof
the Japanese Minister for War, Colonel Ishii Shiro of the Medical Service was appointed
ChiefofDetachment731.
ImyselfsawthedecreeoftheEmperorofJapaninthedetachment'sfilesduringmywork
as Chief of the General Division of Detachment 731, but I cannot now reproduce its
appearanceordetailedcontentsinceaconsiderableperiodoftimehaselapsedsincethen.
Immediatelyafterthedetachmentwasformeditreceivedtheofficialnameof"TheWater
Supply and Prophylaxis Administration of the Kwantung Army" and nominally occupied
78
itself with problems pertaining to water purification and water supply for the Kwantung
Army,aswellasthecombatingofepidemicdiseases.ItwasknownintheKwantungArmy
bythenameof"ManshuDetachment731,"thatis,the731stManchurianDetachmentofthe
KwantungArmy.Thisnamewasgiventhedetachmentbecauseinadditiontothefunctionsit
nominallycarriedoutithadother,secret,tasks.Asresearchinthedetachmentwasactivized
and the significance and importance of its work grew, the need arose to increase the
detachment'spersonnelandexpanditslaboratoriesandterritory.
Inconnectionwiththis,anewdecreewasissuedbytheEmperorofJapanin1940,.under
which the main part of the detachment was transferred to the vicinity of Pingfan Station
(approximately 30 kilometres south of Harbin). Here the detachment conducted its basic
research, experimental and production work. All the construction work in the vicinity of
PingfanStation,wherethedetachmenttookupquarters,hadbeenbegunin1939,andbythe
timethedetachmentmovedtheretheconstructionworkwascompleted.
In 1940 there thus remained in the city of Harbin the divisions dealing with purely
antiepidemicworkandmedicaltreatment,whilealltheotherdivisions,whichwereengaged
in work connected with preparing bacteriological warfare, had been transferred to Pingfan
Station.
In addition, the emperor's decree of 1940 provided for increasing the personnel of the
detachment to 3,000, this number including the branches set up in various districts of
Manchuriabythissamedecree,aswellasforthestructuralpartitionmentofthedetachment
intodivisions.
EverythingthatIhavetoldaboutthehistoryoftheoriginofDetachment731Iknowfrom
thedocumentsofthedetachment'sGeneralDivisionwhichIexaminedin1941,andfromthe
words of Colonel Oota, former Chief of the detachment's General Division, from whom I
took over in 1941, as well as of Lieutenant Colonel Murakami Takashi of the Medical
Service,Chiefofthedetachment's2ndDivision....
DuringoneofmyvisitstoGeneralIshiiinthesummerof1941,afterGermanyhadbegun
war on the Soviet Union, General Ishii, referring in the presence of divisional chiefs
Lieutenant Colonel Murakami and Colonel Oota Akira, to the need for intensifying the
detachment's activity, read out to us an order of the Chief of the Japanese General Staff
insisting upon the speeding up of research work on plague bacteria as a means of
bacteriologicalwarfare.
The order made special mention of the need for the mass breeding of fleas as plague
carriers.ThisorderwaswrittenbyhandinIndiaink.AtpresentIdonotrememberexactlyby
whomitwassigned.
Once,duringatalkwithleadingofficialsofthedetachmentinhisofficeinthesummerof
1941,GeneralIshii,speakingaboutthereasonsthathadpromptedJapan'smilitarycirclesto
form such a research body as Detachment 731, said that Japan did not possess sufficient
naturalresourcesofmetalsandotherrawmaterialsrequiredforthemanufactureofweapons,
and hence she had to develop new types of weapons, the bacteriological weapon being
79
regardedas one of thematthat time. Also, Ishiipointedout that all the great powers were
carrying on corresponding work in this sphere and that Japan must not lag behind in this
field.
Question:WhatorganizationexistedinManchuriapriortoDetachment731andcarriedout
tasksandfunctionssimilartothedutiesofDetachment731?
Answer: As I know from talks with Colonel Oota, the Chief of the General Division of
Detachment731,andwithothercolleagues,GeneralIshiiwasinManchuriain1932-33(Ido
notremembertheexactdate)andconductedbacteriologicalresearch.Ishii'sactivitycentred
inthevicinityofthesettlementofHainga(nearthecityofHarbin),wherewerelocatedhis
personnel, comprising a detachment which for purposes of secrecy bore the code name of
Togo.
Thisdetachment(itssizeIdonotknow)engagedinresearchonmeansofbacteriological
warfare. For this purpose the Togo Detachment had been outfitted with the necessary
equipment.ItiseasytounderstandthattheTogoDetachmentconductedworkonasmaller
scalethanDetachment731.SubsequentlyitwaswiththisdetachmentasthecorethatGeneral
IshiiformedDetachment731oftheKwantungArmy.
The record has been read to me in Japanese. It has been taken down from my words
faithfully,whichIconfirmbymysignature.
Kawashima
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,Memberofthestaff
CaptainofJurisprudenceBELYUGAoftheOfficeoftheMinistry
forInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,
SeniorLieutenantBRAVE,
InterpreterPLYACHENKO
EXCERPTFROMRECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFKAWASHIMAKIYOSHI
October23,1949CityofKhabarovsk
80
. . . The apparatus for breeding fleas as carriers of epidemic diseases consisted of the
following:inthedetachment's2ndDivisiontherewerespecially-equippedpremisescapable
ofhousingapproximately4,500incubators.Threeorfourwhitemicewereputthrougheach
incubator in the course of a month; these mice were held in the incubator by means of a
special attachment device. There was a nutritive medium and several kinds of fleas in the
incubator. The incubation period lasted three to four months, in the course of which each
incubatoryieldedabouttengramsoffleas.Thus,inthreetofourmonthsthedetachmentbred
about45kilogramsoffleassuitableforinfectionwithplague.
I request it to be noted that the figures relating to the breeding of fleas are approximate,
sinceIdidnotworkinthe2ndDivision.
Whenthedetachment'sworkwasplanned,asteadyincreaseintheproductivecapacityfor
cultivating bacteria and breeding fleas was provided for. Serious attention was paid to the
workofthedetachmentbytheJapaneseGeneralStaff.
I recall that in June 1941, upon his return from Tokyo, General Ishii assembled all the
divisionalchiefsofthedetachmentinhisofficeandinformedusthatwhileintheJapanese
GeneralStaffhehadreportedthatDetachment731hadsuccessfullyworkedoutamethodfor
employing plague-infected fleas as a bacteriological weapon, and that these achievements
madepossibletheirpracticalapplicationformilitarypurposesonawidescale.
Ishii told us that members of the General Staff had given a high appraisal of the
detachment'sworkandhadissuedinstructionstopayspecialattentiontotheperfectionand
further development of bacteriological means of warfare. After giving us this information,
General Ishii called upon usto workstill more intensively to increase the detachment's fleabreedingproductivitytoastilllargeramount.Ishiinotedthatthedetachmenthadmanaged,in
themostsuccessfulcases,tobringthebreedingoffleasupto60kilogramsinthreetofour
months, but now the amount had to be increased to 200 kilograms for the same period.
General Ishii explained to us that all these measures for expanding production of the
bacteriologicalweaponwerenecessitatedbythealteredinternationalsituation,thatis,bythe
war Germany had begun on the Soviet Union, and by the introduction into the Kwantung
Armyofthe"Kan-Toku-En"Plan,whichprovidedforthepreparationofmilitarymeasures
againsttheU.S.S.R.,andhenceourarmyhadtohavethebacteriologicalweaponinreadiness,
tobeabletoemployitagainsttheU.S.S.R.attherequiredmoment.
At this conference, Oota, Chief of the 2nd Division, and Ootani, Chief of the Materials
Division, advanced practical suggestions concerning expansion of the production of
bacteriological means of warfare and investigation into the possibilities of procuring white
miceinManchuriainplaceofthosehithertoreceivedfromJapan....
. . . For the purpose of the fullest possible study of bacteria on human beings and the
swiftestdevelopmentofmethodsofpreparingthebacteriologicalweaponforemploymentin
warattherequiredmoment,Detachment731experimentedwidelyintheactionofalllethal
bacteriaonhumanbeings..A
From 500 to 600 prisoners were consigned to Detachment 731 annually. I myself saw
81
whole batches of them being received from the gendarmerie by the personnel of the
detachment'slstDivision.They(theprisoners)wereconfinedintwoblocksoftheprison....
... If a prisoner survived the inoculation of lethal bacteria, this did not save him from a
repetition of the experiments, which were continued until death from infection supervened.
Theinfectedpeopleweregivenmedicaltreatmentinordertotestvariousmethodsofcure,
they were fed normally, and after they had fully recovered, were used for the next
experiment,butinfectedwithanotherkindofgerm.Atanyrate,nooneeverleftthisdeath
factoryalive.
Following anatomical study the bodies of the dead were burned in the detachment's
incinerator....
...OnnumerousoccasionsduringmyserviceinthedetachmentIinspected,togetherwith
GeneralIshii,variousdepartmentsofthedetachment,includingtheprison,andhenceIknow
somedetailsaboutthesystem,regimeandmaintenanceoftheprisoninmates.
Theprisonersweredeliveredtotheprisonthroughasecrettunneldugunderthefacadeof
the central building. The detachment's gendarme department had at its disposal several
specialmotorvehiclespaintedindarkcolour,withnowindows,andwithaventilationhole.
In these vehicles the prisoners were delivered from the penal bodies to the prison of
Detachment731.
Theprisonofficegaveeachprisonerdesignatedforexperimentationanumber,whichwas
hisuntilhedied....
InthefiveyearsthatthedetachmentwaslocatedatPingfanStation,thatis,from1940to
1945,notlessthan3,000personspassedthroughthisdeathfactory,andwerekilledbybeing
infectedwithlethalbacteria.Howmanydiedbefore1940,Idonotknow....
...InApril1941,justafterIarrivedtotakeupmypostinthedetachment,Iinspectedthe
prison,andinoneofthecellsIsawtwoRussianwomen,oneofwhomhadayear-oldchild,
borninthedetachment'sprison.DuringtheperiodIwaswiththedetachmentthesewomen
werealive.TheirsubsequentfateIdonotknow,butatanyratethesewomencouldnothave
lefttheprisonalive,andthesamelotasthatoftheotherprisonersmusthavebefallenthem..
..
Kawashima
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,'Memberofthestaff
CaptainofJurisprudenceBELYUGAoftheOfficeoftheMinistry
82
forInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory.'
SeniorLieutenantBRAVE
InterpreterPLYACHENKO
EXCERPTFROMRECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFKAWASHIMAKIYOSHI
October24,1949CityofKhabarovsk
. . . There is no doubt that the conduct of experiments on human beings and the
procurementofprisonersfromthegendarmerieforthispurposecouldnothavetakenplace
withouttheknowledgeoftheCommanderoftheKwantungArmy,whowasatthesametime
theJapaneseAmbassadorExtraordinaryandPlenipotentiarytoManchuria,thatis,thevirtual
masterofthecountry..X.
...Theneedtoprocureprisonersfromthegendarmeriewasdeterminedineachparticular
instancebyGeneralIshiipersonallyonthebasisofreportsmadebythedirectexecutorsof
the experiments on people. When the Chief of the detachment considered it necessary to
replenish the number of prisoners designated for experimentation he gave an order to this
effecttotheChiefoftheOfficeoftheGeneralDivision,whocontactedthegendarmerieand
receivedprisonersfromit..
...Proceedingfromthehistoryofthedetachment'soriginanditspracticalactivityover
theentireperiodofitsexistence,IcansaythatthereasonsfortheexistenceofDetachment
731preciselyinManchuriawerethefollowing:
a)Theneedtohave,inproximitytothebordersoftheSovietUnion,abaseofbacteriological
meansofwarfareforthepurposeofapossibleattackontheU.S.S.R.,theFarEastofwhich
wasincludedinthepredatoryplansoftheJapanesemilitary.
In addition, the conduct of bacteriological warfare research in Manchuria enabled us to
carryoutthisworkinclimaticconditionsidenticalwiththeclimateoftheSovietFarEast.
b)ThepossibilityofobtaininginManchuriaalargeamountofhumanmaterialfromamong
persons of nonJapanese nationality for bacteriological experiments, as well as Manchuria's
largeterritory....
Kawashima
83
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor;Memberofthestaff
CaptainofJurisprudenceBELYUGAoftheOfficeoftheMinistry
forInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory.
SeniorLieutenantBRAVE
InterpreterPLYACHENKO
EXCERPTFROMRECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFHIRAZAKURAZENSAKU
October21i'1949CityofKhabarovsk
Question:WhatdoyouknowaboutDetachment100oftheKwantungArmy?
Answer: Detachment 100 was the secret name of the veterinary-bacteriological
experimental detachment of the Kwantung Army. This detachment was formed by the
Kwantung Army Headquarters, but when, I cannot say. Detachment 100 carried out all its
workundertheimmediateguidanceofLieutenantGeneralTakahashiTakaatsu,Chiefofthe
VeterinaryServiceoftheKwantungArmy.Theheadquartersandmainpartofthepersonnel
of the given detachment were stationed in the city of Changchun, in the vicinity of the
Chinese settlement of Menchiangtung and its branches were located in the towns of
Kiamusze,KokuzanandDairen.Asabacteriologicalexperimentaldetachment,Detachment
100 was staffed with researchers—bacteriologists, chemists and veterinaries, who were
completelyoccupiedindevelopingvarioustypesofgermsandstrongpoisons;researchwas
conducted on methods for the wholesale poisoning of both people and animals with these
poisons.Forthispurposethepersonnelofthisdetachmentconductedexperimentsonanimals
andhumanbeings.AlltheworkofDetachment100anditsbrancheswasaimedatpreparing
forbacteriologicalwarfareandsabotageagainsttheSovietUnion.Detachment100consisted
offourdivisions,chiefofthembeingthe2ndDivision,whichupto1943inturnconsistedof
fivesections.
In December 1943, at a joint conference of senior personnel of Detachment 100 and
representativesoftheKwantungArmyHeadquartersattendedby:MajorGeneralWakamatsu
Yujiro, the Chief of Detachment 100, his deputies, Lieutenant Colonel Hosaka Koremichi
and Major Yamaguchi Bunji, engineer Ida Kiyoshi, and Lieutenant General Takahashi
Takaatsu,ChiefoftheVeterinaryServiceoftheKwantungArmy(thepresentwhereaboutsof
the above-mentioned persons I do not know), a plan was elaborated for forming under the
84
2ndDivisionasixthsection,calledthe"bacteriological."Thissectionwasdesignatedforthe
masspreparationofgermsandtheirstorageinspecialbasementstorehouses.
After this conference, extensive construction work was indeed launched in Detachment
100inaccordancewiththeplandrawnup,thatis,specialone-storeybuildingswithbasement
storehouseswereerected.Thepersonnelofthedetachmentwasincreased.
LieutenantGeneralTakahashiTakaatsu,ChiefoftheVeterinaryServiceoftheKwantung
Army, frequently visited Detachment 100 to give guidance on the spot and to intensify
controloverfulfilmentofthegivenplan.
Inconversationswithanarrowcircleofthepersonnel,theChiefofDetachment100,Major
General Wakamatsu, repeatedly said: "In the event of war between Japan and the Soviet
Union,Detachment100mustbecomeafactoryproducingvariousgermsandstrongpoisons
onamassscaleforwagingbacteriologicalwarfareandsabotageagainsttheSovietUnion."
Andindeed,alargequantityofgermsandchemicalagentswaspreparedinthe6thSection.
Several times I myself had occasion to visit the section's premises where germs and strong
poisonswerestoredinspecialmetalcontainers;onenteringthesestorehousesstripsofgauze
impregnated with a special solution were placed over the mouth and the nose. It was
permitted to touch the containers only with rubber gloves. For secrecy purposes these
containers bore only numbers, written in paint, and had no other inscriptions. Research on
forms and methods of carrying out sabotage was also conducted in Detachment 100; for
instance,thequestionofemployingaircraftforthispurposewasworkedout....
Hirazakura
INTERROGATOR
Memberofthestaff
oftheOfficeoftheMinistry
forInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,
SeniorLieutenantNAZAROVInterpreterGERTSMAN
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFWITNESSMATSUMURATOMOKATSU
October27,1949CityofKhabarovsk
85
I, Senior Lieutenant Korsakov, member of the staff of the Office of the Ministry for
"InternalAffairsoftheU.S.S.R.fortheKhabarovskTerritory,haveinterrogatedasawitness
Matsumura Tomokatsu, born 1899 in the city of Tokyo, a Japanese, a Japanese subject,
higher education, before he was taken prisoner in 1945 was Assistant Chief of Staff of the
Kwantung Army, is married to Matsumura Hideko, comes from a family of a salaried
employee,formerlyaMajorGeneraloftheJapaneseArmy.
WitnessMatsumuraTomokatsuwaswarnedofthepenaltyforgivingfalsetestimonyunder
Art.95oftheCriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Matsumura
Question:Inwhatlanguagedoyouwishtogiveyourtestimonyaswitness?
Answer:IwillgivemytestimonyinmynativeJapaneselanguage.
Question: Your interrogation will be conducted through interpreter Mikhail Yakovlevich
Pakhomov.Doyouhaveanyobjections?
Answer:No,Idonot.Iunderstandhisspeechverywell.
Interpreter Pakhomov was warned of his liability to prosecution for deliberately false
interpretationunderArt.95oftheCriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Pakhomou
Question:DescribeyourserviceintheJapaneseArmy.
Answer: In 1928 I graduated from theMilitary Academy, after which I was a platoon
commanderinthe34thInfantryRegimentforoneyear.
In 1929 I was assigned to the General Staff of the Japanese Army, where from 1929 to
December 1932 I worked in the Military Formations Section of the 1st Division, and from
1932to1936IwasabroadonamissionfromtheGeneralStaff.Uponmyreturnfromabroad
ItaughtmilitaryhistoryattheMilitaryAcademyduring1936.
From1937toOctober1939IworkedintheFormationsDivision,andthen,fromOctober
1939 to October 1941, I worked in the Military History Division, first as a member of its
personnelandthenastheChiefofthisdivision.
From October 1941 to August 1943 I headed the 5th Russian Division of the 2nd
Intelligence Administration of the Japanese General Staff. In August 1943, by order of the
MinisterforWar,IwasappointedtothepostofChiefofthe1stOperationsDivisionofthe
KwantungArmyHeadquarters,whichpostIhelduntilMarch1945.FromMarch1945until
thedayJapansurrenderedinAugust1945IheldthepostofSecondDeputyChiefofStaffof
theKwantungArmy.
86
Question: What do you know about the existence of bacteriological detachments on the
territoryofManchuria?
Answer:IwellknowthattwosuchdetachmentsexistedintheKwantungArmy,thefirstof
whichwasnamedDetachment731andthesecond,Detachment100.
Question: To what degree was Detachment 731, headed by Lieutenant General Ishii,
subordinatedtotheKwantungArmyHeadquarters?
Answer:Detachment731,headedbyLieutenantGenera^Ishii,wasadetachmentdirectly
subordinatetotheCommand'eroftheKwantungArmy,atfirstUmezu,andthenYamada,
andthedetachmentconductedallitsworkunderthedirectguidanceoftheKwantungArmy
Headquarters.
Question: How did guidance of the activity of this detachment by the Commander-inChief,GeneralYamadaOtozoo,andtheKwantungArmyHeadquartersexpressitself?
Answer: The Commander-in-Chief guided the activity of Detachment 731 through
LieutenantGeneralKajitsuka,ChiefoftheMedicalAdministrationoftheKwantungArmy,
andhencetheKwantungArmyHeadquartersboreprimeresponsibilityforthisdetachment's
activity.
Question: In what did the preparation carried out by Detachment 731 for bacteriological
warfareagainsttheU.S.S.R.expressitself?
Answer: The preparation of bacteriological means of warfare expressed itself in the fact
that Detachment 731 studied the employment of the germs of plague, cholera, typhoid and
other infectious diseases; for this purpose the detachment had special institutions where
experimentswereconductedandgermswerecultivated.
Alongside this, Detachment 731 had branches in Mutankiang, Hailar, Sunyu and loan,
whichalsoengagedinthebreedingandtestingofgerms.
Question:Whatrelationdidyou,asChiefoftheStrategicalDivisionandDeputyChiefof
StaffoftheKwantungArmy,havetoDetachment731?
Answer:MyrelationtoDetachment731consistedinthepreparationofpassestovisitthe
detachment'sterritoryforpersonspermittedtovisitit.Permissiontovisitthedetachmentwas
granted personally by Commander Yamada. In immediate charge of issuing passes to
Detachment 731 was Deputy Chief of the Strategical Division, which I headed, Prince
Takeda, otherwise known as Lieutenant Colonel Miyata. The persons who visited the
detachmentreturnedthepassestoPrinceTakeda.
Question: To whom did the chiefs of the medical and veterinary administrations of the
KwantungArmyreportonthemostimportantphasesoftheirwork?
87
| Answer: Lieutenant General Kajitsuka, Chief of the Medical Administration, and
LieutenantGeneralTakahashiTakaatsu,ChiefoftheVeterinaryAdministration,reportedon
themainphasesoftheirworkdirectlytoCommanderin-ChiefYamada.
Question:HowoftendMCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmyYamadavisitthe
IshiiDetachment?
Answer:IrememberwellthatsoonafterhisarrivalinManchuria,whichwasinJuly1944,
Commander-in-Chief Yamada visited the Ishii Detachment in Harbin, where he held an
inspection of the detachment, but upon his return to Changchun Yamada did not share the
detailsofhisinspectionwithanyone,andIknownothingaboutit.
Question:Whatdoyouknowaboutthedestructionofthelaboratoriesofdetachments731
and100?
Answer:OnAugust9or10,1945,inconnectionwiththebeginningofmilitaryoperations,
Commander-in-Chief Yamada took a decision to destroy all the laboratories and valuable
equipmentforcultivatingbacteria,topreventthesescientificlaboratoriesfromfallingintothe
handsoftheSovietArmy;ColonelKusaji,mysubordinate,draftedanorderconcerningthe
destructionoftheabove-mentioneddetachmentsandabouttheevacuationofthepersonnelof
thesedetachmentstothecityofSeoul(SouthKorea).Onthatsamedaytheorderwassigned
byCommander-in-ChiefYamadaandwassenttothechiefsofdetachments731and100for
fulfilment.
TheorderoftheCommander-in-ChiefwasthebasisonwhichLieutenantGeneralIshiiand
Major General Wakamatsu received the assistance of local sapper detachments to blow up
anddestroytheabove-mentioneddetachments.
Question:Waslaboratoryequipmentofthesebacteriologicaldetachmentsalsoshippedto
Korea?
Answer:Ifinditdifficulttoanswerthisquestionsincethestatementssaidnothingabout
this,allthemoresincenoreportabouttheresultsoftheevacuationofthesedetachmentsto
KoreawasreceivedattheKwantungArmyHeadquarters.Inalllikelihoodthemostvaluable
bacteriologicalequipmentofdetachments731and100wasshippedtoSouthKorea.
Taken down correctly from my words, the record has been read to me in Japanese, in
confirmationofwhichIaffixmysignature.
Matsumura
INTERROGATOR
Memberofthestaff
88
oftheOfficeoftheMinistry
forInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,
SeniorLieutenantKORSAKOVInterpreterPAKHOMOV
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFWITNESSMATSUMURATOMOKATSU
November16,1949CityofKhabarovsk
WitnessMatsumurawaswarnedofthepenaltyforgivingfalsetestimonyunderArt.95of
theCriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Matsumura
TheinterrogationisconductedthroughinterpreterPlyachenko,P.P.,whowaswarnedof
hisliabilitytoprosecutionfordeliberatelyfalseinterpretationunderArt.95oftheCriminal
CodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Plyachenko
Question:WhenwasDetachment731formed?
Answer:ThedetachmentheadedbyGeneralIshiiwasformedapproximatelyin1934and
wasstationedinHarbin.
Question: For what reasons was Detachment 731 formed precisely on the territory of
Manchuria?
Answer: Detachment 731, being a big bacteriological works for research in, and the
preparationof,bacteriologicalweapons,wasformedontheterritoryofManchuriabecauseof
strategic considerations, since Japan was preparing for war with the Soviet Union and the
entire activity of this detachment resolved itself into preparing for bacteriological warfare
against the U.S.S.R. Secondly, the expenditures J involved in the formation of this
detachment and with its j researches in evolving bacteriological weapons came under the
generalextraordinarywarbudgetoftheKwantungArmy;specialreportsonthisbudgetdid
nothavetoberenderedtoparliament,whichmadeitpossibletomaintainthedetachment's
activityinsecrecyfrompersonssittinginparliamentandnotversedinmilitarymatters.
Question: What organizational measures did Detachment 731 carry out in preparing for
bacteriologicalwarfareagainsttheSovietUnion?
89
Answer: The preparations for bacteriological warfare against the Soviet Union were
expressedinthefactthatDetachment731studiedmethodsofemployingthegermsofplague,
anthrax, cholera, typhoid and other diseases; for this purpose Detachment 731 had special
institutionswhereexperimentswereconductedandgermswerecultivated.Detachment731
also had branches, about which I testified on October 27, 1949. What the branches of
Detachment731engagedinisunknowntome.
Question:Whatcategoryofpersonswereusedasexperimentees?
Answer: From the words of Colonel Tamura I know that Detachment 731 conducted
experiments on living people from among soldiers and partisans of the Chinese People's
RevolutionaryArmy.
Question: How do you know that the Ishii Detachment conducted research in the
developmentandpreparationofgerms?
Answer: In August 1943, while taking over from the former Chief of the Operations
DivisionoftheKwantungArmyHeadquarters,MajorGeneralTamuraYoshitomi,Ilearned
from him that the Ishii Detachment conducted research in developing bacteriological
weapons and methods of employing them. In the summer of 1944, I do not remember the
exact month, a report made by my subordinate, staff officer Lieutenant Colonel Miyata,
whomattheorderofChiefofStaffLieutenantGeneralKasaharaYukioIpersonallyhadsent
totheIshiiDetachmenttocheckuponthestateoftheproductionofspecialbombscharged
with epidemic germs, fully convinced me that Detachment 731 occupied itself with these
matters. Besides this, I knew about the manufacture of bacteriological weapons in
Detachment 731 from the reports that came in addressed to the Commanderin-Chief of the
KwantungArmy,aboutwhichreportsIshallspeaklater.
Question: Could Detachment 731, as it was in 1945, supply the Kwantung Army with
sufficientbacteriologicalweapons?•
Answer:OnthebasisofmaterialssubmittedtotheOperationsDivisionoftheKwantung
ArmyHeadquarters,andthereportbyLieutenantColonelMiyata,in1945Detachment731
wasabletoproduceamassquantityofvariousepidemicgermssufficientforemploymentas
bacteriologicalweapons.Bythattimeintensiveworkwasbeingcarriedouttodevelopspecial
bombsasthemosteffectivemethodofemployingbacteriologicalweapons.
Question:Didyou,inyourstrategicalplans,providefortheemploymentofbacteriological
weaponsinawaragainsttheSovietUnion?
Answer: In drawing up the operations and strategical plans, the employment of
bacteriological weapons was not provided for, but in the event instructions came from
Imperial Headquarters to use bacteriological weapons in a war against the U.S.S.R., the
bacteriologicalweaponsathandwouldhavebeenused,fortheIshiiDetachmentwasready
forthis.
Question:How,practically,wasitintendedtousegermsinawaragainsttheU.S.S.R.?
90
Answer:Itwas intended to use germs in a war against the U.S.S.R. by dropping bombs
chargedwithgermsandbysprayinggermsfromaircraft.Ididnotknowofothermethodsof
employingbacteriologicalweaponsinawaragainsttheU.S.S.R.
Question:HowdidsupervisionoftheactivityofDetachment731bytheKwantungArmy
Headquartersexpressitself?
Answer:AttheinterrogationonOctober27,1949,ItestifiedthatDetachment731,headed
byLieutenantGeneralIshii,wasadetachmentdirectlysubordinatedtotheCommanderofthe
KwantungArmy,andthatthisdetachmentconductedallitsworkunderthedirectsupervision
oftheKwantungArmyHeadquarters.
Commander-in-Chief Umezu, and then, beginning with July 1944, Yamada Otozoo,
supervised the activity of Detachment 731 on strategical matters through the Operations
Division,whichIheaded,andonscientificandtechnicalmattersthroughGeneralKajitsuka
Ryuji,ChiefoftheMedicalDivisionoftheKwantungArmyHeadquarters,whohadcharge
of scientific and technical research in the sphere of bacteriology, the training ftf cadres of
bacteriologists,andalsotheantiepidemicserviceandwatersupply.
Question: On what matters did the Operations Division which you headed supervise the
detachment?
Answer: The Operations Division of the Kwantung Army Headquarters supervised
Detachment731onmatterspertainingtothedevelopmentandpreparationofbacteriological
weapons.
Question:WhatreportsontheactivityofDetachment731addressedtotheCommander-inChiefwerereceivedandwhatdecisionsdidhetakeonthesereports?
jAnswer:AsfarasIcannowrecall,twosuchreportsaddressedtotheCommander-in-Chief
of the Kwantung Army were received. The first report from Detachment Chief Ishii—on
methodsofdroppinggermsfromaircraftbysprayingfromspecialreceptacles—wasreceived
*inthesecondhalfof1943.
The Commander-in-Chief—at that time General Umezu Yoshijiro—after acquainting
himself with the methods advanced by General Ishii in this report, declared them to be of
littleeffect,pointingoutthatwithsuchamethodofemployingbacteriologicalweaponswe
wouldsufferbiglossesbothinmanpowerandinmateriel,inasmuchaswewouldnotbeable
toprotectourtroopsfrominfection.ThroughArmyChiefofStaffKasahara,Commander-inChief Umezu ordered Detachment Chief Ishii to work out a different and more effective
methodofemployingbacteriologicalweapons.
About a year later a report on new methods of employing bacteriological weapons was
submitted to the Commanderin-Chief. In this report Lieutenant General Ishii expounded a
methodofemployingbacteriologicalweaponsbydroppingspecialporcelainbombscharged
withepidemic germs. Commander-in-Chief Umezu madeno remarks concerning the report
andkeptthisdocumentinhisownpossessionuntilheleftthepostofCommander-in-Chief,
91
that is, until July 1944. From experience I know that if the commander does not issue any
instructions concerning this or that report addressed to him, this means he agrees with the
measuresadvancedinthedocument.
Such was also the case in this instance. Umezu regarded this method of employing
bacteriologicalweaponsinawaragainsttheU.S.S.R.tobethemosteffective.
InJuly1944,whenGeneralYamadaOtozootookupthepostofCommander-in-Chiefof
theKwantungArmy,hispredecessorUmezuacquaintedhimwiththisdocumentandwiththe
activityofIshii'sdetachment,andwhenthisreportcametomeforcustody,YamadaOtozoo
did not give any instructions either, which meant that he also agreed with the measures
advancedinthereportconcerningtheemploymentofbacteriologicalweaponsbydropping,
fromaircraft,specialporcelainbombschargedwithgerms.
Since at that time Detachment 731 was not able to supply the Kwantung Army with
sufficientbacteriologicalweapons,withYamada'sadventtothepost'ofCommanderofthe
Army, Detachment 731 was expanded considerably in the light of instructions from the
Japanese War Ministry to increase the output ^>f bacteriological weapons; the detachment
received new laboratory equipment, and consequently, the manufacture of bacteriological
weapons was increased. It is not accidental that in August 1944, soon after his arrival in
Manchuria,YamadavisitedandinspectedDetachment731.
Question: When were the instructions received from the War Ministry to increase the
outputofbacteriologicalweapons?
Answer:TheinstructionsfromtheWarMinistrytoincreasetheoutputofbacteriological
weapons were received by the Kwantung Army Headquarters, in the month of May, 1944,
that is, before Yamada's arrival, and it seems to me, although I cannot affirm this, that the
Ministry'sinstructionshadinmindtheensuringofbacteriologicalweaponsnotonlyforthe
KwantungArmybutalsoforthearmyinthePacific.Question:Whooftheleadingpersonnel
oftheKwantungArmyHeadquartersvisitedDetachment731,andforwhatpurpose?
Answer:CommanderoftheKwantungArmyYamadaandstaffofficerLieutenantColonel
MiyatavisitedDetachment731;concerningthepurposeoftheirvisitsIhavetestifiedabove..
..
Question:DidtheCommander'sorderwhichwasissuedonAugust9or10,1945,speak
onlyaboutthedestructionofDetachment731,ordiditincludeothermattersrelatingtothis
detachment?
Answer:InadditiontothedestructionofDetachment731andDetachment100byblasting,
the order of the Commander of the Kwantung Army, General Yamada, of August 9 or 10,
1945, also provided for the evacuation of the personnel and valuable equipment of both
detachmentstoSouthKorea.Inlinewiththesameorderthetopographicaldetachmentofthe
KwantungArmywasevacuateddeepintotherear.
Question:Whywasthevaluableequipmentofdetachments731and100shippedprecisely
92
toKorea?
Answer:AtthattimeSouthKoreawasthesafestplace,andallthemorebecausethetroops
stationed in Korea were subordinated to the Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army,
andwedidnotcalculatethatKoreawouldbecapturedbytheadversary.
Question:WhichunitsoftheKwantungArmyweredetailedtodestroyDetachment731?
Answer:AtthetimetheordertodestroyDetachment731wasissued,themixedbrigade
underMajorGeneralUbewaslocatedinthevicinityofHarbin,andinalllikelihoodsappers
ofthisbrigadecarriedouttheblastingofthedetachment,butIamnotabletoaffirmthis,for
theorderdidnotdirectlystipulatewhichunitwastotakepartindestroyingthedetachment.
ThetestimonyhasbeenreadtomeinJapaneseandIconfirmitscorrectness.
Matsumura
INTERROGATOR
Memberofthestaff
oftheOfficeoftheMinistry
forInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,
SeniorLieutenantKORSAKOVInterpreterPLYACHENKO
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFWITNESSMATSUMURATOMOKATSU
December7,1949CityofKhabarovsk
WitnessMatsumuraTomokatsuwas
warnedofthepenaltyforgivingfalsetestimonyunderArt.95oftheCriminalCodeofthe
R.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Matsumura
The interrogation is conducted through interpreter T s v i r o v, who was warned of his
93
liabilitytoprosecutionfordeliberatelyfalseinterpretationunderArt.95oftheCriminalCode
oftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Tsvirov
Question:StatemoreexplicitlywhenDetachment731wassetup.
Answer: I do not remember exactly when Detachment 731 was formed. As far as I can
recall,Detachment731wassetupin1934-36inaccordancewithadecreeoftheEmperorof
Japan.
Question: Since when did you work as Chief of the 1st Operations Division of the
KwantungArmyHeadquarters?
Answer: I worked as Chief of the Operations Division of the Kwantung Army
HeadquartersbeginningwithAugust1943.
Question:Didyouhaveanyrelationinyourlineofdutytotheworkofdetachments731
and100connectedwiththeproductionofbacteriologicalweapons?
Answer: Yes, as Chief of the Operations Division I was connected with the work of
bacteriologicaldetachments731and100oftheKwantungArmy.Concretely,thisconnection
consisted in that reports by the chiefs of detachments 731 and 100 on various problems
connectedwiththedevelopmentandproductionofbacteriologicalweaponscametome,as
ChiefoftheOperationsDivision.Asarule,thesereportswereaddressedtotheCommander
oftheKwantungArmy,butinsofarastheyrelatedtotheworkofoneoranotherservicethe
AdjutantDivision(thesecretariat)sentthemtotheappropriatedivision.
ReportshavingabearingontheworkoftheOperationsDivision,thatis,connectedwith
the practical employment of bacteriological weapons, came to me. Reports connected with
the employment of bacteriological weapons for sabotage were sent to the Chief of the
IntelligenceDivision.
Uponreceivingsuchreports,dependingupontheirimportanceIeithersettledthemmyself
orelsereportedtotheChiefofStaffoftheKwantungArmyortotheCommander,atfirst
Umezu,andlater,beginningwithJuly1944,Yamada.
Question: In your testimony of November 16, 1949, you spoke about instructions which
theKwantungArmyHeadquartersreceivedfromtheJapaneseMinistryforWartoincrease
theproductionofbacteriologicalweaponsindetachments731and100.Statemoreexplicitly
whentheseinstructionswerereceived.
Answer: I cannot now recall the date when the Kwantung Army Headquarters received
theseinstructions.Irememberthatitwaseitherinspringorsummer,butwhetherin1944or
1945 I do not remember exactly. I remember that in line with these instructions the
CommanderoftheKwantungArmy,itwaseitherUmezuorYamada,instructedDetachment
94
731toincreaseitsequipmentandtheproductionofvariousepidemicgermsdesignatedfor
useasbacteriologicalweapons.Bywhatamounttheproductionofgermshadtobeincreased
Idonotremember,butatanyrateitwasamatterofaconsiderableincrease.
Question: What concrete measures did the Operations Division of the Kwantung Army
HeadquarterscarryoutinconnectionwiththeinstructionsreceivedfromtheMinistryforWar
toincreasetheproductionofbacteriologicalweapons?
Answer:InowrecollectthattheWarMinistry'sinstructionsofwhichIhavespokenabove
were received while Yamada was Commander-in-Chief. I remember that after the War
Ministry's instructions were received, Commanderin-Chief Yamada issued a corresponding
ordertotheOperationsDivisionabouttheirfulfilment.
InconnectionwiththisIgaveanorderinYamada'snametotheChiefofDetachment731
toincreasesubstantiallytheproductionoflethalbacteria,andsimultaneously,inthenameof
the Chief of Staff, passed on instructions to the 4th Division of the Kwantung Army
HeadquarterstosupplyDetachment731withtherequisitematerialsforequipment.
Question:Whatcalledforththeneedtoincreaseproductionofbacteriologicalweaponsin
linewiththeinstructionsyouhavementioned?
Answer:TheWarMinistry'sinstructionsdidnotindicatetheactualreasonsforincreasing
theproductionofbacteriologicalweapons.I,personally,asChiefoftheOperationsDivision,
consideredthisincreasetohavebeencalledforthbytworeasons.
Firstly,bytheworseningofthemilitarysituationinthePacificOceanareas,inconnection
withwhichemploymentofthebacteriologicalweaponagainsttheU.S.A.,Englandandother
countries was contemplated. In this event the bacteriological weapons produced by the
bacteriologicaldetachmentsinManchuriaweretobeused.
On the other hand, this increase was called forth by corresponding preparations for
employmentofbacteriologicalweaponsagainsttheSovietUnionintheeventoftheoutbreak
ofhostilities.
Question: How did the Kwantung Army intend to employ the bacteriological weapon
againsttheSovietUnion?
Answer: Employment of bacteriological weapons against the Soviet Union was to have
been in accordance with instructions from the General Staff. Employment of the
bacteriological weapon against the Soviet Union was not included in the operations plans,
sincetheemploymentoflethalbacteriawasonlyoneofthetypesofweaponsdesignatedfor
implementation of the already existing operations plans. However, these matters were
discussed in the corresponding divisions of headquarters". Thus, after appropriate study of
this matter, I, personally, for the Operations Division, submitted my views concerning
methods of employing bacteriological weapons against the U.S.S.R. to Chief of Staff
KasaharaYukio.IreportedtoKasaharathatintheeventoftheoutbreakofhostilitieswiththe
SovietUnion,bacteriologicalweaponsshouldbeemployedwiththeaidofaircraft.
95
In particular, I reported to Kasahara that in the event of war with the Soviet Union
bacteriological weapons should be employed in the area of the cities of Voroshilov,
Khabarovsk,BlagoveshchenskandChita,thatis,inreardistrictsoftheSovietUnion.
Infectionofthesedistrictswastohavebeencarriedoutbydroppingbacteriabombsand
spraying germs from aircraft. Planes of Kwantung Army air formations were to have been
usedforthispurpose.
Question:Butweretherenotsupposedtobespecialplanesforthispurpose?
Answer: No, ordinary planes could be used for this purpose. To drop bacteria bombs—
ordinary bombers, and to spray germs—any plane, since the germ-spraying apparatus was
verysimpleandcouldbeattachedtoanyplane.
Theseviewsofmine,asIhavealreadysaid,IvoicedtoChiefofStaffKasahara,andhe
endorsed them in general outline. None of these measures were included in the operations
plan,butinstudyingthesequestionsIproceededfromthegeneralsituationoftheoperations
outlinedbytheoperationsplan.
ImadethisreporttoKasaharaafterreceiptoftheWarMinistry'sinstructionstoincrease
theproductionofbacteriologicalweapons.Thepointisthatafterreceiptoftheinstructionsto
increasetheproductionofbacteriologicalweaponsKasaharacommissionedmetostudythe
possibilitiesoftheiremploymentagainsttheSovietUnionincaseofnecessity.Istudiedthis
questionandmadeacorrespondingreporttoKasahara,who,asIhavealreadysaid,endorsed
myviews.
Question:WhatwerethebasictypesofbacteriologicalweaponsadoptedbytheKwantung
Army?
Answer: By 1945 the following were approved as the basic types of bacteriological
weapons:thebacteriabomb,themethodofsprayinggermsfromaircraft,andthelandmethod
—sabotage.IthinkthatthesebasicmethodswereapprovedbytheJapaneseGeneralStaff.
Question: What types of bacteriological weapons were considered and approved by
Commander-in-ChiefYamada?
Answer: While Yamada was Commander-in-Chief he considered and then approved the
twobasicmethodswhichbythattimehadbeencompletelyperfected,asitwere.Ihavein
mindtheIshiibacteriabombandthemethodofsprayingplague-infectedfleasfromaircraft.
Question:How,practically,wasitintendedtoemploythebacteriologicalweapon?
Answer:AsChiefoftheOperationsDivisionoftheKwantungArmyHeadquartersIknow
thatpracticalemploymentofthebacteriologicalweaponwastohavebeencarriedoutthrough
specialcadresexistinginthedetachmentsandtheirbranches.Inotherwords,incaseofneed
the detachments and branches were to detail an appropriate number of specialists at whose
96
disposalweretobeputsoldierswhohadgonethroughspecialtrainingbackinpeacetime.In
peacetimethesesoldierswererecruitedfromvariousunitsoftheJapaneseArmyandsentto
attendcoursesofstudyindetachments731and100,where,togetherwithmedicaltraining,
theywentthroughspecialtrainingandacquiredthenecessaryskillinbacteriology.Themost
loyal soldiers were selected for these courses, but the technique of the selection I do not
know.Uponcompletionofthecourses,inpeacetimetheyweresenteithertothebranchesor
else to prophylaxis and water supply detachments, in units and formations of the Japanese
Army.Inwartimetheyweretobeusedforemployingthebacteriologicalweapon.
Idonotknowthetotalnumberofsuchcadrestrainedbydetachments731and100.
Question: What rules and instructions existed for the employment of bacteriological
weapons?
Answer: There were no such instructions for general use. I think there were provisional
instructionsandruleswhichwereworkedoutindetachments731and100andwereusedin
trainingcadres.WhoapprovedthemIdonotknow.Thesequestionsdidnotcomewithinmy
competence.
Question: Who sent out a special group of Detachment 100 in 1944-45 to carry out
bacteriological reconnoitring in the districts of North Khingan Province bordering on the
SovietUnion?
Answer: In my presence, in 1944 or perhaps in 1945, Chief of the Veterinary
AdministrationTakahashireportedeithertoCommanderoftheKwantungArmyYamadaor
toChiefofStaffKasaharaYukioabouttheworkofagroupfromDetachment100indistricts
of North Khingan Province. Takahashi reported that Detachment 100 was carrying out
reconnaissance in districts of North Khingan Province to determine the possibility of
employing bacteriological weapons in these districts to infect livestock, pastures and water
sources. I remember that in the report Takahashi offered his suggestions for the practical
employmentofgerms.Irecollectthathevoicedsuggestionsaboutthenecessity,incaseof
need,ofinfectingfodderandwatersourcesinthevicinityofHailarandthedistrictssoutheast
ofLakeDalai-Nor.
In the Kwantung Army Headquarters, the work of Detachment 100 in carrying out
sabotage measures was supervised by the Intelligence Division of the Kwantung Army
Headquarters.
Question:DidyouevermakeareportconcerningemploymentoftheIshiibacteriabomb?
Answer: Yes. In the autumn of 1944, approximately the month of November, at
instructionsfromtheChiefofStaffImadeareportontheactionoftheIshiibacteriabomb.
Ishii'swrittenreportonthisquestionhadreachedheadquartersbeforeYamadatookupthe
postofCommanderin-Chief.Hence,whenYamadacameImadeanoralreportatKasahara's
instructions.Imadethisreportatheadquarters.Presentatthereportwere:Yamada,Kasahara,
AssistantChiefofStaffIkeda,andMiyata.OnthebasisofmyreportYamadaendorsedthis
97
methodasbeinghighlyeffective.
Question: Give the contents of the report Kitano made at the Kwantung Army
Headquartersontheemploymentofplague-infectedfleas.
Answer:Idonotrememberexactlywhenthisreportwasmade;itwaseitherattheendof
1944orthebeginningof.1945.KitanoreportedtoYamadauponthelatestachievementsin
studyingmethodsofemployingplague-infectedfleasasacombatweapon.Idonotremember
thedetailsofthisreport.Presentatthisreportwere:Yamada,Kasahara,ChiefoftheMedical
AdministrationKajitsuka,myself,Miyata,Ikeda,andKitano,whodeliveredthereport.
After Kitano's report a special film about experiments in spreading infection by using
plaguefleaswasdemonstrated.However,Ididnotseethefilm,sinceIwascalledouttothe
OperationsDivisiononbusiness.
Question:WhatrelationdidstaffofficerLieutenantColonelMiyata(PrinceTakeda)have
totheworkofDetachment731?
Answer:MiyatawasespeciallydetailedfromtheOperationsDivisionforliaisonbetween
the Operations Division and Detachment 731. Besides, other staff officers were also
sometimes sent to detachments 731 andJ00 so as to keep posted on the work of these
detachmentsandmaintaincontactwiththem.Asarule,throughthesepersonsvariousdaily
instructionswerepassedonandfulfilmentoftheseinstructionswascontrolled.
Question: In your testimony of November 16, 1949, you said that it was from General
TamurayouheardthatDetachment731hadaprisoninwhichprisonerswereconfined.State
moreexplicitlywheretheabove-mentionedTamuraworked.
Answer:AbouttheprisoninDetachment731andabouttheexperimentscarriedoutupon
theinmatesofthisprisonIheardfrommypredecessor,theformerChiefoftheOperations
Division,ColonelTamuraYoshitomi,wholaterbecameageneral.Idonotknowexactlywho
gavethesanctionforexperimentsonhumanbeings,butIthinkthattheseexperimentswere
first sanctioned by Commander-in-Chief Ueda, or by his successor Umezu. While Yamada
was Commander-in-Chief these experiments were also carried out, and Yamada did not
revokethispreviously-givensanction.
Question: By whom was the order to trap rodents and deliver them to Detachment 731
sanctioned?
Answer:In1945practicallyallthelandunitsoftheKwantungArmyengagedintrapping
rats and delivering them to Detachment 731. It follows quite naturally that this work was
sanctionedbyCommander-in-ChiefYamada,sincewithouthispermissiontheunitscouldnot
haveengagedinit.
The Chief of Staff could have given the instructions to the units in the Commander-inChief's name, but undoubtedly only with the permission of the Commander-in-Chief. How
thispermissionwasissuedpractically,Idonotremember.
98
Detachment731neededtheratstobreedfleasdesignatedforthespreadofplaguegerms.I
donotknowthetotalnumberofrodentsprocuredanddeliveredtoDetachment731.
Question:WhatcalledforththeneedtoappointIshiiasecondtimetothepostofChiefof
Detachment731,in1945?
Answer:Idonotrememberexactly.IbelievethatthisappointmentofIshiifollowedfrom
the War Ministry's instructions to increase the production of germs and activize the
preparations for bacteriological warfare. Hence Ishii, as an experienced worker, was
reappointedtoDetachment731.
Question:WhatrelationdidKajitsukahavetotheworkofDetachment731indeveloping
andproducingbacteriologicalweapons?
Answer: As far as I know, with respect to the preparation of bacteriological weapons
Kajitsukaexercisedgeneralsupervisionofresearchindevelopingthemosteffectivemethods
ofemployinggermsasacombatweapon.
I have already said that Kajitsuka took part in the conferences at which questions of the
practical employment of the bacteriological weapon were discussed, and hence he was
undoubtedlypostedonallthiswork.KajitsukawasabletoreceiveintheOperationsDivision
all the information interesting him in his field, that is, connected with various scientific
problems,butactuallytherewasnoneedforhimtodothis,sincethesequestions,asarule,
weresettledatspecialconferencesinwhichIparticipated,andKajitsukasimplyhadnoneed
to come to the Operations Division. It was thus, for instance, with Kitano's report on the
employmentofplague-infectedfleas.
Question:Whatnecessitatedthedestructionofdetachments731and100?
Answer: The order to destroy detachments 731 and 100 was issued by Commander-inChief Yamada. I think that the destruction of the detachments was necessitated by the
followingreasons:firstly,alltheequipmentofthesedetachmentswassecret,anditcouldnot
belefttofallintothehandsoftheadversary'sarmy.Inaddition,theveryworkconductedin
thedetachmentswasalsosecret,hencemeasureshadtobetakentoconcealevidenceofthis
work, or, in other words, to obliterate the traces of the work which the detachments
conductedinpreparingbacteriologicalwarfareandoftheexperimentsonlivingpeople:
And, finally, the swift advance of units of the Soviet Army did not permit the complete
evacuationofthesedetachmentsintotheinteriorofManchuriaortoanyotherplace.
Question: What were the reasons why the Kwantung Army did not employ the
bacteriologicalweaponagainsttheSovietUnion?
Answer: I regard the basic reason why the bacteriological weapon was not employed
againsttheSovietUnionfromthebeginningofhostilitiestobetheswiftadvanceoftheunits
99
of the Soviet Army. That is why the bacteriological weapon was not employed,
notwithstanding the activization of the Kwantung Army's preparations to employ the
bacteriologicalweaponandnotwithstandingthefactthattheKwantungArmywascapableof
employingit.
Question: Against whom were all the measures to activize the preparations for
bacteriologicalwarfarewhichyouhavelistedandwhichwerecarriedoutin1945aimed?
Answer:Ihavealreadysaidthatthebacteriologicalweaponwasaimedchieflyagainstthe
Soviet Union. A whole series of practical measures carried out by the Kwantung Army
Headquarterstestifiestothis,andinparticular:theendorsementbytheChiefofStaffofthe
Kwantung Army of the considerations I voiced regarding the practical employment of the
bacteriological weapon against the Soviet Union, of which I have spoken above; the
bacteriological reconnoitring in North Khingan Province, bordering on the Soviet Union;
GeneralTakahashi'sreportonmethodsofsabotagebeingpreparedagainsttheSovietUnion
intheeventofhostilities.
Allthesecircumstancesbearwitnesstothefactthatthesepreparationswereaimedagainst
theU.S.S.R.intheeventoftheoutbreakofhostilities.
Ihavenothingmorethatisessentialtothecasetotestify.
TakendowncorrectlyfrommywordsandreadtomeinJapanese.
Matsumura
INTERROGATORS
MilitaryProsecutor,Memberofthestaff
GuardsLieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
ofJurisprudenceBAZENKOforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,SeniorLieutenantKORSAKOV
InterpreterTSVIROVMilitaryProsecutor;Memberofthestaff
EXCERPTFROMTHETESTIMONYOFTHE
WITNESSMATSUMURAATTHECONFRONTATION
100
WITHACCUSEDKAJITSUKA
December8.1949CityofKhabarovsk
Question to witness Matsumura: Tell us what you know about the reports made by the
Chief of Detachment 731 to the Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army at which
Kajitsukawaspresent.
Answer:Attheendof1944,theChiefofDetachment731,Kitano,madeareportinthe
officeoftheCommanderin-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy.Kitanoreportedonthemethodsof
employingplague-infectedfleasasabacteriologicalweapon.Presentduringthisreportwere:
theCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmyYamada,ChiefofStaffKasaharaYukio,his
deputyIkeda,theChiefoftheMedicalAdministrationKajitsuka,I,staffofficerLieutenant
Colonel Miyata (Prince Takeda), Kitano, who made the report, and an officer who
accompaniedhimwhosenameIdonotknow.
This was a secret conference. I remember that after this conference the written text of
Kitano'sreportwassenttotheOperationsDivision,whereitwassubsequentlykept.Yamada
approved the method proposed by Kitano of employing plague-infected fleas as a
bacteriologicalweapon.
...AfterKitanomadehisreport,allthosepresentattheconferencewenttoseeacinema
film which Kitano had brought. This film demonstrated the employment of the
bacteriologicalweapon.Ididnotseethisfilmbecause,justasIreachedthehallwhereitwas
tobedemonstrated,IwascalledtotheOperationsDivision....
Matsumura
INTERROGATORS
LieutenantColoneloftheOfficeoftheMinistry
ofJurisprudenceKACHANforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,LieutenantColonelPAPKOV
InterpreterBOLKHOVITINOV
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFTHEWITNESSIIJIMAYOSHIO
October20,1949CityofKhabarovsk
101
I,CaptainPisarev,memberofthestaffoftheOfficeoftheMinistryforInternalAffairs
for the Khabarovsk Territory, interrogated as a witness, prisoner of war, formerly Major in
the Japanese Army, lijinia Yoshio, born 1917, in Japan, in the Gumma Prefecture, Seta
County,villageofArata,ofapeasantfamily,ofJapanesenationality,secondaryeducation.
IwaswarnedofmyliabilitytoprosecutionforgivingfalsetestimonyunderArt.95ofthe
CriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:lijima
Question:Inwhatlanguagedoyouwishtogivetestimony?
Answer:IcanspeakRussianandcanreadRussian,butIwouldliketogivetestimonyin
mynativelanguage.
Question:TheinterrogationwillbeconductedthroughinterpreterNegorozhenko,Anatoli
Nikolayevich.Haveyouanyobjection?
Answer:Ihavenot.
InterpreterNegorozhenko,A.N.,waswarnedofhisliabilitytoprosecutionfordeliberately
falseinterpretationunderArt.95oftheCriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Negorozhenko
Question:Tellusbrieflyaboutyourmilitaryservice.
Answer:IwasconscriptedformilitaryserviceasaprivateonApril20,1938,beforethatI
was engaged in agriculture. From September 1938 to March 1939 I attended the Sendai
Reserve Officers' School and then served in the 15th Infantry Regiment in the city of
Takasaki as probationer officer. In December 1939 I was promoted to the rank of
sublieutenantandwasamongthefirstcontingentofofficerstobesenttotheNakanoSchool
inthecityofTokyo.
The Nakano School trained directors of intelligence service work for Japanese military
missions.IntheNakanoSchooltherewerethreedepartments:Chinese,EnglishandRussian.
I was appointed to the Russian department where I first began to learn Russian and made
goodprogress.InadditiontoRussian,Igainedknowledgeaboutthegeographical,economic
andpolitical position of theSoviet Union. The chief subject inall three departments was a
specialsubject,i.e.,themethodsofoperationofforeignintelligenceservices,mainlySoviet,
American,EnglishandChinese.
Theinstructorsattheschoolillustratedtousstudents,byexamples,whomitwaspossible
and necessary to enlist for the intelligence service for espionage, sabotage and propaganda
work,howtogetintothegoodgracesofRussianWhiteguardemigrantsandChinesemarked
out for enlistment. Thus, the school put out theoretically trained directors of intelligence
102
servicework.
In the beginning of November 1940, after graduating from the Nakano School, I was
placedatthedisposaloftheChiefoftheHarbinMilitaryMission,MajorGeneralYanagita.I
servedintheHarbinJ.M.M.foraboutthreemonthsandwasthenappointedAssistantChief
of the Tryokhrechye Japanese Military Mission in the village of Dragotsenka (Manchuria)
where I served until the end of January 1945; in February 1945, I was transferred to the
Hogoincampaschiefofthecamp.
IservedattheHogoin,whichinRussianmeans"Priyut"("Refuge"),campforaboutseven
months,untilIwastakenprisonerbytheSoviettroops,i.e.,untilAugust15,1945.
TheHogoincamp,or"ScientificResearchDivision,"asitwasotherwisecalled,wasunder
thechargeoftheHarbinMilitaryMission,thechiefofwhichatthattimewasMajorGeneral
Akikusa.TheHogoincamphadaccommodationfor150menandinitwereconfinedSoviet
citizenswhoforvariousreasonshadfoundthemselvesonManchurianterritoryandhadbeen
arrestedbyJapanesefrontierandpolicedetachments.OnlymenwereconfinedintheHogoin
camp, and they were employed on various agricultural work in the food supply farm. The
camp regime was severe and for the slightest violation of the regime the offenders were
punished,especiallythosewhohadintentionsofescapingfromthecamp.Suchmen,withthe
permissionoftheHarbinJ.M.M.,IsenttoDetachment731oftheKwantungArmy.
Question:Tellus,whatisthisDetachment731oftheKwantungArmy?
Answer:WhenIstartedwork,afterreadingtheinstructions,IthoughtthatDetachment731
wasapenalbattalionoftheKwantungArmy,butlaterIlearnedthatDetachment731wasa
laboratory, where experiments were performed on Soviet citizens to test the action of all
kindsofbacteria.
Question:When,fromwhom,andunderwhatcircumstancesdidyoulearnofthis?
Answer:ApproximatelyinthemiddleofApril1945,whenIwasattheHarbinJ.M.M.,I
reportedtotheDeputyChiefoftheJ.M.M.ColonelAsada,onthestateoftheregimeatthe
camp,andthelatterorderedmetocarryouttheinstructionsoftheHarbinJ.M.M.andofthe
Kwantung Army Headquarters, which stated that all those who violated the camp regime,
especially those who were inclined to escape, were to be sent to Detachment 731, located
outside of Harbin, in the village of Heibo, 15-20 kilometres from the Hogoin camp. I well
remember that during the conversation Colonel Asada said in general terms that this
detachment was studying the action of bacteria, and mentioned that the Chief of the
detachmentwasLieutenantGeneralIshii,whomIneverhadoccasiontomeet.
AmonthaftermyconversationwithColonelAsadaIlearned,alsoattheHarbinJ.M.M.,
from the Chief of the Medical Division, Army Surgeon Sub-Lieutenant Maekawa, that
Detachment 731 was testing the action of bacteria on living people, in particular, on those
menwhomIsenttoDetachment731fromtheHogoincamp.Inall,Ionvariousoccasions
sentabout40SovietcitizensfromtheHogoincamptocertaindeath;theyalldiedunderthe
experiments.
103
Question:Fromwhomdidyoulearnsuchadetail?
Answer: I never visited Detachment 731 and never came in contact with any of its
members, I do not even know their names. I never discussed this subject with any of the
membersoftheHarbinJ.M.M.;IdrewtheconclusionthattheSovietcitizenssentfromthe
Hogoincampdiedwhilebeingexperimentedonfromthefactthatnotoneofthemensent
fromtheHogoincampreturned,andsecondly,noneofthosesenttoDetachment731hadany
correspondence either with the camp administration or with their comrades, whereas from
other places, from the coal mines in particular, I received by post letters from former
prisonersatthecamponvariousquestionsorrequests,asforexample:transfersofmoney,
requeststosendonthingsleftinthecamp.
Question:WhatwastheestablishedorderofsendingSovietcitizensfromtheHogoincamp
to Detachment 731? Answer: At the Hogoin camp there was an InformationInvestigation
Department,theChiefofwhichwasmydeputy,YamagishiKenji.Thisdepartmentdrewupa
documentconcerningeveryoffenderagainstthecampregime,towhichIattachedmyprivate
seal.Afterthat,ImyselfwenttotheJ.M.M.inHarbin,reportedthematerialtotheChiefof
the J.M.M. Akikusa, and only after endorsement by the J.M.M. did my deputy personally
organizethedespatchoftheoffenderstoDetachment731.
IwasnotpresentduringthedespatchofanyoftheSovietcitizenstoDetachment731.I
knew from what Yamagishi told me, that members of Detachment 731 came in their own
motor vehicles to take the offenders; I don't know the names of these members of the
detachmentandIneverenquiredwhichofthemembersofDetachment731cametotakethe
peoplefromtheHogoincamp.
Question:Whatdoyouwishtoaddtoyourtestimony?
Answer:Ihavenothingtoaddtomytestimony.Therecordhasbeentakendownfaithfully
from my words and was read to me in Russian and in Japanese, which I confirm by my
signature.
Hjima
INTERROGATOR
Memberofthestaff
oftheOfficeoftheMinistry
forInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,
CaptainPISAREVInterpreterNEGOROZHENKO
104
RECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFTHEWITNESSYAMAGISHIKENJI
October21,1949CityofKhabarovsk
I,CaptainPisarev,memberofthestaffoftheOfficeoftheMinistryforInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,interrogatedasawitness,prisonerofwar,formerlyLieutenant
in the Japanese Army, Yamagishi Kenji, born 1916, in the village of Zeigon, Niigata
Prefecture,ofJapanesenationality,Japanesesubject,highereducation,graduateoftheTokyo
InstituteofForeignLanguages.
IwaswarnedofmyliabilitytoprosecutionforgivingfalsetestimonyunderArt.95ofthe
CriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Yamagishi
Question:Inwhatlanguagedoyouwishtogiveyourtestimony?
Answer:IknowRussian,IcanreadRussianandcanwriteRussian,butIrequestthatIbe
interrogatedinthepresenceofaninterpreter,becauseIdonotremembersomeRussianwords
anditwillthereforebedifficultformetoexpressmythoughts.
Question:TheinterrogationwillbeconductedthroughinterpreterNegorozhenko,Anatoli
Nikolayevich.Haveyouanyobjection?
Answer:No,Ihavenot.
InterpreterNegorozhenko,A.N.,waswarnedofhisliabilitytoprosecutionfordeliberately
falseinterpretationunderArt.95oftheCriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.
Signed:Negorozhenko
Question: Tell us briefly about your work. Answer: In social origin I come from the
peasantry;beforeenteringtheTokyoInstituteI-livedwithmyparents,workedontheirfarm
and at the same time attended high school. From 1935 to 1938 I lived in Tokyo, where I
graduated from the Institute of Foreign Languages. In 1938, I was conscripted for the
JapaneseArmyandwassenttoserveinManchuria,toMulengStation,inthe30thInfantry
Regiment,asaprivate;hereIserveduntil1941.Inthebeginningof1942Iwastransferredto
the Harbin Japanese Military Mission. I was appointed Russian interpreter in the Special
Investigation Division. This was the name used by the J.M.M. for the Hogoin, which in
Russianmeans"Priyut"("Refuge"),camp.IntheHogoincampwereconfinedSovietcitizens,
mostlyservicemenwhoforvariousreasonshadfoundthemselvesonManchurianterritory.
105
Inthebeginningof1944IwaspromotedtothepostofDeputyChiefoftheHogoincamp
andsimultaneouslydirectoroftheInformation-InvestigationDepartment.Thefunctionofthe
Information-Investigation Department was to collect information about the economic,
politicalandmilitarypositionoftheU.S.S.R.andalsotodetectprisonerswhowereinclined
toescape,violatorsofcampregimeandthosewhoconductedanti-Japaneseagitationamong
thecampprisoners.ThosewhowerehostiletoJapanandalsothosewhorefusedtosubmitto
thecampregime,I,withtheconsentoftheChiefofthecamp,lijima,senttoDetachment731,
whither,atdifferenttimesduring1945,about40Sovietcitizensweresent.
InspeakingofthisIwanttonotethatprisonersfromtheHogoincampbegantobesentto
Detachment731inthebeginningof1942,i.e.,beforeIwasoneofthedirectorsofthecamp.
Detachment 731 that I have mentioned was located on the outskirts of Harbin, in the
villageofHeibo,15-20kilometresfromtheHogoincamp.
I never visited Detachment 731; only once, in the autumn of 1944, did I drive past its
grounds, but was unable to see anything as the entire area was enclosed by a high, close
fence.Atabout200metresfromtheentrancetothedetachment'spremisestherewasanotice,
theactualwordingofwhichIdonotremember,butthegistofwhichwasthatentrancetothe
detachment's premises was permitted only to those who had special permission from the
CommandepinChiefoftheKwantungArmy.
From a number of the members of the 2nd Division of the Harbin J.M.M., I do not
rememberwhoinparticular,Ilearned,asfarbackas1942,thatDetachment731,or"theIshii
Detachment,"asitwasotherwisecalled,cultivatedlethalbacteriaandconductedexperiments
totesttheactionofbacteriaonlivingpeople,whichnohumanorganismcouldstand,andin
theendthemandied.
Somewhatlater,abouttheendof1944orbeginningof1945,havingoccasiontovisitthe
Harbin J.M.M., I learned from some of the leading members of the Mission staff, who, in
particular, I do not now remember, that Detachment 731 of the Kwantung Army
Headquarterscultivatedlethalbacteriaandproducedpoisongasesforthepurposeofstriking
theenemy'sarmy.Japan'senemywastheSovietUnion.
Question:WhatwastheestablishedorderofsendingSovietcitizenstoDetachment731?
Answer: In accordance with the written instructions of the Harbin J.M.M. signed by the
Chief of the Mission Major General Akikusa, members of the Information-Investigation
Department, with my consent, drew up lists in conformity with available incriminating
material;theselistswereendorsedbytheChiefofthecamp,Majorlijima,whoaffixedhis
privateseal.lijimatooktheaforesaidlistandreportedittotheChiefoftheMissionAkikusa;
thelatteralwaysagreedwithouropinionandsanctionedthedespatchoftheSovietcitizens
wehadlistedtoDetachment731tobephysicallyexterminated.
IdonotrememberthenamesofallthepeoplesenttoDetachment731forextermination.I
recall Demchenko, a soldier of the Soviet Army, who categorically refused to give any
informationabouttheSovietUnion.Physicalmeansofpressurewereusedonhimwithmy
106
permission. The questioners tortured him by tying him to a beam by the hands or the feet.
Nevertheless, Demchenko gave no information. I then decided to have him physically
exterminated,andsenthimtoDetachment731forthispurpose....
The actual despatch of the doomed Soviet citizens was carried out by gendarme Shioda,
whomadearrangementsbytelephonewiththegendarmeinDetachment731aboutthetime.
Detachment731alwayssenttheirownmotorvehicleforthepeople—acoveredcarholding
about 20 people without belongings. In conformity with the instructions of the Harbin
J.M.M.,IorderedgendarmeShiodatosendpeopletoDetachment731withouttheirpersonal
belongings.Thesebelongingsweresenttothe4thDivisionoftheHarbinJ.M.M.,andthis
divisionusedthebelongings,particularlyarmyuniforms,fortheneedsoftheMission.
Dressedintheseuniforms,JapanesespiesweresentintoSovietUnionterritory.Ilearned
thisfrommembersofthe4thDivision.FromwhominparticularIdonotnowremember.A
listofthenamesofallthepeoplewesenttoDetachment731wasmadeintwocopies;one
copywastakenbythemanfromDetachment731andtheotherwaskeptattheHogoincamp.
ImyselfdidnotasktheDetachment731menforadocumentcertifyingthereceiptofthe
prisoners.DuringthewholeperiodthatIservedattheHogoincamptherewasnotasingle
caseofanyofthepeopledespatchedreturningtotheHogoincamp.
ThiscircumstanceservedtoconvincemestillmoreofthetruthofwhatIhadheard,thatin
Detachment 731 Soviet citizens died from the tests made on them of the action of lethal
bacteriaandofpoisongases.
Question:Whatdoyouwishtoaddtoyourtestimony?
Answer:Ihavenothingmoretoadd.
TherecordhasbeentakendownfaithfullyfrommywordsandwasreadtomeinRussian
andinJapanese,whichIconfirmbymysignature.
Yamagishi
INTERROGATOR
Memberofthestaff
oftheOfficeoftheMinistry
forInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,
107
CaptainPISAREVInterpreterNEGOROZHEHKO
EXCERPTFROMRECORDOFINTERROGATION
OFTHEWITNESSTAMURATADASHI
October31,1949CityofKhabarovsk
Tamura Tadashi, born 1905, in Japan, in the Koochi Prefecture, Takaoka County, the
village of Ogawa, of Japanese nationality, higher education. Formerly Colonel in the
Japanese Army, before being taken prisoner—Chief of the Personnel Division of the
KwantungArmyHeadquarters.
. . . Although the detachment was officially called The Water Supply and Prophylaxis
Administration,thisnamewasactuallyascreentocoverupitschieffunction—aspecialunit
for preparing to conduct bacteriological warfare and for the mass production of
bacteriological means of attack and defence, of which I myself became convinced when I
visitedDetachment731.
Question:Tellusaboutthisvisitindetail.
Answer:Imustaddtomytestimony,beforespeakingaboutmyvisittoDetachment731,
thatIfirstheardaboutitsfunctionclearlyanddefinitelyontakingupmypostasChiefofthe
Personnel Division of the Kwantung Army Headquarters in December 1944, or to be more
precise,inthefirstdaysofJanuary1945.
...LieutenantGeneralKasahara,atthattimeChiefofStaffoftheKwantungArmy,told
methatIwillhavetopayspecialattentiontoDetachment731,sincethatdetachment,ashe
told me frankly, was engaged in the manufacture of means of bacteriological attack and
defence,i.e.,waspreparingtoconductbacteriologicalwarfare.
True,GeneralKasaharadidnottellmethenthatthedetachmentwaspreparingtoconduct
bacteriologicalwarfareagainsttheSovietUnion,butthatwascleartomewithouthimtelling
me,forIknewperfectlywellthatthefunctionofthewholeKwantungArmywastoprepare
foranattackupontheSovietUnion.
During a conversation with Major General Matsumura, Chief of the lst Division of
Headquarters, which I had, soon after my appointment, General Matsumura told me that
Detachment 731 and its experimental work in employing bacteriological means of warfare
wasdirectedbythe1stDivision,ofwhichhewasincharge.
At the end of May 1945, a letter was received from Lieutenant General Ishii Shiro,
addressedtotheCommander-inChiefoftheKwantungArmy,requestingthatthedespatchof
therequirednumberofofficerstoDetachment731behastened.
Idonotremembertheactualwordingofthatdocument,butthegistofitwasthatinorder
108
to speed up the production of bacteriological means of warfare, General Ishii needed
additionalofficers.
Inthisconnection,inthebeginningofJune1945,Commander-in-ChiefoftheKwantung
Army, General Yamada, ordered me to visit Detachment 731 to investigate the actual
situationasregardsthedetachment'spersonnelasawhole.
GeneralYamadagavemethisorderattheHarbinaerodromeatwhichIhadarrivedwith
himtoattendthegraduationceremonyofthecombinednon-commissionedofficers'training
units.
At this same aerodrome General Ishii had arrived and met us there. During our
conversation with him General Yamada ordered me to visit Detachment 731, and I
immediatelyobeyed,goingwithGeneralIshiiinhiscar.
Arrivingatthedetachment'sheadquarters,Imadeadetailedinvestigationofthesituation
in the detachment as regards personnel, inspected the laboratories and production premises
andherebecamedefinitelyconvincedthatDetachment731wasalargeproductionbasefor
preparationstoconductbacteriologicalwarfareandforthemassproductionofmeansofsuch
warfare.
Inconversationwithme,GeneralIshiifranklytoldmethatthedetachmentwaspreparing
to conduct bacteriological warfare against the Soviet Union, that the results achieved gave
grounds for assuming that the problem of manufacturing bacteriological weapons had been
solved, and that the production capacity created the possibility of manufacturing means of
bacteriologicalattackonamassscale.
GeneralIshiitoldmethatheregardedbacteriologicalmeansofwarfareasanexceptionally
powerfulweaponfortheKwantungArmy,theeffectofwhichhadbeentestedbylaboratory
experimentsaswellasbyexperimentsonlivingpeople.
General Ishii told me openly that if necessary, the detachment was in a position to hurl
upon Soviet cities an enormous mass of bacteria, which would be spread, in the event of
attackordefence,mainlybydroppingthemdeepintherearoftheSovietArmy.
During my inspection of the detachment's laboratories and production premises, where
lethal bacteria were produced in mass quantities, I became convinced of the truth of Ishii's
statementthatDetachment731wasinapositiontocommenceactivebacteriologicalwarfare
against the Soviet Union. I must say frankly that I was literally amazed at the enormous
dimensionsonwhichthislethalproductionwasbeingcarriedon,andwhatIsawexceededall
myexpectations.
In General Ishii's office I saw on the walls several charts, drawings and diagrams,
illustrating the results of experiments in scattering the germs of plague, cholera and other
epidemicdiseases with the aidof bombs, grenades, shells, etc., thanksto which I was able
definitelytoconvincemyselfofthehigheffectivenessofbacteriologicalmeansofwarfare.
Accompanied by General Ishii and three officers, whose names I do not remember, I
109
inspectedthelaboratoriesandproductionpremises.Iamnotabacteriologicalspecialistand
cannotgiveanexpertopinionofallthatIsaw,butIwellrememberhowdeeplyIwasamazed
whenIwastoldthefigures,Irememberthattheywereverybig,oftheamountofepidemical
diseasegermsthathadbeenmanufactured.
IngoingoverthepremisesIwastakentoaninnerbuildingwhere,inspecialcells,eachof
whichhadawindowinthedoor,livingpeoplewerekeptinchains,who,asIshiihimselftold
me,wereusedforexperimentsininfectionwithdeadlydiseases.
Among these experimentees I saw Chinese, Europeans and a woman. As General Ishii
himself informed me, this woman and the Europeans were of Russian nationality who had
been sent to the detachment by the Japanese Gendarmerie and Military Missions in
Manchuriafromamongthosewho,intheopinionoftheJapanesepenalauthorities,wereto
beexterminated.
Imyselfsawthatthepeopleinthesecellswerelyingonthebarefloorandwereinavery
sickandhelplesscondition.
OnmyvisittothisprisonbuildingIdidnotinspectthewholeofit,butonlyafewcells,in
which,Iremember,Icountedaboutfiftypeople.Aftertheinspection,Iagaindiscussedthe
questionofpersonnelwithIshii.
Asaresultofthediscussionofthepersonnelquestionwearrivedattheconclusionthatthe
detachmentwasshortof10-15percentofofficersitrequired,butthatthegeneralstrengthof
the detachment was in a state of mobilization preparedness. During the discussion of the
personnel question, General Ishii spoke of the branches on a par with the detachment; he
considered them as being of equal importance, although he emphasized the necessity of
givingprioritytothestaffingofthedetachment'sheadquarters.
Whenspeakingtomeabouthisdetachment'sbranches,GeneralIshiiexpressedtheopinion
that it was necessary, in the event of hostilities becoming imminent, to subordinate the
branchestotheheadquartersofthearmiesandfrontsoftheKwantungArmy,soastoensure,
in the event of necessity, the employment by the armies of bacteriological weapons for
combatpurposes.
Subsequently,Ishii'sopinionwasconfirmedand,asfarasIremember,inAugust1945the
Commander-in-Chiefissuedanordertosubordinatethedetachment'sbranchesdirectlytothe
armies.
AftermymeetingwithGeneralIshiiIrodebackinhiscartoHarbin,where,ontheday
aftermyreturnfromthedetachment,IjoinedtheCommander-in-Chief'ssuite.
Question: Did you report the results of your visit to Detachment 731 to former
Commander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmyGeneralYamada?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
110
Question:What,precisely,didyoureporttoGeneralYamada?
Answer: Presenting myself to General Yamada, Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung
Army,Igavehimacircumstantialreportofmyconclusionsandobservations.
Firstofall,IreportedtohimthatDetachment731wasreadyforactionandcouldcarryout
the assignment—commence bacteriological warfare at any moment. I also reported to him
that General Ishii insisted that additional specialists and officers for the material supplies
sectionbeplacedathisdisposal.
On this question, I expressed to General Yamada my own opinion that the situation as
regardspersonnelwasquitesatisfactoryandthatinviewofthegeneralshortageofcadresI
thoughtitwaspossibletorefrainfromsendingGeneralIshiiadditionalofficers,andGeneral
Yamadaagreedwiththis.
AtthesametimeIexpressedtoGeneralYamadamyadmirationofthewealthofexcellent
equipment at the disposal of Detachment 731. From General Yamada's comments and
questions I became convinced that he was very well informed about the situation in
Detachment731.
At the time I visited Detachment 731 General Ishii told me that General Yamada had
himself visited Detachment 731 in the autumn of 1944 and had made himself thoroughly
acquaintedwiththeactivitiesandlocationofDetachment731.
At the same time that I reported the afore-mentioned, I reported to General Yamada the
interestingexperimentsGeneralIshiiandhismenwereperformingonhumanbeings,whichI
hadheardaboutinDetachment731,andtoldhimaboutmyvisittothedetachment'sprison,
andaboutallIhadseenthere.
General Yamada expressed satisfaction with my information and soon after this we
returnedtoChangchun....
Tamura
INTERROGATOR
Memberofthestaff
oftheOfficeoftheMinistry
forInternalAffairs
fortheKhabarovskTerritory,
111
CaptainPETERSInterpreterDEMCHENKO
112
InstructionsfromtheKwantungArmyHeadquarters"Concerning
theEstablishmentofaSpecialMilitaryZoneintheRegion
ofPingfan."
FileNo.869,pp.31-32
FileNo.869TranslatedfromJapanese
Pages31,32
"SupplementtoCodeofLawsandRegulations"
Page31
KWANTUNGARMYHEADQUARTERS
1stDIVISION
June30,1938.No.1539
ChiefofStaffoftheKwantungArmy
CONCERNINGTHEESTABLISHMENT
OFASPECIALMILITARYZONEINTHEREGION
OFPINGFAN
Inconformitywithorders,Iinformyouthatonthesubstanceofthisquestionthefollowing
decisionhasbeenadopted:
Page32
1.ThepremisesoftheIshiiDetachmentinPingfan(onthesectionsurroundedbyanouter
fence)beregardedaspremisesofspecialmilitaryimportance.
2. In conformity with "Regulation Governing Observation of the Law Concerning the
PreservationofMilitarySecretsinManchuria,"zoneKO,indicatedintheenclosedplan,be
regardedastheKOsectionofathird-categoryzone.Alltherestrictivearticlesoftheaforementionedregulationsapplytoit.
3.InzoneOTSUindicatedintheenclosedplan,theerectionofnewbuildingshigherthan
twostoreysisprohibited.
113
4.Civilaircraft(oftheManshuKabushikiKaishaAircraftCompany)tobeshowntheair
trackandtheprohibitedairzone.
5.ThebordersofzonesKOandOTSUandtherestrictivearticlestobeannouncedbythe
MinistryofPublicOrderofManchukuo;thezoneinwhichmilitarybuildingsaresituatedto
beannouncedbythedefencecommander.
6.Alltheaforegoingtobebroughttotheknowledgeonlyofthoseunitsthataredirectly
concerned;noofficialannouncementstobemade.
Noinclosure.
TranslatedbySeniorInterpreter;MasterofHistoricalSciences
Signed:(PODPALOVA)
114
115
Notice issued by the Chief of the Police Service Division of the Kwantung Gendarmerie
Headquartersconcerningthecategoriesofpersonstobesentas"specialconsignments"
FileNo.864,p.245
116
117
FileNo.864.Pages245,246."MiseellaneousCorrespondence"ofthe1stDivisionofthe
KwantungGendarmerieHeadquartersfor1943.Documentsreferringtoquestionsconcerning
organization,staffing,training,etc.
TranslatedfromJapanese
StrictlyConfidential
Copy
Read:Fujishige(privateseal)
HaraGoro(privateseal)
Ishii(privateseal)
Page245
KWANTUNGGENDARMERIE
HEADQUARTERS
EXCEPTIONALLYIMPORTANT
AFFAIRSDIVISION
March12,1943
No.120
ChiefofthePoliceServiceDivision
oftheKwantungGendarmerieHeadquarters
NOTICE
CONCERNING"SPECIALCONSIGNMENTS"
("TOKUI-ATSUKAI")
InconformitywithordersIinformyouthatalthoughonthisquestionitisnecessarytobe
guided by document No. 58 of the Police Service Division of the Kwantung Gendarmerie
Headquarters of January 26,1938, nevertheless, in choosing, it is desirable to adhere to the
standardsindicatedinthefollowinginclosure:
To whom sent: To all chiefs of units of the Kwantung Gendarmerie (including chiefs of
individual gendarme departments, but not including the chiefs of Unit 86 and the Training
Unit).
TranslatedbySeniorInterpreter,MasterofHistoricalSciences
118
Signed:(PODPALOVA)
119
120
103too;ivoiooioaai
121
122
123
Service diary of the Hirano Gendarme Unit from July 17 to September 19, 1939 (mass
"specialconsignments").Titlepage
124
Operations Order No. 224 of the Kwantung Gendarmerie for mass "special consignments,"
pageI
125
Operations Order No. 224 of the Kwantung Gendarmerie for mass "special consignments,"
126
page2
FileNo.845,p.45,conlinuation
127
Operations Order No. 224 of the Kwantung Gendarmerie for mass "special consignments,"
128
page3
129
OperationsOrderNo.224oftheKwantungGendarmerieformass
"specialconsignments,"andOperationsOrderNo.1oftheHirano
Detachment
FileNo.845,p.46,continuation
130
131
OperationsOrderNo.1oftheHiranoDetachmentformass"specialconsignments"
FileNo.845,p.47
132
OperationsOrderNo.1oftheHiranoDetachmentformass"specialconsignments"
FileNo.845,p.47,continuation
FileNo.845.Pages45-47.
ServicediaryoftheHirano
GendarmeUnitfromJuly17
toSeptember19,1939.
TranslatedfromJapanese
Confidential
Page45
August8Tuesday.Bright
(9linesextraneoustothesubject
omitted.—Trans.)
Orderconcerningtheconvoyingof
OPERATIONSORDEROFTHE
"specialshipments"KWANTUNGGENDARMERIE
No.224
OrderoftheKwantungGendarmerie
KWANTUNGGENDARMERIEHEADQUARTERS
August8,16.00
1. The second contingent of "special shipments "* ("Tokushu yusho ") convoyed in
conformitywithOperationsOrderoftheKwantungGendarmerieNo.222,willcontainabout
90men.ThecontingentwillarriveatShanhaikwanStationonAugust9.Conveyancefrom
Shanhaikwan Station to be in one passenger car. Despatch from Shanhaikwan Station—
August10at11.15(cartobecoupledtotheShanhaikwan-Mukdenpassengertrain).Arrival
atSunyuStation—August13at00.13.
2.Convoyingofafore-mentionedcontingentfromShanhaikwantoSunyutobearranged
bytheChiefoftheChinchowGendarmeUnit.
*Thistermisanalogousto"specialconsignments."—
Ofthetotalconvoyedcontingent,60mentogotodestination,therest,atHarbinStation,
133
tobehandedovertoChiefoftheIshiiDetachment.Forthispurposethegroupofmentobe
handed over to the Chief of the Ishii Detachment to be separated beforehand to avoid
complicationsduringhandingover.
Page46
For convoying afore-mentioned contingent, the Chengteh Gendarme Unit to detail one
officer,theHiranoUnittodetail25noncommissionedofficersandprivates,andtheTraining
Unit of the Kwantiing Gendarmerie one non-commissioned officer of the Medical Service.
TheChinchowGendarmeUnittodetailoneinterpreter.
3. Not later than August 9, the Chief of the Chengteh Gendarme Unit to send to
ShanhaikwanCaptainShibaooltheChengtehGendarmeDepartment,theChiefoftheHirano
Unittosend25non-commissionedofficersandprivates(includingonesergeant),theChief
oftheTrainingUnitoftheKwantungGendarmerietosendonenon-commissionedofficerof
theMedicalService.TheaforesaidpersonstoplacethemselvesatthedisposaloftheChiefof
theChinchowGendarmeUnit.
4.TheChiefoftheHarbinGendarmeUnittoestablishclosecontactwiththeChiefofthe
Ishii Detachment and ensure at Harbin Station and along the route alt measures of
precautionagainstforeignespionageandthenecessarysurveillancemeasures.
5.ThetravellingexpensesofthemenfromtheHiranoUnitandfromtheTrainingUnitof
theKwantungGendarmerietobemetbytheKwantungGendarmerieHeadquarters.
134
6. On other matters, be guided by Operations Order No. 222 of the Kwantung
Gendarmerie.
ChiefoftheKwantungGendarmerie,
MajorGeneralShirokura
OPERATIONSORDERNo.1OrderOFTHEHIRANOGENDARMEUNIT
OrderofHiranoUnit
TRAININGUNITOFTHEKWANTUNG
GENDARMERIE
August8,17.00
1. The second "special shipment," made in conformity with Operations Order of the
Kwantung Gendarmerie No. 222, to be carried out in conformity with par. 1 of Operations
OrderoftheKwantungGendarmerieNo.224.
Page47
2.TheHiranoUnittosupplythesecond"specialshipment"withpartofitsforces.
3. Sergeant Inamura, at the head of 24 gendarmes (named in inclosure),and one
noncommissionedofficeroftheMedicalServiceforthwithtoleaveHsinchingandonarrival
atShanhaikwantoplacehimselfatthedisposaloftheChiefoftheChinchowGendarmeUnit.
BeforeleavingforShanhaikwan,toobtainfromtheKwantungGendarmerieHeadquarters
the 'means for convoying the prisoners (leg fetters—81 pair, handcuffs—52 pair, cord for
binding while in custody—40 lengths, cord for binding while convoying—25 lengths), and
from the Mukden Gendarme Unit, handcuffs—30 pair, and cord for binding the prisoners
whileunderconvoy—40lengths.
4. Supplies on the journey with 50% addition on the basis of Table 5 of the provisional
suppliesregulationsinManchuria,tobeplacedtotheaccountoftheKwantungGendarmerie
Headquarters.
5.Onothermatters,tobeguidedbyOperationsOrderoftheKwantungGendarmerieNo.
222.
ChiefoftheHiranoUnit,
CaptainHirano
TranslatedbySeniorInterpreter,MasterofHistoricalSciences
135
Signed:(PODPALOVA)
"SabotageRaidWarfareTactics."Titlepage
FileNo.140,p.83
136
-St.
nr
..«?¥
•V.
137
73fev
^..3«f'S1-#
."••-rf
ftA,•«=
fPJ
T
#•"
i*ft
*t
«..•?
fltn'
IJf.
138
139
"SabotageRaidWarfareTactics."Art.83
FileNo.140.Pages33,49.Materialsonsabotagewarfare.FromthefilesoftheMutankiang
J.M.M.ontheRussianWhiteguardunitinHantaohetzu.
TranslatedfromJapanese
StrictlyConfidential
Page33Seal:"MUTANKlANGJ.M.M.
SECONDLANDFORCESDIVISIONReceivedFebruary20,1944
OFIMPERIALHEADQUARTERSIncNQ1Q08."
January20,1944CopiedbyHarbinJ.M.M.
SABOTAGERAIDWARFARETACTICS
Page49
CHAPTER3
ConductofOperations
83. When determining the moment to conduct a secret operation, consideration must be
given to the location of the objective, the conditions of approach and the time required for
withdrawal when the operation is completed. Furthermore, advantage must be taken of the
weakestspotsintheenemy'sguard.
%Themeanstobeusedforexterminatingtheenemy'smanpowerduringasecretattack
operation are chemicals, bacteria, or clockwork explosives. Materiel is to be destroyed,
dependingonitsnature,byexplosionswiththeaidofclockworkexplosives,incendiarism,or
other means of destruction. It is also recommended, either simultaneously with these
operations,orseparately,skilfullytoutilizesabotagepropagandawiththeobjectofbreaking
down the morale of the enemy's men. When the operation is completed, it is better not to
leaveanytracescapableofshowingthattheoperationwasconductedbyoursabotageunit.If
this is impossible, efforts must be made to achieve the utmost results in the very first
operation.
TranslatedbySeniorInterpreter;MasterofHistoricalSciences
Signed:(PODPALOVA)
140
141
OperationsOrderoftheKwantungArmyNo.398/1-KO
FileNo.830,p.922
142
143
OperationsOrderoftheKwantungArmyNo.398/1-KO,
point17oftheorder(enumeratingthebranchesof
Detachment731)
File No. 830. Pages 922, 925. Operations orders, 1940, from the files of the Kwantung
GendarmerieHeadquarters.
Page922
OperationsOrderof
theKwantungArmy
No.398/1-KO
Hara*
TranslatedfromJapaneseStrictlyConfidentialSeal:
Received
Read:ChiefoftheKwantungGendar-
merieTakeuchi(privateseal).
ChiefoftheGeneralDivision
Kikuchi(privateseal).
ChiefofDivisionHonda(pri-
vateseal).
ResponsibleexecutiveKana-
zawa(privateseal).
Executiveofficer(noseal).
ChiefofthePoliceServiceDi-
visionNagatomo(privateseal).
Officersconcernedwithmatter:
Tsuzuki(privateseal).
OfficerfromGeneralDivision
Fusano(privateseal).
OfficerfromPoliceService
DivisionKoi(privateseal).
OPERATIONSORDEROFTHEKWANTUNGARMY
144
Hsinching,ArmyCommand,December2,12.00
1. The units enumerated in separate inclosure are newly formed and are to be under my
command.
(Points2to16inclusive,omittedfromtranslation.—Trans.)
Page925
17. The Chief of the Water Supply and Antiepidemic Administration of the Kwantung
Armytolocatethefollowingunitsattheplacesenumeratedbelow:
Mutankiangbranch—inHailin
Linkowbranch—inLinkow
*Sealofthepersonwhodespatchedthedocument.—Trans.
Sunyubranch—inSunyu
Hailarbranch—inHailar.
Commander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,GeneralUmezu
Page925
Translator'sremarks:
1.Infrontofthewords"TheChiefoftheWaterSupplyandAntiepidemicAdministration
of the Kwantung Army" there are the marginal inscriptions in pencil: "Harbin, the I shit
Detachment(KamaDetachment)."
2.Thefourbranchesenumeratedareinbrackets,infrontofwhichthereistheinscription
inredpencil:"Newlyformed."
3.Anoteispastedtothedocumentbearingthefollowinginscriptioninink:"Ithasbeen
deemed necessary that the Ishii Detachment located in Harbin (Water Supply and
Antiepidemic Administration of the Kwantung Army, otherwise known as Kama
Detachment),beingaspecialunit,shouldbestrengthenedandhavelocalbranches.Forthe
timebeingbrancheshavebeensetupinfourplaces(assigned—3gendarmes)."
TranslatedbySeniorInterpreter,MasterofHistoricalSciences
Signed:(PODPALOVA)
145
146
147
148
FileNo.830.Page256.Operationsorders,1940.FromfilesoftheKwantungGendarmerie
Headquarters.
Page256
Operationsorderof
theKwantungArmy
No.659-HEI.
Toda*
TranslatedfromJapaneseStrictlyConfidential
Seal:
ReceivedJuly1940
Read;ChiefofKwantungGendarmerie(noseal).
ChiefofGeneralDivisionKikuchi(privateseal).
ChiefofDivisionMatsuura(privateseal).
ResponsibleexecutiveHonda(pri-
vateseal).
Executiveofficer(noseal).
ChiefofthePoliceServiceDivision
(noseal).
Officersconcernedwiththematter:
Kanazawa(privateseal).
OPERATIONSORDEROFTHEKWANTUNGARMY
Hsinching.ArmyCommand,July25,17.00
TheChiefoftheFieldRailwayoftheKwantungArmytodespatchbyrailwaythemateriel
oftheNaramilitaryunitinconformitywiththeinclosedwaybill.
Commander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,LieutenantGeneralUmezu
149
Inform:
The Kamo military unit, lst, 2nd and 3rd special security detachments, the Kwantung
GendarmerieHeadquarters,divisionsoftheKwantungArmyHeadquarters,theCommandof
theNorthChinaExpeditionaryArmy,HighCommandoftheExpeditionaryForcesinChina.
Sealofthepersonwhodespatchedthedocument.—Trans
Anoteispastedtothemarginbearingtheinscription,givenbelow,inredink.Itbearsthe
privatesealofHonda,officeroftheKwantungGendarmerieHeadquarters.—Trans.
TranslationofNote
"Ordertodespatch40officersandmenandmaterieloftheHarbinmilitaryunitNarafrom
HarbintoShanghaiintheperiodbetweenJuly30andAugust6."
TranslatedbySeniorInterpreter,MasterofHistoricalSciences
Signed:(PODPALOVA)
150
OrderNo.178oftheFieldRailwayAdministrationoftheKwantungArmy
151
Note pasted on to Order No. 178 of the Field Railway Administration of the Kwantung
Army
FileNo.830,p.245
152
WaybillofdespatchofgroupfromtheIshiiDetachment(inclosed
153
withOrderNo.178oftheFieldRailwayAdministration
oftheKwantungArmy)
FileNo.830.Pages245,246.
Operationsorders,1940.From
thefilesoftheKwantung
GendarmerieHeadquarters.
Page245
FIELDRAILWAYADMINIS-
TRATIONOFTHEKWAN-
TUNGARMY,ORDERFOR
THEREAR,No.178
(OperationsOrderof
theKwantungArmy,
No.659-HEI)
Sato*
TranslatedfromJapaneseStrictlyConfidential
Seal:
ReceivedJuly1940
Read:ChiefoftheKwantungGendarmerie(noseal).
ChiefoftheGeneralDivision(noseal).
ChiefofDivision(noseal).
ResponsibleexecutiveHonda(private
seal).
Executiveofficer(noseal).
ChiefofthePoliceServiceDivision
(noseal).
Officersconcernedwiththematter
(noseal).
ORDER
154
OFTHEFIELDRAILWAYADMINISTRATION
OFTHEKWANTUNGARMY
Hsinching,July26,11.00
The chiefs of the Harbin, Mukden and Chinchow departments to draw up apian and
despatch the military unit Nara in conformity with the inclosed waybill. The departments
mentionedtoberesponsibleforsuppliesalongtheroute.
ChiefoftheFieldRailwayoftheKwantungArmy,
LieutenantGeneralKusaba
Modeofdelivery:copyandsendout.
ReporttoCommandoftheKwantungArmy.
*Sealofthepersonwhodespatchedthedocument.—Trans.
Inform:
The High Command, Command of Northern Army, military unit Nara, 1st, 2nd and 3rd
special security detachments, the Ryodai Army* of Defence, KwantungGendarmerie
Headquarters, 2nd Field Railway, Naval Transport Administration, Dairen branch of Naval
TransportAdministrationanditsagencyinMukden.
Onthemarginofthisdocumentispastedanoteinredink.thetranslationofwhichisgiven
below.—Trans.
TranslationofNote
"WaybilldrawnupinconformitywithOperationsOrderoftheKwantungArmyNo.659HeiforthedespatchofthemilitaryunitNaranowinHarbin(partofthemilitaryunitTsuboi
nowinPingfan),officersandlowerrankstotalling40,withequipment(secretweaponsand
materiel),tobedespatchedviaShanhaikwan,Tientsin,Shanghai."
*AbbreviationforPortArthur-DairenArmy.—Ed.
155
REMARKS:
1.The1stconsignmentmustarriveinDairenbyAugust3,the2ndbyAugust5andthe3rd
bytheeveningofAugust8.
2.Thefreightconsistsofspecialmaterialwhichcallsforsecrecyandforthisreasonisnot
namedinthewaybill.
156
3.Inadditiontothepersonnelenumeratedinthewaybill,anumberofothermenwilltravel,
buttheywillgobyrailwayanothertime.
4.Dependentoncircumstances,necessarychangesmaybemadeinthiswaybill.
TranslatedbySeniorInterpreter/MasterofHistoricalSciences
Signed:(PODPALOVA)
157
ReportoftheactivitiesoftheHailarJ.M.M.Noticebythe
ChiefoftheHailarJ.M.M.ontheexpeditionarygroupof
158
Detachment100.Titlepage
FileNo.19,p.2
159
Point7ofthereportoftheChiefoftheHailarJ.M.M.(onDetachment100)
160
FileNo.19.Pages2,10.
Reportsonconditionandwork
for1945.Fromthefilesofthe
J.M.M.,ManchouliStation.
TranslatedfromJapanesepage2Military-confidential
HAILARBRANCHOFTHEINTELLI-
GENCEDIVISIONOKTHEKWAN-
TUNGARMY(HAILARJ.M.M.—
Trans.)
March26,1945
Amano*
REPORTONWORK,COMPILEDFORFIRST
INSPECTIONTOUROFTHECHIEF
OFTHE[INTELLIGENCEDIVISION
OFTHEKWANTUNGARMY
Points1to6inclusive,beingextraneous,havebeenomitted.—Trans.
Page10
7.Ontheworkofthespecialgroup.
InconformitywiththeoperationsorderoftheHighCommandoftheKwantungArmy,in
March1944,aspecialgroupwassentfromtheHsinchingDetachment100,andatthepresent
time,headedbythechiefofthegroup,itiszealouslyandactivelyperformingitsduty.
(Point8isomitted.—Trans.)
March26,1945.
ChiefoftheHailarDepartmentAmanoIshamu
TranslatedbySeniorInterpreter,MasterofHistoricalSciences
Signed:(PODPALOVA)
*Sealofthepersonwhodespatchedthedocument.—Ed.
161
EXCERPTFROMTHEVERBATIMRECORD
OFTHESESSIONOFTHEINTERNATIONAL
MILITARYTRIBUNALFORTHEFAREAST
INTOKYO
August29,1946
...Mr.Sutton:TheProsecutionnexttendersinevidenceitsdocument1706,"Summary
ReportontheInvestigationsofJapaneseWarCrimesCommittedinNanking.Preparedbythe
ProcuratoroftheDistrictCourt,Nanking."
ThePresident:Admittedontheusualterms.
Clerkofthecourt:ProsecutiondocumentNo.1706willbemarkedexhibitNo.327.
(Whereupon,Prosecution'sexhibitNo.327wasreceivedinevidence.)
Mr.Sutton:WiththepermissionofthecourtIshallreadonlyaportionofthisdocument...
.
...Mr.Sutton(reading):
"Particularsregardingotheratrocities.
"The enemy's Tama Detachment carried off their civilian captives to the medical
laboratory,wherethereactionstopoisonousserumsweretested.Thisdetachmentwasoneof
themostsecretorganizations.Thenumberofpersonsslaughteredbythisdetachmentcannot
beascertained...."
. . . The President: Are you going to give us any further evidence of these alleged
laboratorytestsforreactionstopoisonousserums?
Thatissomethingentirelynew,wehaven'theardaboutthisbefore.Areyougoingtoleave
itatthat?
Mr. Sutton: We do not at this time anticipate introducing additional evidence on that
subject....
Excerptcorrect:
ManageroftheSecretariatoftheSovietSectionoftheInternationalMilitaryTribunalfor
theFarEastColonelofJurisprudence
162
Signed:(N.VINOGRADOV)
163
164
FundamentalRulesforInterrogatingWar
Prisoners.Subheading
FileNo.48,p.112
165
Arts.1and2oftherulesforinterrogatingwarprisoners
166
FileNo.48,p.113
Art.62oftherulesforinterrogatingwarprisoners
167
FileNo.48,p.124
Arts.63,64and55oftherulesforinterrogatingwarprisoners
168
FileNo.48,p.125
169
ExamplesoftortureandArts.66and67oftherulesforinterrogatingwarprisoners
FileNo.48,p.125,continuation
170
Arts.68and69ofrulesforinterrogatingwarprisoners
171
FileNo.48,p.126
FileNo.48.Pages90,112,113,124,125,126."OperationsOfficer'sGuide(PartI)."From
thefilesoftheMutankiangJ.M.M.
TranslatedfromJapanesePage90StrictlyConfidential
MILITARYINVESTIGATIONDIVISION
OFGENERALHEADQUARTERSSea,."MUTANKIANGJ.M.M.
ReceivedJune14,1945
CopiedbyUnitInc.No.9."
No.471-MANSHU
SECRETWARSERVICEGUIDE
Page112
Inclosure
FundamentalRulesforInterrogatingWarPrisoners
Page113
GeneralRules
1.Thepresentrulesrelatetocasesofinterrogationwiththeviewtoobtaininginformation,
butdonotrelatetotheinterrogationofcriminals.
2. Persons who have surrendered, deserters, captured enemy spies, those who illegally
cross the frontier, crews of aircraft compelled to make a forced landing or of vessels
compelled to come to our shores, escaped war prisoners who had formerly served in our
army,theinhabitantsofdistrictswehavenewlyoccupied,andalsocivilianrefugeesfromthe
sphereofenemyinfluence,exceptonspecialmatters,areinterrogatedinconformitywiththe
methodsofinvestigatingandinterrogatingwarprisoners.
Page124
62. Sometimes, depending on circumstances, it is advantageous to resort to torture, but
often this may lead to harmful consequences, and therefore, before resorting to it, it is
necessarycarefullytoconsiderwhetherthisshouldbedoneornot.Furthermore,torturemust
beappliedinsuchawayasnottoleadtobadconsequencesforus.
172
Page125
63.Torture,theinflictionofphysicalsuffering,mustbesustainedandcontinuedinsucha
way that there shall be no other way of relief from suffering except by giving truthful
information.
Tortureisadvantageousbecauseofthespeedwithwhichitispossiblewithrelativeeaseto
compelpersonsofweakwilltogivetruthfultestimony,butthereisthedangerthat,inorder
to relieve himself from suffering, or in order to please the interrogator, the person
interrogatedwill,onthecontrary,distortthetruth.
Inthecaseofpersonsofstrongwill,torturemaystrengthentheirwilltoresistandleaveillfeelingagainsttheempireaftertheinterrogation.
64.Inrelationtopersonsofweakwill,tortureisusuallyappliedinthosecaseswhenthe
person interrogated does not speak the truth even in the face of evidence, but there is full
reasontosupposethatthispersonwillspeakfranklyiftortureisapplied.
65.Itisnecessarytobearinmindthatthemethodsoftorturemustbesuchascanbeeasily
applied,aswillsustainsufferingwithoutrousingfeelingsofpity,andaswillnotleaveeither
wounds or scars. However, in those cases when it is necessary to create apprehension of
death,theharmcausedthepersoninterrogatedcanbeignored,butthismustbedoneinsuch
awayasnottomakeitimpossibletocontinuetheinterrogation.
Thefollowingexamplesoftorturemaybegiven:
1.Compellingthepersontositupstraightandmotionless.
2. Putting pencils between the fingers not far from their bases and tying the tops of the
fingerswithstringandmovingthem.
3.Puttingthepersoninterrogatedonhisback(itisadvisabletoraisethefeetalittle)and
drippingwaterintothenoseandmouthsimultaneously.
4.Puttingtheinterrogatedpersononhissideandstamponhisankle.
5.Compellingtheinterrogatedpersontostandunderashelfthatistoolowtoenablehim
tostandstraight.
66. In a case when a wound is accidentally inflicted on the person interrogated, it is
necessary,takingintoaccountthegeneralsituationandtheinterestsofourcountry,totake
resolutemeasures,takingfullresponsibilityforsame.
67.Onreceivingtestimonyasaresultofapplyingtorture,itmustbeascertainedwhether
thistestimonyistheresultofadesiretoavoidfurthersufferingandtopleasetheinterrogator;
insuchcases,somecorroborationofthetruthofthetestimonyisnecessary.
173
Page126
68. After the application of torture, it is necessary to convince the person who had
undergonetorturethatthetortureappliedtohimwasquiteanaturalmeasure,ortotakesuch
measuresaswillinducehimoutofasenseofpride,senseofhonour,etc.,nottospeakabout
itafterwards.Inthecaseofpersonsfromwhomthiscannotbeexpected,measuresmustbe
takenasinthecaseofthoseuponwhomaccidentalwoundshavebeeninflicted.
69.Nobodymustknowabouttheapplicationoftortureexceptthepersonsconcernedwith
this.Undernocircumstancesmustotherprisonersknowaboutit.Itisveryimportanttotake
measurestopreventshrieksfrombeingheard.*
TranslatedbySeniorInterpreter,MasterofHistoricalSciences
Signed:(PODPALOVA)
Therestis"omitted.—Trans.
174
TestimonyofAccusedandWitnessesattheTrial
RECORD
OFCOURTSESSION
December25.30,1949CityofKhabarovsk
Military Tribunal of the Primorye Military Area in open court session in the city of
Khabarovsk,consistingof:
President: Major General of Jurisprudence C h e r t k o v, D. D. Members: Colonel of
Jurisprudence I 1 n i t s k y, M. L., Lieutenant Colonel of Jurisprudence Vorobyov, I. G.
Reservejudge:LieutenantColonelofJurisprudenceShcherbakov,T.P.Secretaries:
Senior Lieutenant K o r k i n, N. A., and Lieutenant V a r a v k o, V. V. Participating:
representativeoftheStateProsecution,StateCounsellorofJurisprudenceThirdClassSmir
nov,L.N.,andthedefenceinthepersonsofcounsel:Be1ov,N.P.,defendingaccused
Yaniada;Sannikov,S.E.,defendingaccusedKajitsuka;Zveryev,A.V.,defending
accused Takahashi; B o r o v i k, N. K., defending accused Kawashima; Bogachov, P. Y.,
defendingaccusedSato;Lukiantsev,V.P.,defendingaccusedKarasawaandOnoue;Bo1k
hovitinov,D.E.,defendingaccusedNishiandHirazakura;Prokopenko,Q.K.,
defendingaccusedMitomo,KikuchiandKurushima,
investigated the charges against Yamada Otozoo, Kajitsuka Ryuji, Takahashi Takaatsu,
Kawashima Kiyoshi, Nishi Toshihide, Karasawa Tomio, Onoue Masao, Sato Shunji,
HirazakuraZensaku,MitomoKazuo,KikuchiNorimitsuandKurushimaYuji.
At12hoursonDecember25,thePresidentdeclaredtheCourtsessionopen.
The President announced that the charges will be investigated in the case ef Yamada
Otozoo, Kajitsuka Ryuji, Takahashi Takaatsu, Kawashima Kiyoshi, Nishi Toshihide,
KarasawaTomio,OnoueMasao,SatoShunji,HirazakuraZensaku,MitomoKazuo,Kikuchi
NorimitsuandKurushimaYuji,accusedofcrimespunishableunderArt.1oftheDecreeof
thePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.
TheSecretaryreportedthatalltheaccused,whohadbeenincustodyuntilthetrial,have
beenbroughtunderescortandwerenowincourt.
ThePresidentexplainstointerpretersPermyakov,Kim,Tsvirov,BaikovandOgorodnikov,
whohadbeensummonedtocourt,theirdutiesintheCourtproceedings;hethenwarnedthe
interpretersoftheirliabilitytoprosecutionfordeliberatelyfalseinterpretationunderArt.95
oftheCriminalCodeoftheR.S.F.S.R.andtooktheirsignaturesinreceiptthereof.
ThePresidentassureshimselfofthepresenceoftheaccusedwho,tothequestionsputto
175
them,answered:
Yamada:YamadaOtozoo,bornin1881inthecityofTokyo,General,in1902graduated
from an officers' school, in 1912 graduated from the Military Academy, served in the
JapaneseArmyfrom1903,lastpost—Commander-in-ChiefoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy.
WastakenprisonerbytheSoviettroopsin1945.
Ihavereceivedtheindictment.
Kajitsuka:KajitsukaRyuji,bornin1888inthetownofTajiri,in1914graduatedfromthe
TokyoMedicalInstitute,physician,LieutenantGeneraloftheMedicalService,servedinthe
JapaneseArmyfrom1914,lastpost—ChiefoftheMedicalAdministrationoftheJapanese
KwantungArmy.WastakenprisonerbytheSoviettroopsinSeptember1945.
Ihavereceivedtheindictment.
Takahashi:TakahashiTakaatsu,bornin1888inthePrefectureofAkita,YuriCounty,the
town of Honze, in 1928 graduated from the Agricultural Department of the Imperial
University,physician,LieutenantGeneraloftheVeterinaryService,servedintheJapanese
Army from 1915, last post—Chief of the Veterinary Service of the Japanese Kwantung
Army.WastakenprisonerbytheSoviettroopsonSeptember1,1945.
Ihavereceivedtheindictment.
Kawashima: Kawashima Kiyoshi, born in 1893 in the Prefecture of Chiba, Sanimu"
County,thevillageofHasunuma,graduateofamedicalinstitute,physician,MajorGeneral
of the Medical Service, served in the Japanese Army from 1916, last post—Chief of the
MedicalServiceoftheFirstFrontHeadquartersoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy.Wastaken
prisonerbytheSoviettroopsonAugust20,1945.
Ihavereceivedtheindictment.
Nishi:NishiToshihide,bornin1904inthePrefectureofKagoshima,SatsumaCounty,the
villageofHiwaki,graduateoftheTokyoMedicalInstitute,physician,LieutenantColonelof
the Medical Service, served in the Japanese Army from 1927, last post'—Chief of the
Training Division of the Prophylaxis and Water Supply Administration of the Japanese
Kwantung Army, simultaneously Chief of the Sunyu Branch of this division. Was taken
prisonerbytheSoviettroopsinSeptember1945.
Ihavebeenhandedtheindictment.
Karasawa:KarasawaTomio,bornin1911inthePrefectureofNagano,ChisagataCounty,
the village of Toyosata, graduate of the Tokyo Medical Institute, physician, Major of the
MedicalService,servedintheJapaneseArmyfrom1933,lastpost—officerintheMedical
Divisionofthe2ndArmyoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy.WastakenprisonerbytheSoviet
troopsonSeptember1,1945.
176
Ihavereceivedtheindictment.
Onoue: Onoue Masao, born in 1910 in the Prefecture of Kagoshima, Izumi County, the
town of Komenotsu, graduate of the Tokyo Medical Institute, physician, Major of the
MedicalService,servedintheJapaneseArmyfrom1932,lastpost—ChiefofBranch643of
Detachment731oftheJapaneseKwantungArmy.WastakenprisonerbytheSoviettroops
onAugust17,1945.
Ihavereceivedtheindictment.
Sato: Sato Shunji, born in 1896 in the Prefecture of Aichi, the town of Toyohashi,
graduatedfromamedicalinstitutein1923,physician,MajorGeneraloftheMedicalService,
servedintheJapaneseArmyfrom1923,lastpost—ChiefoftheMedicalDivisionofthe5th
ArmyoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy.WastakenprisonerbytheSoviettroopsinAugust
1945.
Ihavereceivedtheindictment.
Hirazakura:HirazakuraZensaku,bornin1916inthePrefectureofIshikawa,thetownof
Kanazawa,graduateoftheVeterinaryDepartmentoftheTokyoMedicalInstitute,veterinary
surgeon,LieutenantoftheVeterinaryService,servedintheJapaneseArmyfrom1939,last
post—officerofDetachment100oftheJapaneseKwantungArmy.Wastakenprisonerbythe
SoviettroopsinSeptember1945.
Ihavereceivedtheindictment.
Mitomo:MitomoKazuo,bornin1924inthePrefectureofSaitama,ChichibuCounty,the
village of Haraya, graduate of agricultural school, have no profession, Senior Sergeant,
servedintheJapaneseArmyfromAugust1941,lastpost—memberofDetachment100of
theJapaneseKwantungArmy.WastakenprisonerbytheSoviettroopsonAugust15,1945.
Ihavereceivedtheindictment.
Kikuchi:KikuchiNorimitsu,bornin1922inthePrefectureofEhime,education—finished
ninthgrade,graduateofagriculturalschool,servedinJapaneseArmyfrom1943,Corporal,
last post—medical orderly in Branch 643 of Detachment 731 of the Japanese Kwantung
Army.WastakenprisonerbytheSoviettroopsinAugust1945.
Ihavereceivedtheindictment.
Kurushima:KurushimaYuji,bornin1923inthePrefectureofKagawa,ShoozuCounty,
thevillageofNoo,education—finishedeighthgrade,havenospecialeducation,lastpostin
Japanese Army—medical orderly in Branch 162 of Detachment 731 of the Japanese
KwantungArmy.WastakenprisonerbytheSoviettroopsonAugust23,1945.
Ihavereceivedtheindictment.
177
The President announces the composition of the Court, after which he asks the parties
whether they have any objection to make to the composition of the Court or to the Court
secretaries,towhichtherepresentativeoftheStateProsecution,counselfordefenceandthe
accusedanswerthattheyhavenoobjectiontothecompositionoftheCourtortotheCourt
secretaries.
ThePresidentaskscounselandaccusedwhethertheyhaveanyobjectiontomakeagainst
theStateProsecutor,towhichcounselandaccusedanswerthattheyhavenoobjectiontothe
StateProsecutor.
The President asks the parties whether they have any objection to make against the
interpreters, to which the State Prosecutor, counsel and accused answer that they have no
objectiontotheinterpreters.
Thesecretaryannouncesthatthefollowingwitnesseshadbeensummonedtothecourtand
had appeared: Tamura Tadashi, Ozeki Shigeo, Sasaki Kosuke, Segoshi Kenichi, Kurakazu
Satoru, Tachibana Takeo, Furuichi Yoshio, Kanazawa Kazuhisa, Hotta Ryoichiro, Mineoi
Kioyashi, Saito Masateru, Fukuzumi Mitsuyoshi, Kuwabara Akira, Sakurashita Kiyoshi,
HatakiAkira,MishinaTakayuki.
ThePresidentassureshimselfofthepresenceofthewitnesses,who,tothequestionsputto
them,answered:
Tamura: Tamura Tadashi, born in 1905, Colonel, Chief of the Personnel Division of the
KwantungArmyHeadquarters.
Ozeki:OzekiShigeo,bornin1921,civilianemployeeofDetachment731oftheJapanese
KwantungArmy.
Sasaki:SasakiKosuke,bornin1921,SeniorCorporal,intheJapaneseArmyservedasa
private.
Segoshi:SegoshiKenichi,bornin1920,Lieutenant,pharmaceutist.
Kurakazu: Kurakazu Satoru, born in 1915, Sergeant Major, member of the Harbin
Gendarmerie.
Tachibana: Tachibana Takeo, born in 1896, Colonel of the Gendarmerie, adviser on
gendarmeaffairstothegovernmentofManchukuo.
Furuichi:FuruichiYoshio,bornin1924,studentattheSunyuBranchofDetachment731.
Kanazawa: Kanazawa Kazuhisa, born in 1917, Captain of the Medical Service, Chief of
the1stDivisionofBranch673ofDetachment731.
Hotta: Hotta Ryoichiro, born in 1920, Sub-Lieutenant of the Quartermaster Service,
178
memberoftheHailarBranchofDetachment731.
Mineoi:MineoiKioyashi,bornin1922,civilianemployeeofBranch643ofDetachment
731.
Saito:SaitoMasateru,bornin1917,civilianemployeeofBranch643ofDetachment731.
Fukuzumi:FukuzumiMitsuyoshi,bornin1924,SubLieutenantoftheVeterinaryService,
physicianinDetachment100.
Kuwabara:KuwabaraAkira,bornin1927,civilianemployeeofDetachment160.
Sakurashita:SakurashitaKiyoshi,bornin1921,civilianemployeeofDetachment100.
Hataki:HatakiAkira,bornin1924,civilianemployeeofDetachment100,laterjoinedthe
army,servedasinfantryprivate.
Mishina:MishinaTakayuki,bornin1903,Colonel,ChiefofStaffofthe39thDivision.
The President explains to the witnesses their duties in the Court proceedings and then
warnsthemoftheirliabilitytoprosecutionunderArts.92and95oftheCriminalCodeofthe
R.S.F.S.R. for refusing to give testimony or for deliberately giving false testimony, takes
theirsignaturesinreceiptthereofandinstructsthecommandantoftheCourttoremovethe
witnessesfromtheCourt.
ThePresidentannouncesthattheCourthadsummonedthemedicolegalexperts:Member
oftheAcademyofMedicalSciencesoftheU.S.S.R.Zhukov-Verezhnikov,N.N.;Colonelof
the Medical Service Krasnov, V. D.; Director of the Department of Microbiology of the
Khabarovsk Medical Institute, Prof. Kosaryev, N. N.; decent in the same department,
Livkina, E. G.; Lieutenant Colonel of the Veterinary Service Alexandrov, N. A., and
parasitologistKozlovskaya,O.L.
ThePresidentasksthepartieswhethertheyhaveanyobjectiontomakeagainsttheexperts,
towhichtheStateProsecutor,counselandaccusedanswerthattheyhavenoobjectiontothe
experts.
ThePresidentexplainstotheexpertstheirdutiesintheCourtproceedings,warnsthemof
their liability to prosecution -under Art. 95 of the Criminal Code of the R.S.F.S.R. for
deliberatelysubmittingfalsefindingsandtakestheirsignaturesinreceiptthereof.
ThePresidentasksthepartieswhethertheywishtocalladditionalwitnessesandexperts,
ortocallforotherproofsanddocuments.
The State Prosecutor and counsel stated that they had no such request at the present
moment,butrequestedthattheirrightbereservedtomakesuchapplicationinthecourseof
theCourtproceedings.
179
Theaccusedstatedthattheyhadnosuchapplications.
ThePresidentexplainstotheaccusedthattheyhavearightduringtheCourtproceedings
toputquestionstowitnesses,expertsandtoeachother,andtomakeexplanatorystatements
onthesubstanceofthecase.
At13hoursanadjournmentfor15minuteswasannounced.
At13.15theCourtproceedingswereresumed.
TheCourtproceedstoinvestigatethecase.
The President reads the indictment and the decision of the preparatory session of the
MilitaryTribunal.AtthesametimetheindictmentistransmittedinJapanese.
At14.50anadjournmentfor15minutesisannounced.
At15.05theCourtproceedingsareresumed.
President of the Court: Accused Yamada, do you understand the charge brought against
you?
AccusedYamada:Ido.
Question:Doyoupleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer:Ido.
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedKajitsuka,doyouunderstandthechargebroughtagainst
you?
AccusedKajitsuka:Ido.
Question:Doyoupleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer:Ido.
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedKawashima,doyouunderstandthechargebroughtagainst
you?
AccusedKawashima:Ido.
Question:Doyoupleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer:Ido.
180
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedNishi,doyouunderstandthechargebroughtagainstyou?
AccusedNishi:Ido.
Question:Doyoupleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer:Ido.
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedKarasawa,doyouunderstandthechargebroughtagainst
you?
AccusedKarasawa:Ido.
Question:Doyoupleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer:Ido.
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedOnoue,doyouunderstandthechargebroughtagainstyou?
AccusedOnoue:Ido.
Question:Doyoupleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer:Ido.
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedSato,doyouunderstandthechargebroughtagainstyou?
AccusedSato:Ido.
Question:Doyoupleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer:Ido.
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedTakahashi,doyouunderstandthechargebroughtagainst
you?
AccusedTakahashi:Ido.
Question:Doyoupleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer:Ido.
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedHirazakura,doyouunderstandthechargebroughtagainst
you?
181
AccusedHirazakura:Ido.
Question:Doyoupleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer:Ido.
President of the Court: Accused Mitomo, do you understand the charge brought against
you?
AccusedMitomo:Ido.
Question:Doyoupleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer:Ido.
President of the Court: Accused Kikuchi, do you understand the charge brought against
you?
AccusedKikuchi:Ido.
Question:Doyoupleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer:Ido.
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedKurushima,doyouunderstandthechargebroughtagainst
you?
AccusedKurushima:Ido.
Question:Doyoupleadguiltytothechargebroughtagainstyou?
Answer:Ido.
President of the Court: The Court will hear the statements of the parties on the order in
whichtheinvestigationofthecaseshouldproceedduringtheCourtinvestigation.
StateProsecutor,whatisyouropiniononthismatter?
State Prosecutor: In conformity with Art. 281 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the
R.S.F.S.R., I propose the following order of Court investigation: commence with the
examination of accused in the following order: Kawashima Kiyoshi, Karasawa Tomio,
Yamada Otozoo, Nishi Toshihide, Kajitsuka Ryuji, Sato Shunji, Hirazakura Zensaku,
MitomoKazuo,TakahashiTakaatsu,OnoueMasao,KikuchiNorimitsu,KurushimaYuji.
182
ThefurtherCourtinvestigationbeconductedinthefollowingorder:examinethewitnesses
Tamura and Furuichi, after which put the questions to the experts and then examine the
witnesses: Tachibana, Kurakazu, Hotta, Segoshi, Sasaki, Ozeki, Kanazawa, Mineoi, Saito,
Kuwabara,Sakurashita,Fukuzumi,Hataki,Mishina.
Afterthishearthefindingsoftheexpertsandexaminethem.
President of the Court: Defence, what is your opinion about the order of conducting the
Courtinvestigation?
Counsel Belov: The defence has no objection to the order of conducting the Court
investigationproposedbytheProsecutorandconsidersitacceptable.
The order of conducting the Court investigation proposed by the Prosecutor is translated
intoJapanese.
TheaccusedhavenoobjectiontotheproposedorderofconductingtheCourtinvestigation.
Afterconferring,theMilitaryTribunalruled:tocommencetheCourtinvestigationwiththe
examination of the accused in the following order: Kawashima Kiyoshi, Karasawa Tomio,
Yamada Otozoo, Nishi Toshihide, Kajitsuka Ryuji, Sato Shunji, Hirazakura Zensaku,
MitomoKazuo,TakahashiTakaatsu,OnoueMasao,KikuchiNorimitsu,KurushimaYuji.
Aftertheexaminationofaccused,toexaminethewitnesses:TamuraandFuruichi.
ThentoputtotheexpertsforsettlementthequestionsoftheCourt,theStateProsecutor,
the defence and the accused, after which to examine the witnesses: Tachibana, Kurakazu,
Hotta,Segoshi,Sasaki,Ozeki,Kanazawa,Mineoi,Saito,Kuwabara,Sakurashita,Fukuzumi,
Hataki,Mishina.
Afterthattohearthefindingsoftheexpertsandexaminethemintheestablishedorder.
TheCourt'srulingistranslatedintoJapanese.
At16hoursthePresidentannouncedanadjournmentuntil19hours.
EVENINGSITTING,DECEMBER25
EXAMINATIONOFACCUSEDKAWASHIMA
StateProsecutor:AtwhatperioddidyouserveinDetachment731?•
AccusedKawashima:IservedinDetachment731fromApril1939toMarch1943.
Question:Inwhatcapacity?
183
Answer:ByorderoftheJapaneseMinisterforWarIservedinDetachment731asChiefof
the General Division, and at the same time I served as Chief of Detachment 731's 4th
Division.
In June 1941 I ceased performing the functions of Chief of the General Division and
workedasChiefofthe4th,orwhatwasknownastheproduction,DivisionofDetachment
731.
Throughoutthisperiod,byorderoftheChiefofDetachment731,Iperiodicallyactedas
ChiefofthelstDivision,andalsoofthe3rdDivision.
Question:Consequently,youpracticallyservedinallthebasicdivisionsofthedetachment.
YouwereChiefoftheGeneralDivision,thenofthelst,orexperimental,Division,thenofthe
3rdDivision,and,lastly,youwereforquitealongtimeChiefofthe4thDivision.Isthatso?
Answer:Yes,thatiscorrect.
Question:HenceyouarewellfamiliarwiththestructureandworkofDetachment731.Is
thatcorrect?
Answer:Yes,onemaysaythatthatisso.
Question:WhenandonwhoseorderswasDetachment731formed?
Answer:Detachment731wasformedin1936byorderoftheEmperorofJapan.
Question:Wasthisasecretorderofthe-EmperorofJapan?
Answer:Yes,itwas.
Question: Tell the Court when the service and production premises of the detachment at
PingfanStationwerebuilt.
Answer:Idon'trecallexactly,butIthinkthatin1936,whentheorderwasissuedtoform
Detachment731,instructionswerealsogivenastothesizeofthepersonnelandtheerection
ofthedetachment'sbuildings.
Question:WhichdivisionsofthedetachmentwerelocatedinHarbinandwhichatPingfan
Station?
Answer: The 3rd, that is, the prophylaxis and water supply, Division, as well as the
hospital,werelocatedinHarbin;alltheotherdivisions,includingthe1stDivision,the2nd
Divisionandthe4thDivisionofthedetachment,werelocatedatPingfanStation.
Question:Whatsumwasallocatedforthemaintenanceofthedetachment?
184
Answer:Icannotrecalltheexactfigure,butIknowthatin1940thesumof10,000,000yen
wasallocatedforDetachment731.
Question: Of these 10,000,000 yen, what sum was assigned for the detachment's
experimentalwork?
Answer:Idon'trecallthatexactlyeither,butIthinkthatabout5,000,000yenwerespent
onexperimentalwork.
Question:Whatwasthesizeofthedetachment'spersonnel?
Answer:AsfarasIrecollect,theemperor'sorderfixedthepersonnelofthedetachment,
togetherwiththatofitsbranches,atabout3,000men.
Question:WillyoutelltheCourtwhatworkDetachment731engagedin,whatwasitsreal
function?
Answer: Detachment 731 principally engaged in research work in preparation for
bacteriologicalwarfare.
Question:Onwhatfacts,onwhatspecificfeaturesoftheworkofDetachment731,doyou
basethisconclusion?
Answer: I base this conclusion on the character of the personnel of the detachment, its
equipmentanditspracticalactivity.
Question:Wasthedetachment'sworksecret?
Answer:Yes,itwassecret.
Question:HowwasDetachment731guarded?
Answer:ByorderoftheCommander-in-Chief,Detachment731'ssiteatPingfanStation
wasproclaimedaspecialzoneoftheKwantungArmy.Noonewasallowedtoresideinor
neartheterritoryofthedetachment,andnounauthorizedpersonwasallowedtoenterit.This
was permitted only to the detachment's personnel, and other persons were allowed to enter
the zone only with the permission of the Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army;
aircraftwereforbiddentoflyoverthedetachment'sterritory.
Question:WillyoudescribetotheCourtthestructureofDetachment731?Please'dosoin
detail.
Answer:Detachment731consistedofitsheadquartersanditsbranches.Ishallfirstspeak
ofthedetachment'sheadquarters.Theheadquartersweredividedintoeightdivisions,viz.:lst
Division, 2nd Division, 3rd Division, 4th Division, Materials Division, Training and
185
EducationDivision,ClinicalDivision,andGeneralDivision.
Question:WhatdidthelstDivisiondo?
Answer: It was the function"of the lst Division to conduct basic research work in
preparationforbacteriologicalwarfare.
Question: Which division conducted experiments on human beings under so-called
laboratoryconditions?
Answer:Experimentsonhumanbeingsunderlaboratoryconditionswereperformedbythe
lst Division. The lst Division also had charge of the detachment's prison where the
experimenteeswerekept.
Question:WherewasDetachment731'sprisonlocated?
Answer:Theprisonwaslocatedinthequadrangleofthemainblock.
Question: Consequently, the prison was concealed from outside view inside a closed
quadrangleformedbythedetachment'sbuildings.Isthatso?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Wastheprisonhousedinoneblockorinseveral?
Answer:Intwoblocks.
Question:Whatwastheworkofthe2ndDivision?
Answer:The2ndDivisionconductedfieldexperimentswiththelethalbacteriapreparedby
thelstDivision.
. Question: Which division designed the models of the bacteriological weapons—the
microbe-charged bombs, the plague-flea sprayers in the shape of fountain pens or walking
sticks,andtheothertypesofbacteriologicalweapons?
Answer:The2ndDivision.
Question:Whatspecialsectionsweresubordinatedtothe2ndDivision?
Answer:BesidesthefunctionsIhavejustmentioned,thatis,experimentationunderfield
conditions,the2ndDivisionhadasectionwhichbredfleasforinfectionwiththegermsof
plague.
Question:Whowasinchargeofthe2ndDivision?
186
Answer:AtthetimeIwasAppointed,ColonelOotahadchargeofthisdivision.
Question:DidengineerTanakatakepartinthedivision'sflea-breedingwork?
Answer:Hedid.
Question:WhichdivisionofthedetachmenthadchargeoftheprovinggroundnearAnta
Station?
Answer: When I was working in the detachment, the proving ground was not under the
direct charge of any particular division, but it may be said that it was attached to the 2nd
Division.Atallevents,experimentsontheprovinggroundwereconductedmostfrequently
bythedetachment's2ndDivision,byitspersonnel.
Question:OnwhomwerethebacteriologicalexperimentsattheprovinggroundnearAnta
Stationconducted?
Answer: The experiments at the proving ground were as a rule performed on human
beings.
Question:Didthedetachmenthaveitsairunit?
Answer:Itdid.
Question:Whattypesofplanesdidtheairunitpossess?
Answer:AsfarasIrecollect,thedetachmenthadtwoheavybombers,one,orperhaps,two
—Idon'tquiteremember—lightbombers,twoold-typebombers,andseveralotherplanesof
antiquateddesign,aswellastransportplanes.
Question:Whichdivisionhadchargeoftheairunitandthedetachment'sairfield?
Answer:The2ndDivision.
Question:Whichdivisionmadetheporcelaincasesforthebacteriabombs?
Answer:The3rdDivision.
Question:Whatdidthe4thDivisiondo?
Answer:Thechieffunctionofthe4thDivisionwastobreedandcultivatemicrobesand,in
addition,topreparevaccinesandimmunityserums.
187
Question: You confirm that the chief function of the 4th Division was to cultivate lethal
germsonamassscaleforpurposesofbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Thatistrue.
Question:WherewereDetachment731'sbrancheslocated?
Answer:ThesebrancheswerelocatedintheimmediatevicinityoftheSoviet-Manchurian
border. I shall enumerate them from east to west: first of all, Linkow, then Hailin Station,
thenthetownsofSunyuandHailar.
Question: Why were all the detachment's branches stationed near the border of the
U.S.S.R.?
Answer: These branches were to serve as support bases in the event of bacteriological
warfare against the Soviet Union, and that is why they were stationed in the immediate
vicinityoftheSovietborder.
Question: What direction did the activities of the detachment take after Germany began
warontheSovietUnion?
Answer:Inthesummerof1941theChiefofthedetachment,Ishii,calledaconferenceof
all the chiefs of divisions and informed us that an instruction had been received from the
ChiefofStaffoftheJapaneseArmy,thesubstanceofwhichwasasfollows:Detachment731
had done good work in preparation for bacteriological warfare, and, in particular, in the
breeding of plague fleas on a mass scale. Plague fleas were of great operational and
strategicalinterest,anditwasthereforeinstructedthatresearchworkinthisfieldshouldbe
intensified. The Chief of the detachment pointed out that one of the detachment's weakest
pointswasitsinadequatefacilitiesforbreedingfleasonamassscale,andthatallattention
mustbefocussedonthemassproductionoffleas.
Question:IshiisaidthatthesewerethedirectinstructionsoftheGeneralStaff?
Answer:Yes,thatisso.
Question: Let us now pass to special questions. How long were you Chief of the 4th
Division?
Answer:Twoyears.
Question: You are therefore well acquainted with the special equipment and production
capacityofthe4thDivision?
Answer:Iam.
188
Question: What quantity of germs of each of the principal infectious diseases could
Detachment731's4thDivisionproduceinonemonth?
Answer:Thatisaratherdifficultquestion,butIwouldsaythatifitsproductionfacilities
andallitsequipmentwereoperatedatmaximumcapacity,the4thDivisioncouldproducein
onemonth:300kilogramsofplaguegerms,or800to900kilogramsoftyphoidgerms,or500
to700kilogramsofanthraxgerms,oronetonofcholeragerms.
Question:Willyoudescribetheequipmentofthe4thDivision?
Answer:The4thDivisionhadtwoproductionunits,bothofequalcapacity.
Question: What was the capacity of the first unit's boilers, in which the culture medium
wasprepared?
Answer:Ithadeightboilers,eachofone-toncapacity.
Question: That means that one of the 4th Division's units could produce eight tons of
culturemediumatoneoperation?
Answer:Thatisso.
Question:Andwhatwastheaggregatecapacityoftheboilersofthesecondunit?
Answer:Thesame.
Question:Howmanyculturechamberswerethereinthefirstunit,andhowmanyinthe
second?
Answer:Fiveinthefirst,fourinthesecond.
Question:Whodesignedthecultivatorsforthebreedingofgerms?
Answer:ThecultivatorwasinventedbyGeneralIshii.
Question:HowmanyIshiicultivatorsdidthe4thDivisionhaveinall?
Answer:Idon'trememberexactly,butquiteenoughforthemassproductionofgerms.
Question:Whenyouspokeofthepotentialoutputoflethalgerms,onwhatdidyoubase
yourfigures?
Answer:Thecapacityoftheboilersandotherequipment,andthenumberofcultivators.
189
Question:Howmuchtimewasrequiredforthebreedingofbacteriaofeachtype:typhoid,
cholera,anthrax,plague.
Answer: Plague and anthrax germs required 48 hours, cholera, typhoid and other germs
required24hours.
Question:Whatwastheyieldofanthraxgermspercultivator?
Answer:From50to60grams.
Question:Andtheyieldoftyphoidgermspercultivator?
Answer:From40to45grams.
Question:Plague?
Answer:Thirtygrams.
Question:Cholera?
Answer:About50grams.
Question:Howwerethegermsproducedbythe4thDivisionpreserved?
Answer:Ifforashortperiod,theywerepreservedinrefrigerators.
Question: When you despatched germs for the bacteriological attacks on the Chinese
population,howwerethegermspacked?
Answer:Thegermswereputintospecialbottles,eachofwhichcouldhold50grams.The
bottleswereputintometalcontainers,whichwerepackedintolargespecialcaseslinedwith
ice,severalcontainerstoacase.
Question: Will you describe the methods and the special equipment employed by
Detachment731forthelargescalebreedingoffleas?
Answer: The 2nd Division had four special premises for the mass breeding of fleas, in
which a fixed temperature of 4-30°C. was maintained. Metal jars, 30 cm. high and 50 cm.
wide,wereusedforthebreedingofthefleas.Ricehuskswerepouredintothe-jarstokeep
thefleasin.Afterthesepreparations,afewfleaswereputintoeachjar,andalsoawhiterat
forthemtofeedon.Theratwasfastenedinsuchawayasnottohurtthefleas.Aconstant
temperatureof-f-30°C.wasmaintainedinthejars.
Question:Whatquantityoffleascouldbeobtainedfromeachcultivatorinoneproduction
cycle?
190
Answer:Idon'trememberexactly,butIshouldthinkfrom10to15grams.
Question:Howlongdidaproductioncyclelast?
Answer:Twoorthreemonths.
Question:Howmanycultivatorswerethereinthespecialsectionwhichbredtheparasites?
Answer:Idon'trecalltheexactfigure,butIshouldsayfrom4,000to4,500.
Question: Consequently, with its available equipment, the detachment could produce 45
kilogramsoffleasinoneproductioncycle?
Answer:Yes,that'strue.
Question: What was intended to be done with these fleas in the event of bacteriological
warfare?
Answer:Theyweretobeinfectedwithplague.
Question:Andemployedasabacteriologicalweapon?
Answer:Yes,thatisso.
Question:Inwhatmannerweretheplaguefleastobeusedasabacteriologicalweapon?
Answer:Inmytime,itwasconsideredthatthemosteffectivemethodwastodropthefleas
fromaeroplanes.
Question:WerefleasdroppedfromaeroplanesbytheexpeditiontoChina?
Answer:Theywere.
Question:Fleasinfectedwithplague?
Answer: Yes. The bacteriological attack in China with the help of plague fleas was to
causeaplagueepidemic.
Question: Did I understand rightly, that when Germany began war on the Soviet Union,
Ishiiorderedthatthefirstthingwastospeeduptheproductionoffleas?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Inwhatwaywerethefleasinfectedwithplague?
191
Answer: Rats were first infected by inoculating them with plague vaccine, and then the
fleaswereinfectedbytheserats.
Question:WhowasyourpredecessorinDetachment731asChiefofthe1stDivision?
Answer:ColonelKitagawa.
Question:Itwasfromhimyoutookovertheaffairsofthe1stDivision?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Theso-calledlaboratoryexperimentsonlivingpeoplewereconductedbythe1st
Division?
Answer:Yes.
Question: Will the accused please tell us where Detachment 731 got the people for the
experiments?
Answer: As far as I know, the detachment got the people from the Harbin Gendarmerie
Administration.
Question: Will you tell us what you know about the experiments performed by the 1st
Divisiononlivingpeople?
Answer: The prisoners kept in Detachment 731 's inner prison were used for various
researches in preparation for bacteriological warfare. The object of the researches was: to
increase the toxic effect of the lethal germs of various infectious diseases, and to study
methods of employing these germs on human beings. I myself was never present at these
experiments,andIamnotinapositiontogiveanydetails.
Question:Whereweretheseexperimentsperformed?
Answer:Theywereperformedintheprison.Inadditiontotheprison,therewerespecial
laboratoriesinwhichexperimentswerealsoperformedonhumanbeings.
Question:Howmanyprisonerswastheprisondesignedtoholdatonetime?
Answer:From200to300,butitcouldholdupto400.
Question: How many prisoners were sent to the detachment's prison in the course of a
year?
Answer:Ihavenostatisticsonthispointanddonotknowtheexactfigures,butroughly
from400to600ayear.
192
Question:Afterapersonhadbeeninfectedwithaparticulargerm,washegivenmedical
treatmentinthedetachment'sprison,ornot?
Answer:Hewas.
Question:Andafterherecovered,whathappenedtohim?
Answer:Asarule,afterhewascuredhewasusedforotherexperiments.
Question:Andthiswentonuntilthepersondied?
Answer:Yes.
Question:AndeverypersonwhogotintoDetachment731'sprisonwasboundtodie?
Answer:Yes.Iknowthatinalltheperiodtheprisonexisted,notasingleprisoneremerged
fromitalive.
Question: What was the nationality of the people who were subjected to these dreadful
experiments?
Answer:TheywerechieflyChineseandManchurians,andtherewerealsosomeRussians.
Question:Werethereanywomenamongtheprisonersexperimentedon?
Answer:Therewere.
Question:DidyouseeanywomenintheprisonwhenyouvisiteditinApril1941?
Answer:Idid.
Question:Whatwasthenationalityofthesewomen?
Answer:IthinktheywereRussians.
Question:Werethereanywomenwithchildrenamongtheprisoners?
Answer:Oneofthewomenhadababyinarms.
Question:ShewasbroughttoDetachment731'sprisonwithherinfant?
Answer:Iheardthatshegavebirthtoitintheprison.
Question:Andthiswomantoowasnotdestinedtoleavetheprisonalive?
193
Answer:SuchwastherulewhenIservedinthedetachment,andthatiswhathappenedto
thiswomantoo.
Question:DoyourecallthevisitpaidtothedetachmentbyQuartermasteroftheKwantung
Army,GeneralFuruno,andAssistantChiefofStaffoftheKwantungArmy,GeneralAyabe?
Answer:Ido.
Question: Did these high officers of the Kwantung Army Headquarters inspect all the
detachment'spremises—inparticular,itsprison?
Answer:Theydid.
Question: What infectious diseases did the 1st Division employ most frequently in its
experimentsonhumanbeings?
Answer:Chieflyplague.
Question: Besides the experiments under laboratory conditions, did the detachment
performotherexperimentsonhumanbeings?
Answer:Yes,experimentsweremadeunderfieldconditions.
Question:Whereweretheseexperimentsconducted?
Answer: At a special proving ground at Anta Station. Question: Will you tell us all that
youknowabouttheseexperiments?
Answer: Very soon after my appointment to Detachment 731, that is, in the summer of
1941, experiments were performed at Anta Station on the use of the Ishii porcelain bomb
chargedwithplaguefleas.
Question:Continueyourtestimony.
Answer:Thesiteusedforthetestswasverycarefullyguardedandnoonewasallowedto
passthrough.Specialsentrypostswerestationedaroundit,whichguardedtheplacesothat
nounauthorizedpersoncouldenterit.
The persons used for these experiments, fifteen in number, were brought from the
detachment'sinnerprisontotheexperimentalgroundandtiedtostakeswhichhadbeendriven
intothegroundforthepurpose.Flagsandsmokesignalswereusedtoguidetheplanesand
enablethemtofindtheprovinggroundeasily.AspecialplanetookofffromPingfanStation,
andwhenitwasoverthesiteitdroppedabouttwodozenbombs,whichburstatabout100or
200 metres from the ground, releasing the plague fleas with which they were charged. The
plaguefleasweredispersedallovertheterritory.
194
A long interval was allowed to pass after the bombs had been dropped in order that the
fleas might spread and infect the experimentees. These people were then disinfected and
takenbackbyplanetotheinnerprisonatPingfanStation,whereobservationwasestablished
overthemtoascertainwhethertheyhadbeeninfectedwithplague.
AbouttheresultoftheseexperimentsIoughttosaythefollowing.IwastoldbyColonel
Oota,whowasinchargeofthetests,thattheexperimentdidnotyieldgoodresults.Thiswas
duetothehightemperature,thegreatheat,owingtowhichthefleaswereverysluggish.That
isallIcansayaboutthisexperiment.
Question:Whodrewuptheorderforthisexperiment?
Answer: The order was drawn up by the Chief of the 2nd Division. I, as Chief of the
GeneralDivision,thatis,thesecretariatofthedetachment,acquaintedmyselfwiththeorder
andsubmitteditforendorsementtotheChiefofthedetachment.TheChiefofthedetachment
endorsedtheorder.
Question:Whatgermsweretestedmostfrequentlyontheprovingground?
Answer:Plaguegerms.
Question:Doyouconfirmthetestimonyyougaveatthepreliminaryinvestigationtothe
effectthatthebacteriologicalweaponwasemployedagainstChina?^4Answer:Ido.
Question:WillyoutellusabouttheexpeditionstoChina?
Answer:IshallfirstspeakoftheperiodwhenImyselfwasservingwithDetachment731.
In this period, there was one instance in 1941 and another in 1942 when Detachment 731
expeditionsemployedlethalgermsasaweaponagainstChinesetroopsinCentralChina.
Question:Continueyourtestimony.
Answer:Thefirstinstance,asIhavesaid,wasinthesummerof1941.Oneday,Colonel
Oota,Chiefofthe2ndDivision,toldmethathewasgoingtoCentralChinaandsaidgoodbye to me. Some time after his return he told me that plague fleas had been dropped from
aircraft on the Chinese in the area of the city of Changteh, near Lake Tung Ting Hu, in
CentralChina.This,ineffect,wasabacteriologicalattack,whichwasthetermheused.
Afterthis,ColonelOotamadeareporttoChiefofDetachment731Ishii,atwhichIwas
present, to theeffect that the Detachment 731 expedition had dropped plague fleas from an
aeroplane in the Changteh area, and that an outbreak of plague epidemic had resulted, a
numberofpersonsbeingstrickenwiththedisease,buthowmany,Idonotknow.
Question:HowmanymembersofDetachment731tookpartinthisexpedition?
Answer:About40or50.
195
Question:Whattechniquewasusedtocontaminatelocalitieswithplagueduringthe1941
expedition?
Answer:Droppingplaguefleasfromaircraftatahighaltitude.
Question: Was this done by dropping bacteria bombs or by spraying the fleas from
aircraft?
Answer:Byspraying.
Question:Will you tell usall you know about Detachment 731's expedition to China in
1942?
Answer:InJune1942,LieutenantGeneralIshii,ChiefofDetachment731,calledtogether
theleadingpersonnelofthedetachmentandinformedusthatanexpeditiontoCentralChina
would shortly be organized for the purpose of studying the best methods of employing
bacteriologicalweapons.Theexpeditionwasorganizedanddespatchedinconformitywithan
orderfromtheGeneralStaffoftheJapaneseArmy,anditschiefpurposewastostudywhat
wascalledthegroundmethodofcontamination,thatis,thedisseminationofgermsfromthe
ground. An order was then issued by the Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army to
sendaspecialgrouptoCentralChina.
In pursuance of this order, General Ishii, Chief of Detachment 731, called together the
leadingpersonnelofthedetachmentandconferredwiththemonpracticalwaysandmeansof
organizing the expedition. The drawing up of the plan of the expedition was entrusted to
LieutenantColonelMurakami,Chiefofthe2ndDivision.Thegroupwastoconsistoffrom
100to300men.Itwasdecidedtoemployplague,choleraandparatyphoidgerms.
At the end of June and the beginning of July the expedition proceeded in several
contingentsbyairandrailtoDetachmentEiinNanking.
TheexpeditionwastocarryonitsbacteriologicalactivityinconjunctionwiththeChekang
operationoftheJapaneseArmyinCentralChina.Theoperationwasappointedfortheendof
July.ButowingtothefactthattheChekangoperation,whichwastobeastrategicalretreatof
theJapaneseforces,wassomewhatdelayed,thebacteriologicaloperationwascarriedoutat
the end of August. This Detachment 731 expedition to Central China operated from the
territoryofDetachmentEi,whereitsetupitssupportbases.
The bacteriological operation was to be carried out in the area of the cities of Yushan,
KinhwaandFutsing.Ilearnedaftertheoperationthatplague,choleraandparatyphoidgerms
were employed against the Chinese by spraying. The plague germs were disseminated
throughfleas,theothergermsinthepureform—bycontaminatingreservoirs,wells,rivers,
etc. I know that the bacteriological operation was carried out fully in accordance with plan
and was a complete success, but I do not know the details of its results; I know that the
operationwassuccessfulfromwhatGeneralIshiitoldme.
Question: What instructions did the 4th Division receive in connection with the
196
preparationsforthe1942expedition?
Answer: The 4th Division was instructed to supply the germs for the Detachment 731
expedition; 130 kilograms of these germs were prepared and despatched by air to Central
China.
Question:Willyoutelluswhatgermsspecificallywerepreparedbythe4thDivision?
Answer:Wepreparedonlythegermsofparatyphoidandanthrax.
Question: Did you yourself read General Umezu's order regarding the despatch of the
expeditiontoChinain1942?
Answer:Idid.
Question:WhatdoyouknowoftheexpeditiontoChinain1940?
Answer: General Ishii showed me a Chinese medical journal in which the causes of an
outbreakofplagueintheNimpoareain1940werediscussed.Aftershowingmethejournal
hetoldmethataDetachment731expeditionhaddroppedplaguefleasfromanaeroplanein
theNimpoarea,andthatthiswasthecauseoftheoutbreakoftheepidemic.
Question:WhatopiniondidIshiigiveoftheresultsofthe1940expeditioninhistalkwith
you?
Answer:Heconsideredtheexpeditionasuccess.
StateProsecutor:WiththeCourt'spermission,IshouldliketohaveVol.20oftherecord,
whichcontainsmaps.
(On receiving Vol. 20, the State Prosecutor passes to accused Kawashima maps with
markingsonthem.)
YouhavebeenhandedmapsofChina.Onthesemapsyoucrosshatchedthesectorswhere
bacteriological attacks were launched. Do you confirm that bacteriological attacks on the
Chinesepopulationwerelaunchedpreciselyintheseareas?
AccusedKawashima:Ido.
Question:Andthesearethemapsonwhichyoumadeyourmarkings?
Answer:Theyare.
Question:AnddoyouconfirmthatthesearetheareasinwhichtheattacksonChinawere
launched?
197
Answer:Ido.
Question: For what reasons were the preparations for bacteriological warfare made in
Manchuria,andnotinJapan?
Answer:Manchuria is a countrywhich borders on the Soviet Union,and in the event of
waritwouldbeeasierandmoreconvenienttoemploythebacteriologicalmeansfromthere.
In addition, Manchuria was very convenient for experimentation in means of
bacteriologicalwarfare.
Question:Inwhatpreciselydidthe"convenience"ofconductingexperimentsinManchuria
consist?
Answer: Manchuria was very convenient because there was adequate experimental
materialthere.
Question:Whatdoyoumeanby"experimentalmaterial"?Peoplesenttothedetachment
forexperimentation?
Answer:Exactly.
Question: What code word was used in the detachment to designate the victims of the
experiments?
Answer:Theywerecalled"logs."
Question:Werethepeopleheldintheinnerprisoncalledbytheirnames?
Answer:No,theyweregivennumbers.
Question:Andallthesepeopleweretobekilled?
Answer:Theywere.'
Question:You,asabacteriologicalexpert,knewofcoursethatthedisseminationofdeadly
infectiousdiseasesasameansofwarfaremightcausedreadfulpestilences?
Answer:Yes,Irealizedthat.
Question:Youknewofcoursethatthedreadfulpestilencescausedbythedisseminationof
plagueandotherepidemicsmightalsoafflictneutralcountries?
Answer:Idid.
198
Question:Asadoctor,yourealizedofcoursetheinhumanityofexperimentingonliving
people?
Answer:Idid.
Question:YouwereforsometimeChiefofthe1stDivision,whichconductedexperiments
on human beings, and were then Chief of the 4th, or production, Division, which prepared
hugequantitiesofdiseasemicrobes?
Answer:Thatisso.
Question:Doyouadmityourguiltinthis?
Answer:Ido.
StateProsecutor:Ihavenomorequestions.
CounselBorovik:Asisknown,youservedintheJapaneseArmysince1916.Pleasetellus,
wasserviceinthearmyatraditioninyourfamily,atraditionhandeddownfromgeneration
togeneration?Wasyourfatheramilitaryman?
AccusedKawashima:Myfatherwasafarmer.
Question:Inthetestimonyyougaveatthepreliminaryinvestigation,andalsohere,inthe
Military Tribunal, you stated that the bacteriological detachment subsequently known as
Detachment 731 was formed in 1936. I request you to state briefly what duties you were
performingintheJapaneseArmyatthatperiod.
Answer:AtthatperiodIwasservingintheMedicalDepartmentofaguardsdivisioninthe
cityofTokyo.
Question:Inwhatcapacity?
Answer:AsDeputyChiefoftheMedicalDepartment.
Question:Youalsostatedinyourtestimonyatthepreliminaryinvestigation,andheretoo,
that an order of the emperor in 1940 provided for the enlargement of the personnel of
Detachment 731, as well as for the expansion of its work. Will you tell us what you were
doingin1940?
Answer:AtthattimeIwasChiefoftheMedicalDepartmentofthe38thDivision.
Question: Consequently, as I understand you, Detachment 731 was organized and its
activities vastly expanded at a time when you still knew nothing of its existence. Have I
understoodyoucorrectly?
199
Answer:Quitecorrectly.
MORNINGSITTING,DECEMBER26
EXAMINATIONOFACCUSEDKARASAWA
StateProsecutor:Willyoutellus,accusedKarasawa,fromwhenandtillwhenyouserved
inDetachment731,andinwhatcapacities?
Accused Karasawa: I served in Detachment 731 from December 1939 to August 1944,
chieflyinthe4th,orproduction,Division,atfirstasanordinarymemberofitsstaff.ThenI
wasmadeChiefofoneoftheproductionunits,and,then,afterMajorSuzuki,Chiefofthe
ProductionSection,left(thiswasattheendof1942orthebeginningof1943,Icannotsay
exactly),IreplacedhimasChiefoftheProductionSection.
Question:Consequently,youservedwithDetachment731fiveyearsinall.Isthatso?
Answer:Yes,approximatelyfiveyears.
Question:Henceyouwerewellfamiliarwiththestructureofthedetachmentandthework
ofthedivision?
Answer:Yes,Iknewtheworkofthe4thDivisionofDetachment731verywell.SinceI
worked in Detachment 731 so long, I have also a general knowledge of the tasks and
functionsofitsotherdivisions.
Question:WhatwerethefunctionsofDetachment731?
Answer: Detachment 731's chief function was to conduct active preparations for
bacteriologicalwarfare.
Question: For what purpose did the detachment systematically conduct experiments on
humanbeings?
Answer:Forthestudyofgermsandtheiremploymentinbacteriologicalwarfare:studies
weremadeoftheeffectivenessofgerms,methodsofbreedingthem,methodsofemploying
them,methodsofproducingthemonalargescale,andalsothestorageofgerms.
Question: You also confirm that the detachment conducted bacteriological attacks in
China?
Answer:Ido.
Question:Doyouconfirmthetestimonyyougavethatthedetachment's4thDivisionwasa
hugefactoryforthelarge-scaleproductionofgermsforuseinbacteriologicalwarfare?
200
Answer: I do. As I stated, the 1st Division of Detachment 731 investigated problems of
bacteriological warfare, the 2nd Division studied the employment of the bacteriological
weapon under field conditions, the 4th Division engaged in the mass production of lethal
germsandalsostudiedmethodsofstoringthem.
Question: What division conducted experiments on human beings under laboratory
conditions?
Answer:The1stDivision.
Question:Weretheexperimentsonlivingpeopleconductedonlyintheprison,orinother
placesaswell?
Answer:Theywereconductedintwoways:intheprisonandontheprovingground.
Question: Which of the detachment's divisions experimented on human beings on the
provingground?
Answer:The2ndDivision.
Question: Will you please describe the detachment's production equipment, its capacity,
andhowthebacteriawerecultivated.
Answer: I worked as Chief of the 4th Division's Production Section, and I will therefore
firsttellabouttheproductionequipmentofthissection.
Theequipmentforthemassproductionofgermsinthissectionconsistedoftwounits.I
shall begin with the first unit. It consisted, firstly, of boilers in which the medium for the
cultivationofthegermswasprepared.Therewerefouroftheseboilers,eachofaboutone-ton
capacity. The medium was put into Ishii cultivators, which were contained in specially
designed autoclaves; there were 14 of these autoclaves, each of them capable of holding
about 30 cultivators. It was therefore possible, when working at full capacity, to have 420
cultivators in the autoclaves at one time. There were two refrigerators for cooling the
cultivators.Afterthemediumhadcooled,thebacteriawereinserted.Thebacteriamultiplied,
andthenwereskimmedoff.Thereweretwospecialroomsforthispurpose.
Question:Whatquantityofgermswasproducedinonemonth?
Answer: With the 4th Division's equipment operating at maximum capacity, and under
optimum conditions, it was theoretically possible to produce in one month about 300
kilogramsofplaguegerms.But,inpractice,only500cultivatorswereused,whichmadeit
possibletoproduceinonecycle10kilogramsofplaguebacilli,eachcultivatoryielding20
grams.
Question:Whatquantityoftyphoidgermscouldbeproducedwhenoperatingatmaximum
capacity?
201
Answer:From800to900kilogramsamonth.
Question:Andofanthrax?
Answer:About600kilograms.
Question:Cholera?
Answer:Aboutoneton.
Question:Paratyphoid?
Answer:Asmuchastyphoid.
Question:Dysentery?
Answer:Thesamequantity.
Question:DidIunderstandyourightly?Usingalltheboilersatthe4thDi/ision'sdisposal,
eighttonsofculturemediumcouldbeproduced?
Answer:Thatiscorrect.Fourtonsinthefirstunit,andthesecondunitcouldalsoproduce
fourtons.
Question:WherewereDetachment731'sbrancheslocated?
Answer: The detachment's branches were located at Hailar, Sunyu, and at Linkow and
HailinstationsnearthetownofMutankiang.
Question: These branches were located in the immediate vicinity of the frontier of the
SovietUnion?
Answer:Yes,thatisso.
Question:Wereyoueveryourselfatthesebranches?
Answer:Ivisitedeachbranchonce.
Question:Forwhatpurposedidyou/isitthesebranches?
Answer: I visited the branches to ascertain whether they had accommodation for
productionequipment.
Question:Thatis,forthelarge-scalecultivationofbacteriaineachbranch?
202
Answer:Ofcourse,thatiswhattheChiefofthedetachmentplannedtodo.
Question:YouarereferringtoGeneralKitano?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Whatcausedthenecessityforyourbeingsenttothesebranches?
Answer: Before I left on this trip, the Chief of the detachment, General Kitano, told me
whatmymissionwas.Thefirstthingwasthenecessitytoenlargethedetachment'sfacilities
forthemassproductionofbacteria;thesecondwasthenecessity,inviewoftheoutbreakof
warwithAmerica,todispersethedetachment'sproductionequipmentasaprecautionagainst
bombing by American aircraft, so that production might not be interrupted even during
enemyairattack.
Question: Please tell us, did Detachment 731 study the immunity of Americans to
infectiousdiseases?
Answer:AsfarasIcanrecall,thatwasatthebeginningof1943.Iwasinhospitalatthe
timeinMukden,andMinata,oneoftheresearchersofthedetachment,cametoseeme.He
told me about his work, and said that he had come to Mukden to study immunity among
Americanwarprisoners.
MinatawassentspeciallybyDetachment731tocampswhereAlliedwarprisonerswere
keptinordertostudytheimmunityofAnglo-Saxonstoinfectiousdiseases.
Question:AndforthispurposetestsweremadeofthebloodofAmericanwarprisoners?
Answer:Thatisso.
Question:WhatwasresearcherUchimidoingin1943?
Answer: He made trips into Inner Mongolia, where he studied the blood of the
Mongolians,alsoinconnectionwiththequestionofimmunity.
Question:Wereyouyourselfeverpresentatexperimentsonhumanbeings?
Answer: I was present on two occasions at experiments in infecting people under field
conditions at the Anta Station proving ground. The first experiment was made towards the
endof1943withanthraxbacteria.Tenpersonswereusedfortheseexperiments.Theywere
brought to the proving ground and tied to stakes five metres apart from one another. A
fragmentation bomb was used for the purpose, placed 50 metres from the people to be
infected. The bomb was exploded by electric current. Some of the experimentees were
infected as a result of these experiments. They were given certain treatments and then sent
backtothedetachment.Ilaterlearnedfromthereportthatthepersonswhohadgotinfected
withanthraxsubsequentlydied.
203
The second occasion was in the spring of 1944. These were experiments in the use of
plague germs. The infection was to be through the respiratory organs. The experimentees
werehandledinthesamewayasintheanthraxtests.
Question:Thatis,theyweretiedtostakes?
Answer: Just so. A cylinder containing fluid charged with plague germs was placed ten
metresawayfromthem.Thecylinderexploded.ButIknowthatinfectiondidnotresultfrom
theseexperiments;theinfectionfailedtopenetratetherespiratoryorgans.
Question:Whichoftheetachment'sdivisionsengagedinbreedingfleas?
Answer:The2ndDivision.
Question:Wasthereaspecialflea-breedingsection?
Answer:Thisworkwasdonebythe3rdSectionofthe2ndDivision.
Question:Whowastheheadofthe3rdSectionofthe2ndDivision?
Answer:TheheadofthissectionwasMajorTanaka,aresearcher.
Question:WhatwasthejobofthebrotherofIshiiShiro,theChiefofthedetachment?
Answer:Hewasinchargeofthe1stDivision'sprison.
Question: Will you tell us everything you know about Detachment 731 's expeditions to
China?
Answer:As far as IknowDetachment 731 sent expeditions toChina twice, in 1940 and
1942.
The first expedition was in 1910, in the latter part of the year. My immediate superior,
Major Suzuki, Chief of the Production Section, gave orders to prepare 70 kilograms of
typhoid germs and 50 kilograms of cholera germs. I was told by Major Suzuki that these
germsweretobeusedbyaspecialexpeditionwhichwasgoingtoChinaunderthecommand
ofGeneralIshii.
AsheadofaunitintheProductionSectionofthe4thDivision,myjobwastopreparethe
necessaryquantityofgermsfortheexpedition.Ialsolearnedthattheexpeditionhadtaken
alongfivekilogramsofplaguefleas.
AsfarasIcanrecall,theexpeditionheadedbyGeneralIshiiwenttotheHankowarea,in
CentralChina,whereitemployedplaguefleasandbacteriaasaweapon.
204
Inasmuch as these tests were made on enemy territory, their precise results were not
known.
Butaspecialgroupwasleftbehindtogatherinformationastotheresultsoftheoperation.
ItwasheadedbyMajorNozaki,whomanagedtogetholdofnewspaperswhichtoldofthe
outbreakofanepidemicintheNimpoarea.
Question:Whatdidthenewspapersay?
Answer: As far as I recollect, it said that prior to the outbreak of the epidemic Japanese
planeshadflownovertheNimpoareaandhaddroppedsomethingfromahighaltitude.
Question:Didyouseethisarticleyourself?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Thesecondexpeditiontookplacein1942,roughlyinthemiddleoftheyear.Iwasordered
bymyimmediatesuperior,MajorSuzuki,topreparethegermsofparatyphoidandanthrax.
How much exactly of each germ, paratyphoid and anthrax, I do not recollect, but the total
quantitywas130kilograms.Thegermswepreparedweresentbyplane,andpartlybyrail,to
Nanking,wherethedetachment'sexpeditionhaditsbase.
Question:ThisbasewaslocatedintheterritoryofDetachmentEiinNanking?
Answer:Itwas.IknowthatDetachmentEipreparedacertainamountofbacteriaforthis
expedition,buthowmuchIdon'tremember,nordoIrememberofwhichparticularbacteria.I
also know that this detachment assigned a number of its medical orderlies to assist the
expedition.
Question:Why,whentellingabouttheexpeditionstoChina,doyousaynothingaboutthe
1941expedition?
Answer: That was spoken about at yesterday's sitting of the Tribunal. In this 1941
operationonlyplaguefleaswereused,andsincewehadnodirectconnectionwiththis,we
werenottoldanythingaboutit.
Question:WillyoutelluswhoheadedtheexpeditiontoChinain1942?
Answer:ThatexpeditionwasheadedbyGeneralIshii,Chiefofthedetachment.
Question:DidGeneralIshiihimselfgotoChinaatthetimeoftheexpedition?
Answer:Hedid.
Question: And besides him, did any other of the detachment's leading personnel go to
205
China?
Answer:IknowthatLieutenantColonelIkariandresearcherTanaka,andsomeothersas
well,tookpartinthisexpedition.
Question:WhatdoyouknowaboutthebeginningofIshii'sexperimentsonhumanbeings?
Whenweretheexperimentsstarted?
Answer:Iamnotcertain,butIthinktheseexperimentswerebegunimmediatelyafterthe
so-calledMukdenincidents.
Question:DidIshiieversayanythingtoyouonthissubject?
Answer: I remember very well that I was told about it when I joined the detachment in
1939.
Question: Will you tell us which leading officers of the Kwantung Army visited the
detachmentwhenyouwereservingwithit?
Answer:ThedetachmentwasvisitedbyGeneralUmezu,formerlyCommander-in-Chiefof
the Japanese Kwanlung Army, by his Chief of Staff Lieutenant General, later General,
Kimura,LieutenantColonelMiyata,otherwisePrinceTakeda,andLieutenantGeneralofthe
Medical Service Kajitsuka, formerly Chief of the Medical Administration of the Japanese
KwantungArmy.
Question: Tell us, did you ever see persons being delivered to the detachment to be
experimentedon?
Answer:OnoccasionsIactedasthedetachment'sofficeron-duty,andIsawpeoplebeing
deliveredtwice.
Question: Did anyone who was incarcerated in Detachment 731's prison ever regain his
liberty?
Answer:Noone,asfarasIknow.
Question:Thatis,allthesepeoplewerekilled?
Answer:Thatisso.
Question:Whereweretheirbodiestakenaftertheywerekilled?
Answer:Tothedetachment'sincinerator.
Question: Will you tell us why you, who were attached to the 4th Division, attended
206
experimentsonhumanbeingsattheprovingground?Whatfunctionstookyouthere?
Answer: Inasmuch as the bacteria used in the field experiments were produced by my
section,Iwasinchargeofthetransportationofthesebacteriatotheprovingground.Besides
that,Iwasinterestedinthetestsoftheeffectivenessofthebacteria.
Member of the Tribunal Ilnitsky: With what object did the detachment perform
experimentsonhumanbeings?
Accused Karasawa: With the object of ascertaining the most effective bacteriological
weapon,andtoincreaseitslethalpower.
President of the Court: Accused Karasawa, you stated on December 6, during the
preliminaryinvestigation,thattheformationofDetachment731inManchuriawasaconcrete
measure on the part of the Japanese militarists in preparation for bacteriological warfare
againsttheSovietUnion.Doyouconfirmthisstatement?
AccusedKarasawa:Ido.
Counsel Lukiantsev: Accused Karasawa, will you state when and under what
circumstancesyoujoinedtheJapaneseArmy?
AccusedKarasawa:In1931,1enteredtheMedicalInstituteinTokyoasastipendiaryofthe
MinistryforWar,thatis,IreceivedanallowancefromtheMinistry.Thiscarriedwithitthe
obligation,aftermygraduationfromtheinstitute,toserveinthearmyasasurgeon.
Question:WillyoutelluswhyitwasyouthecommandofDetachment731chosetosend
tothebranchestoinvestigatewhatfacilitiestheyhadforexpandingthemassproductionof
bacteria?
Answer:AsIhavealreadysaid,Iworkedforalongtimeontheproductionofbacteria,and
intheopinionoftheChiefofthedetachmentIwasthemostsuitableforthismission,asa
manwhohadhadexperienceinthework.
Question:WhatisyouropinionnowofyourworkinDetachment731onthemanufacture
ofaweaponfortheannihilationofhumanbeings?
Answer:Asaphysician,whosemissionitistohealpeople,Iconsideritanevilthing.
EXAMINATIONOFACCUSEDYAMADA
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedYamada,willyoutelluswhatpositionsyouheldduring
yourperiodofserviceintheJapaneseArmy.
Accused Yamada: From July 1944 to August 1945 I was Commander-in-Chief of the
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KwantungArmy.
Question:Andbeforethat,whatpositionsdidyouhold?
Answer:In1903IwaspromotedtotherankofSubLieutenantoftheJapaneseArmy,and
in1930IwaspromotedtoMajorGeneralrank.
Question:Andwhatpositionsdidyouholdatthatmoment?
Answer: For the first year after I became a Major General I worked as director of the
trainingdepartmentofamilitarycavalryschool.
Question:Whatpositionsdidyouholdafterthat?
Answer:Iwasthencommanderofthe4thCavalryBrigade.
Question:Andafterthat?
Answer:AndthenforayearIwasdirectorofamilitarycommunicationsschool.Thenext
yearIwasChiefofthe3rdDivisionoftheGeneralStaff,andthenforayearandonemonthI
wasChiefoftheGeneralDivisionoftheGeneralStaff.FromDecember1935toMarch1937
I was director of an army officers' school, and from March 1937 to December of the same
yearIwascommanderofthe12thDivisioninMutankiang,Manchuria.FromJanuary1938to
December 1938 I was commander of the 3rd Army, which was stationed in Mutankiang.
From December 1938 to October 1939 I commanded the Japanese Expeditionary Army in
CentralChina,whichhaditsheadquartersinNanking.FromOctober1939toJuly1944Iwas
Inspector-GeneralofMilitaryTrainingoftheJapaneseArmy.DuringthisperiodIwasalsoa
memberoftheSupremeWarCouncil,andfrom1943onward,ImperialDefenceCommander.
I have got that date wrong, I shall correct it: I was Imperial Defence Commander from
August 1941 until the end of that year; later, in July 1944, I became commander of the
KwantungArmy.
State Prosecutor: Who was your predecessor as Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung
Army?
AccusedYamada:GeneralUmezuYoshijiro.
Question: Accused Yamada, will you tell us what bacteriological detachments were
attachedtotheKwantungArmy?
Answer:TheKwantungArmyhadtwobacteriologicaldetachments—Detachment731and
Detachment 100, which were directly subordinated to the Commander-in-Chief of the
KwantungArmy.
Question:Consequently,whenGeneralUmezuwasCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantung
Army the detachments were subordinated to him, and from July 1944, when you became
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Commander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,theyweresubordinatedtoyou?
Answer:Yes.
Question: With whose permission were outside persons, persons not belonging to
Detachment 731, staff officers of the Kwantung Army, for instance, allowed to enter the
detachment'sterritory?
Answer:Mypermissioninwritingwasrequiredforthat.
Question: When did the Chief of the Medical Administration of the Kwantung Army,
General Kajitsuka, and the Chief of the Veterinary Administration of the Kwantung Army,
GeneralTakahashi,firstmaketheirreportstoyou?
Answer:ApproximatelytowardstheendofJuly1944.Thoseweretheirfirstreportsafter
myappointment.
Question: Did Generals Takahashi and Kajitsuka, when making their reports, tell you of
thesecretworkofdetachments731and100?
Answer:Yes,theybothspokeofit.
Question:PerhapsyourecallthesubstanceofGeneralKajitsuka'sfirstreport?
Answer:GeneralKajitsukareportedtomeontheworkoftheMedicalAdministrationof
the Kwantung Army Headquarters. In particular, he told me that Detachment 731 was
engaged on work connected with preparations for bacteriological warfare. He reported in
particular that Detachment 731 was doing research work in bacteriological weapons and
producingbacteriologicalweapons.
Question:Didyou,inAugust1944,inspectDetachment731?
Answer:Yes,1did.Onarrivinginthedetachment,Imadeatourofitswholeterritory,and
I was particularly impressed with its products, namely, the bacteria bombs which were
intendedtobedroppedfromaircraft,andalsowiththescaleofproductionofbacteriological
weapons,whichexceededallmyexpectations.NearthesiteofDetachment731therewasan
airfield,where,Irecall,therewereseverallightbombers.FromallthisIdrewtheconclusion
that the preparations being made by this detachment for bacteriological warfare were on a
veryhighlevel.
Question:Whenyouwereexaminingthedetachment'spremises,wereyoushownthefleas
bredbythedetachment?
Answer:Yes,Isawthefleas,andIrememberthattherewasanenormousquantityofthem.
209
Question: Did the officers who were showing you around the detachment's territory tell
youforwhatpurposethedetachmentwasbreedingthesefleas?
Answer:Yes,theytoldmethatthesefleaswereintendedtobeinfectedwithplaguegerms.
Question: Did you, when you visited Ishii's detachment, see specimens of the bomb
designedbyIshii?
Answer:Idid.
Question:Whatwerethesebombsintendedfor?
Answer:Theywereintendedtobeusedforthedisseminationofplague-infectedfleas.At
therequiredaltitudethebombswouldburstandreleasethefleas,thusinfectingtheterritory
withplague.
Question:Wherewerethesebombstested?
Answer:TheyweretestedattheprovinggroundatAntaStation.
Question: When you visited Detachment 731, did General Kitano report to you on the
workofthedetachment'sbranches?
Answer: He did. General Kitano told me that Detachment 731's branches were also
engagedontheproductionofmeansofbacteriologicalwarfare.
Question:DidColonelTamura,ChiefofthePersonnelDivisionoftheKwantungArmy,
inspectDetachment731,onyourinstructions,inJune1945?
Answer:Yes,hedidinspectDetachment731inJune1945.
Question:TowhomdidColonelTamurareportontheresultsoftheinspection?
Answer:ColonelTamurareportedtome.
Question:Consequently,fromtheinformationyoureceived,andfromyourpersonalvisit
toDetachment731,youwereawareoftheworkDetachment731andDetachment100were
doingonthemassproductionofbacteriologicalweapons?
Answer: Yes, I knew that both detachments were conducting research on bacteriological
weaponsandmethodsofemployingthem.
Question: You testified on November 3, 1949, during the preliminary investigation, that
Detachment 731, located in Manchuria, was formed with the object of preparing for
bacteriological warfare, chiefly against the Soviet Union, Mongolia and China. Do you
210
confirmthistestimony?
Answer:Ido.
Question:WasitonlyagainsttheSovietUnionthatthebacteriologicalweaponwastobe
employed?
Answer: No, not only against the Soviet Union. It was also intended to employ the
bacteriologicalweaponagainstanyotherenemystateorenemyarmy.
Question:Which"otherstates"doyouhaveinmind?
Answer:TheUnitedStatesandGreatBritaininparticular.Itwasintendedtoemploythe
bacteriologicalweaponagainstthemtoo.
Question:Regardedinthislight,Detachment731,locatedinManchuria,wasacentreof
preparationforbacteriologicalwarfareagainstanumberofstates.Isthatso?
Answer:Yes.
Question:WhofromJuly1944onwarddirectedtheworkofDetachment731inthesphere
ofpreparationforbacteriologicalwarfareandproductionofbacteriologicalweapons?
Answer:Itwasdirectedbyme,asCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy.
Question: What was the role of the Operations Division of the Kwantung Army
Headquartersindirectingtheworkofdetachments731and100?
Answer: Operations and strategical direction of the bacteriological detachments in
preparationforbacteriologicalwarfare.
Question:ForwhatpurposewerestaffofficersoftheOperationsandIntelligencedivisions,
notablyLieutenantColonelMiyata,sentfromtimetotimetoDetachment731?
Answer: In order to exercise operations and strategical direction of the detachment's
preparationsforbacteriologicalwarfareitwasnecessarytohaveconstantinformationabout
theworkofthedetachment,anditwasforthis,thatis,forinformationpurposes,thatofficers
oftheOperationsandIntelligencedivisionsweresentthere.
Question:Inotherwords,theOperationsDivisionofHeadquarters,whichwasunderyour
subordination,exercisedpermanentsupervisionoftheworkofDetachment731inproducing
bacteriological weapons, and elaborated concrete methods of employing these weapons for
militarypurposes?
Answer:Thatiscorrect.
211
Question:Tellus,whengoingthroughthepapersofyourpredecessor,GeneralUmezu,did
youfindinthesafethelatestblueprintoftheIshiibacteriabomb?
Answer:ItwasonlyareportontheIshiibacteriabomb,towhichablueprintofthebomb
wasattached.IshouldsaythatIreceivedthesedocumentsfromtheChiefoftheOperations
Division,andIkepttheminmydrawer.Iacquaintedmyselfwiththesedocuments.
Question:DidtheIshiibacteriabombswhichyouyourselfsawwhenvisitingDetachment
731conformwiththeblueprintthatwasattachedtothememorandum?
Answer:Yes, they were exactlyalike. I don't remember the details,but the bomb on the
blueprint attached to the report, and the specimens of the bombs which I saw in the
detachmentwerequiteidentical.
Question: Will you tell us what was the substance of the report which General Kitano
madetoyouintheautumnof1944?
Answer: As far as I recall, it was in October 1944. Major General Kitano, Chief of
Detachment 731, reported to me on the results of experiments and research in the
employment of plague-infected fleas as a bacteriological weapon by dropping them from
aircraft.Thereportwasillustratedbyafilm.
Question:WhowaspresentwhenMajorGeneralKitanomadethisreport?
Answer: Lieutenant General Kasahara, Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army, Colonel
Matsumura,ChiefoftheOperationsDivision,andLieutenantColonelMiyata,astaffofficer.
Question:DoyouconfirmthetestimonyyougaveonDecember1,1949,totheeffectthat
General Kitano dealt in his report with the experiments and researches that were being
conductedintheprosecutionofbacteriologicalwarfarewiththehelpofplaguefleas?
Answer:Ido.
Question: How was the effectiveness of the bacteriological weapon produced by
Detachment731tested?
Answer: There were various methods, and one of them was testing the bacteriological
weapononhumanbeingsandanimals.
Question: Were you aware that the bacteriological weapon was being tested by
experimentsonhumanbeings?
Answer:Iwas.
Question:DidColonelTamurareporttoyouafterhevisitedDetachment731thatpeople
212
werebeingkeptinthedetachment'sprisonforthepurposeofbeingexperimentedon?
Answer:Hedid.
Question:WastheGendarmerieunderthesubordinationoftheCommander-in-Chiefofthe
KwantungArmy?
Answer:Yes,theGendarmeriewasdirectlyundermysubordination.
Question: Were the Japanese Military Missions in Manchuria under the subordination of
theCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy?
Answer:Yes,theywere.
Question:DoyouknowthatDetachment731receivedthepeoplefortheexperimentsfrom
theGendarmerieandtheJapaneseMilitaryMissions?
Answer: At the preliminary investigation, when various documents were shown to me, I
learned that large numbers of persons had been supplied to Detachment 731 by the
GendarmerieandtheMilitaryMissions.Ithadbeenmybeliefthatitwasprisonerssentenced
tothedeathpenaltythatVeresenttoDetachment731,andIinferredthattheywerepersons
sentencedtodeathbythecourtsofManchukuo.
Question:Whatyoumeantosayisthatbeforethesedocumentswereshowntoyou,you
believedthatthepersonssenttoDetachment731forannihilationhadbeensentencedtothe
deathpenaltybythecourts,isthatso?
Answer:Yes,IwantedtosaythatthatishowIunderstoodit.
StateProsecutor:IrequesttheCourttohavepresentedtoaccusedYamadathephotostatof
thedocumentdatedMarch12,1943,containedinVol.21,pp.90-92.*
(ThedocumentispresentedtoaccusedYamada.)
Accused Yamada, you have before you a photostat of an instruction of the Kwantung
Gendarmerie dated March 12, 1943. Examine this document carefully. Accused Yamada,
doesnotthedocumentyouhavebeforeyoutestifythatpersonsweresentforannihilationto
Detachment731withoutinvestigationortrial?
AccusedYamada:Itdoes.
State Prosecutor: I request the Court to have read out the copy of Order 224 of the
Kwantung Gendarmerie concerning the sending of 90 persons for annihilation under the
nameofa"specialconsignment."ThisdocumentistobefoundinVol.17,pp.35-38.**
213
President of the Court: Operations Order No. 224 of the Kwantung Gendarmerie will be
read out. Simultaneously, a translation of the document will be made in Japanese. The
accusedmayusetheearphonesattheirdisposal.
StateProsecutor:AccusedYamada,wasthisorderissuedbytheGendarmeriesubordinated
totheCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy?
AccusedYamada:ItwasanorderofcommanderofGendarmerieGeneralShirokura,who
servedpriortomyappointmenttothepostofCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy.
Question:Iunderstandthat.ButwhenyoutookoverthepostofCommander-in-Chiefof
the Kwantung Army, did you abolish this practice of consigning human beings to the Ishii
Detachment,ordidyounot?
*Seep."165.**Seepp.183-86.
Answer:No,Ididnotannulthisorder,butIregardeditasatemporaryorderwhichdidnot
havesubsequentvalidity.
Question: You regarded it as a temporary order. But are you now convinced by the
document just presented to you, that in 1943 people were being sent by the Kwantung
GendarmerietotheIshiiDetachmentforannihilation?
Answer:Yes.
Question: Was the Kwantung Gendarmerie at that time under the subordination of the
Commander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy—GeneralUmezu,yourpredecessor?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Andwhen,in1945,ColonelTamurareportedtoyouonthevisitofinspectionhe
madetoDetachment731onyourinstructions,didn'thetellyouthatpersonswerebeingheld
forpurposesofexperimentationinDetachment731'sinnerprison?
Answer:Yes,ColonelTamuradidtellmethis.
Question:AndwhenGeneralKitanoreportedtoyouontheresearchesonbacteriological
weapons, did he not tell you that Detachment 731 was performing experiments on living
people?
Answer:Yes,hedidtellmethis;butwhenitwas,Icannotrecallexactly.Anditwasjust
bywayofinformationastotheresultsofexperimentsinsprinklingplaguefleasfromaircraft,
butnotintheformofareport.
214
Question: At any rate, it was quite clear from Colonel Tamura's report that Detachment
731wasconductingexperimentsonhumanbeings?
Answer:Yes.
Question: Consequently, the inhuman experiments we are speaking of, and which were
conducted by Detachment 731 while General Umezu was Commander-in-Chief of the
KwantungArmy,werealsoconductedwhileyouwereCommander-in-Chief?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Willyoutelluswhatwerethechiefmethodsofemployingthebacteriological
weaponadoptedbytheJapaneseArmy,andbytheKwantungArmyinparticular?
Answer:Iknowofthreemethods:first,bymeansofbombing,secondbymeansofdirect
dispersionfromaircraft,and,lastly,bymeansofdisseminationfromtheground.
Question: What procedure was adopted by the Kwantung Army for studying methods of
bacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer: For the study of methods of employing the bacteriological weapon, special
commissionsweresetupundertheKwantungArmyHeadquarterscomposedoftheChiefof
Staff, the Chief of the Operations Division, the Chief of the detachment concerned, and
several staff officers. When the commission's decisions were favourable, the results were
reportedtotheCommander-in-Chief.
Question:AnddidtheCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,inhisturn,whenhe
approvedoneoranothermethodortypeofweapon,makeareportorcommunicationonthe
subjectanywhereelse?
Answer:NoreportsweremadeinthenameoftheCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantung
Army, but the Kwantung Army Headquarters informed the Japanese General Staff of such
matters.
Question: Did the Kwantung Army Headquarters receive instructions from the Japanese
MinistryforWartoexpandtheproductionofbacteriologicalweapons?
Answer:Yes,suchaninstruction,asfarasIremember,wasreceivedinMarch1945.
Question: For what reason was Lieutenant General of the Medical Service Ishii again
appointedChiefofDetachment731inMarch1945?
Answer: This appointment was a concrete measure in furtherance of the designs of the
MinistryforWarandtheGeneralStaff.
215
Question: Was it in connection with the instructions of the Ministry for War that you
orderedMatsumura,ChiefoftheOperationsDivision,totakemeasuresfortheproductionof
bacteria and for the replenishment of Detachment 731 with the required number of officerspecialists?
Answer:Yes.Butasregardsincreasingthepersonnel,IgavetheordertoColonelTamura,
ChiefofthePersonnelDivision.
Question: At the preliminary investigation, on December 6, 1949, you stated that the
bacteriologicalweaponwastobeemployedagainsttheSovietUnionwiththehelpofaircraft
forinfectinghighlyimportantSovietareas,andbysabotagemeasures.Doyouconfirmthis
statement?
Answer:Ido.
StateProsecutor:IrequestthepermissionoftheCourttohavereadoutfromtherecordthe
testimony given by witness Matsumura, former Chief of the Operations Division of the
HeadquartersoftheKwantungArmyandformerMajorGeneraloftheJapaneseArmy.The
testimonywillbefoundinVol.3,p.98.
President of the Court: After conferring here, the Military Tribunal has ruled that the
testimony given by Matsumura at the preliminary investigation on December 7 (Vol. 3, p.
98)*shallbereadout.
StateProsecutor:DoyouconfirmthetestimonygivenbyMatsumuratotheeffectthat,at
thetimeyouwereCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,twobasicmeanstobeused
in future bacteriological warfare were considered and approved: the Ishii bacteria bomb
chargedwithplaguefleas,andthesprayingofplague-infectedfleasfromaircraft?
AccusedYamada:Ido.
Question: Of the methods of bacteriological warfare approved by you, which did you
considerthemosteffective?
Answer: I considered that the most effective method of employing the bacteriological
weaponwasthemethodofbombingfromaircraft,alsothemethodofsprayingplaguefleas
fromaircraft.
Question: Do you remember the report made by Lieutenant General Takahashi, Chief of
the Veterinary Administration of the Kwantung Army, regarding a bacteriological
reconnaissancecarriedoutbyDetachment100intheNorthKhinganProvince?
Answer:Ido.
Question:DoyouconfirmMatsumura'stestimonytotheeffectthatinthisreportTakahashi
expoundedhisviewsonthepracticalemploymentofbacteria,inparticulartheopinionthat,
216
in-caseofnecessity,thewatersourcesintheTryokhrechyeareaandintheareasoutheastof
LakeDalaiNorshouldbecontaminated?
Answer:Ido.
Question:Withwhatpurposewasabacteriological
reconnaissancemadeofareascontiguouswiththeSovietUnion?
Answer:Bywayofpreparationintheeventofwar.
Question: Is it true that from October 1939 to July 1944 you were Inspector-General of
MilitaryTrainingoftheJapaneseArmy?
Answer:Itis.
StateProsecutor:Inthisconnection,IrequestthepermissionoftheCourttohavereadout
an excerpt from a sabotage detachment field manual issued by the Office of the InspectorGeneralofMilitaryTraininginJapaninJanuary1944.ThedocumentistobefoundinVol.
22,p.21.
PresidentoftheCourt:Anexcerptfromthesabotagedetachmentfieldmanualissuedby
the General Staff and Office of the Inspector-General of Military Training in January 1944
(Vol.22,p.21)willbereadout.
State Prosecutor: Accused Yamada, this document was compiled by the Office of the
Inspector-GeneralofMilitaryTraining,whichwasunderyourdirection,isn'tthatso?
AccusedYamada:Yes,thismanualwasdrawnupbytheOfficeoftheInspector-General
ofMilitaryTrainingtogetherwiththeGeneralStaff.
Question: Does not this document testify that in January 1944, i.e., prior to your
appointmenttothepostofCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,youwereawarethat
thebacteriologicalweaponwasbeingemployedforsabotagepurposes?
Answer:Yes,suchwasthecase.
Question:Whendidyousigntheordertodestroydetachments731and100?
Answer:Aboutthe9thor10thofAugust1945.
Question: In other words, the swift advance of the Soviet Army made it impossible for
eitherDetachment100orDetachment731tocontinueitsactivities?
217
Answer:Thatisso.
CounselBelov:Whendidyoulearnthatthedetachmentshadbeenformedin1935-36by
secretorderoftheemperor?
AccusedYamada:Ilearnedoftheexactdateofthiseventfromthetestimonyofwitnesses
andaccused.
Question:Couldyou,asCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,haveterminatedthe
workofdetachments731and100anddisbandedthesedetachments?
Answer: The Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army did not have the authority to
terminatetheworkofthedetachmentsordisbandthem.
Question: What is now your attitude towards the deeds of which you have confessed
yourselfguilty,andforwhichyouhavebeenbroughttotrial?
Answer:ImustsaythatIconsiderallthatIdidanevilthing—Iwanttocorrectmyself:I
consideritaveryevilthing.
Question: May I, your counsel, understand your reply to mean that you repent of your
deeds?
Answer:Yes,Iwantittobeunderstoodthatway.
EVENINGSITTING,DECEMBER26
EXAMINATIONOFACCUSEDNISHI
StateProsecutor:AccusedNishi,whatpositionsdidyouholdinDetachment731,andat
whattimes?
AccusedNishi:FromJanuary1943toJuly1944,IwasChiefofDetachment731'sbranch
inthe-townofSunyu.FromJuly1944toJuly1945,IwasChiefoftheTrainingDivisionof
Detachment731.
Question:WhatdidDetachment731do?Whatwereitsfunctions?
Answer:MostoftheworkofDetachment731wasconcernedwithpreparationforwaging
bacteriologicalwarfare.
Question:WhichofDetachment731'sdivisionswereengagedinpreparationsforwaging
bacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:The1st,2ndand4thdivisionsconductedpreparationsforwagingbacteriological
warfare.
218
Question:WhatbacteriologicalmeansdidDetachment731employ?
Answer:Itsacceptedweaponswerethegermsofplague,anthraxandgasgangrene.
Question:Whichofthesediseasecarrierswereconsideredthemosteffective?
Answer:Plaguebacteria.
Question: What methods of employing these bacteriological means were adopted by the
detachment?
Answer: First, spraying bacteria from aircraft, second, dropping of porcelain bacteria
bombs.
Question:Wereplaguefleasemployedtoinfecthumanbeings?
Answer:Yes,theywereemployedinChina.
Question:Whenyoujoinedthedetachment,itsChiefwasGeneralIshii?
Answer:No,theChiefofthedetachmentatthattimewasMajorGeneralKitano.
Question:ThenMajorGeneralKitanowassucceededbyGeneralIshii,isn'tthatso?
Answer:Yes.
Question: What instructions regarding the development of bacteriological means of
warfaredidGeneralIshiibringwithhimwhenhecametothedetachmentasitsChief?'
Answer:Afterheassumedhisduties,LieutenantGeneralIshiiusedtotellusalmostdaily
thattheworkonplaguemustbeactivized.
Question:Onplague?
Answer:Onplagueandthebreedingoffleas.AfterIshii'sarrival,andinconnectionwith
theinstructionsreceivedbythedetachmenttoexpandthemassproductionoffleas,special
coursesoftrainingonthemassbreedingoftheseparasiteswereinstituted.
Question:Didanyoftheworkersfromthebranchesattendthesecourses?
Answer:Five,menattendedfromeachbranch,ortwentyinall.
Question:WillyoutelltheCourtaboutthesweetswhichwerepreparedbyColonelOota?
219
Answer: They were not sweets, but ordinary chocolates, which were to be stuffed with
bacteriaandthenwrappedinpaper.Thechocolatesweretobeofroundshape.
Question:DidColonelOotashowyouspecimensofthesechocolates?
Answer:Heshowedusabouttenchocolateshehadprepared.
Question:Whatbacteriawerethesechocolatesinfectedwith?
Answer: Colonel Oota said that the chocolates contained the bacteria of anthrax. The
chocolateswereintendedforsabotageactions.
Question: Will you tell us what you know about the practical employment of
bacteriologicalmeansofwarfarebyDetachment731?
Answer:IheardthatthebacteriologicalweaponwasemployedagainstChinain1940.In
August or September 1940, when I was at the headquarters of the Water Supply and
Prophylaxis Administration in Peking, I heard there that bacteria were used in the Nimpo
area,inCentralChina.
Question:Fromwhomdidyouhearthis?Andunderwhatcircumstances?
Answer: While I was at the headquarters of the Water Supply and Prophylaxis
Administration in Peking, a document was received from the headquarters of the Water
Supply and Prophylaxis Administration in Nanking. From this document I learned that
bacteriahadbeenemployedintheNimpoarea.ThenLieutenantColonelYoshimura,Chief
oftheWaterSupplyandProphylaxisAdministrationinPeking,toldmethattheplaguebacilli
forChinahadbeensuppliedbyIshii'sdetachment.InSeptemberorOctober1940,myfriend
Major Seto stopped in Peking on his way from Nanking, and he told me that he had just
returnedfromtheoperationinCentralChina.Ithusknowabouttheemploymentofplague
fleas in Central China from three sources: first, from what I was told by Major Seto;
secondly,fromwhatIwastoldbyYoshimura;thirdly,fromthedocumentreceivedbyPeking
headquartersfromNankingheadquarters.
Question: Will you tell us what you yourself saw in Detachment 731 relating to the
expeditioninChina?
Answer: I saw a documentary film showing the Detachment 731 expedition in action in
Central China in 1940. It first showed a receptacle containing plague-infected fleas being
attachedtothefuselageofanaircraft.Thenthesprayingapparatuswasshownbeingfastened
to the aircraft's wings. An explanatory text was thrown on the screen, stating that the
apparatuswaschargedwithplaguefleas.Afterthis,fourorfivepersonsboardedtheplane,
butwhotheywereIcouldnotmakeout.Theplanetookoff,anditwasexplainedthatitwas
on its way to the enemy's territory. The plane was next seen flying over the enemy's
positions.Thenfollowedshotsoftheaircraft,ofChinesetroopsinmovementandofChinese
villages. A cloud of smoke was seen detaching itself from the aeroplane's wings, and it
transpiredfromtheexplanationthatthissmokeconsistedofplaguefleas,whichwerebeing
220
sprayedontheenemy.Theplanethenturnedbacktotheairfield,andacaptionappearedon
thescreen:"OperationConcluded."Wethensawtheplanelanding.Asquadofdisinfection
orderlies drove up to it, and the plane was shown being disinfected. People were seen
alightingfromtheplane:thefirsttoalightwasLieutenantGeneralIshii,andhewasfollowed
byMajorIkari.Whotherestwere,Idonotknow.Thiswasfollowedbyacaption:"Results,"
and a Chinese newspaper was shown, with a translation in Japanese. The explanatory text
stated that a severe epidemic of plague had broken out in the Nimpo area. The concluding
shotwasofChineseorderliesinwhiteoverallsdisinfectingtheplaguearea.Itwasfromthis
film that I learned quite definitely that the bacteriological weapon was employed in the
Nimpoarea.
Question:Whatelsedoyouknowabouttheemploymentofthebacteriologicalweapon?
Answer:IknowthattheIshiiDetachmentemployedthebacteriologicalweaponatthetime
oftheKhalkhin-Golincident.
In July 1944, I was transferred from the Sunyu Branch to Detachment 731 at Pingfan
Station, as Chief of the Training Division. I took over from my predecessor, Lieutenant
ColonelSanoda,wholeftforJapantheverysameday.InhissafeIfounddocumentsshowing
thatthebacteriologicalweaponhadbeenemployedatthetimeoftheNominhanincident,that
is,theincidentattheriverKhalkhin-Gol.
Therewerephotographicnegativesofthatperiod,alistofthesuicide-menwhohadtaken
part in the operation, and an order by Major Ikari. I remember that the Suicide Squad
consisted of two officers and about twenty non-commissioned officers and privates. At the
footofthelistweresignatureswritteninblood.
Question:Whosewasthefirstsignature?
Answer: That of the Chief of the squad, Ikari. Then there were a number of detailed
instructionsbyIkari,astohowthemenweretoarrangethemselvesinthetrucks,andhowthe
kerosenetinsweretobehandled,andthenafewinstructionsastohowthemenweretomake
theirwayback.
It was clear to me from these two documents that a Suicide Squad consisting of about
twentytothirtymenhadcontaminatedariverwithbacteria—IthinkitwastheriverKhalkha.
ThefollowingdayItookthesedocumentstoMajorIkari.WhenIturnedthemovertohim,
Iaskedhimwhattheresultsoftheoperationwere.Ikaritookthedocumentswithoutsayinga
word.
Thattherewassuchanoperationisindisputable,butwhatitsresultswere,Idonotknow.
Question: What do you know about the freezing experiments conducted by the
detachment?
221
Answer:IwastoldbyresearcherYoshimurathatattimesofgreatfrost,withtemperatures
below—20°,peoplewerebroughtoutfromthedetachment'sprisonintotheopen.Theirarms
werebaredandmadetofreezewiththehelpofanartificialcurrentofair.Thiswasdoneuntil
their frozen arms, when struck with a short stick, emitted a sound resembling that which a
board gives out when it is struck. I also read his .account of the experiments. A film was
madeonthissubjecttoo.
Thepictureshowedfourorfivemen,withtheirlegsinchains,beingledoutintotheopen,
dressed in warm clothing, but with their arms bare. Then the process of artificially
accelerating the freezing with the help of a large fan was shown. Next one saw the men's
arms being struck with a stick to test whether they had definitely frozen, and after that the
men were brought into a room. Yoshimura told me that these researches were being
conductedwithaviewtofuturewaragainsttheU.S.S.R.
Question: Will you tell us everything you know about the experiments on the proving
groundatAntaStation?
Answer:AntaStationissituated146kilometresfromHarbin.Nearitthedetachmenthada
proving ground, where the 2nd Division conducted various experiments under field
conditions.
InJanuary1945,byorderoftheChiefofDetachment731,IwenttoAntaStation.ThereI
sawexperimentsininducinggasgangrene,conductedunderthedirectionoftheChiefofthe
2nd Division, Ikari, and researcher Futaki. Ten prisoners were used for the purpose. They
weretiedfacingstakes,fivetotenmetresapartfromoneanother.Theprisoners'headswere
coveredwithmetalhelmets,andtheirbodieswithscreens.
Eachman'sbodywasfullyprotected,onlythenakedbuttocksbeingexposed.Atabout100
metres away a fragmentation bomb was exploded by electricity, this being the means of
causingtheinfection.Alltenmenwerewoundedintheexposedpart.Theexperimentover,
thetenmenwereputinaspecialautomobileandsentbacktotheprisonatPingfanStation.I
laterasked Ikari and researcherFutaki what the results had been. They told me that all ten
menhadbeeninjuredanddiedofgasgangrene.
Question:DidyousaythatwhenGeneralIshiiwasappointedChiefofthedetachmenthe
begantoholdconferenceswiththeofficers?
Answer:Afterhisarrivalinthedetachment,Ishiiarrangedsuchtalkseveryday.
Onedayhesaidinthepresenceofthechiefsofthedivisionsandanumberofofficersthat
ifinthefutureitshouldbenecessarytoemploybacteriologicalweapons,thebestandmost
effectiveweaponwouldbeplaguefleas.Hesaidthatheadquartersandthebranchesmustdo
theirutmosttoexpandthemassproductionofplaguefleas.Itwasafterthisthatthetraining
ofabouttwentymeninbreedingplaguefleas,towhichIhavereferred,wasinstituted.
In this connection, the personnel of Tanaka's section at detachment headquarters was
increased. At the same time, headquarters' planning section drew up a project for the
222
enlargementoftheIshiiDetachmentgenerally.
OnedayIshiisaidthatitwasexpectedthatthefinalanddecisivebattlewouldtakeplacein
1945,betweenJuneandSeptember,whenAmericawasexpectedtoeffectalandingoperation
ontheterritoryofJapanproper,andhesaidthatwemustmakemostthoroughpreparationfor
actionagainstAmericaandtheSovietUnion.
Question:Iwanttocitethetestimonyyougave,containedinVol.10,onpage157.You
quotedIshiiassayingthefollowing:
"Themilitarysituationatthefrontsisgoingfrom
badtoworse...bytheendofthespring,orinthesummerof1945,weshallhavetoemploy
ourlastmeans,
amongthemthebacteriologicalweapon,inordertoturn
thetideinJapan'sfavour."
Doyouconfirmthistestimony?
Answer:Ido.
Question:UnderwhatcircumstancesdidDetachment731'sbranchatSunyuterminateits
existence?Whogavetheorderforthedestructionofthebranch?
Answer: On August 9, 1945, war broke out. Late that night I received a coded telegram
from headquarters. There was no doubt that it was from the Chief of the detachment,butI
couldnotdecipherit.Ileftitundeciphered,andproceededtogetherwiththedetachmentto
the positions in the Sunyu area. I ordered a group of five or six men, including SubLieutenantInoue,toremainbehindandtoproceedtothepositionsafterthebranchhadbeen
burneddown.
Question:Consequently,itwasyouwhogavetheorderforthedestructionofthebranch?
Answer:Thatisso.
Question:Andwhathappenednext?
Answer:Iissuedadoseofpotassiumcyanidetoeachmemberofthebranchandsaidthatif
they should by any chance be taken prisoner by the Soviet Army, they were to swallow it.
Afterthat,Ileftforthepositions.ThiswasdonebecauseitneveroccurredtousthatJapan
might surrender, and we therefore decided to retire to the hills and there commit collective
suicide.
223
Question:Butyoudidnotcommitcollectivesuicide?
Answer: Japan surrendered, and we received orders from the divisional commander and
surrenderedinfullorder.
Question:Didanyofyourmencommitsuicide?
Answer:Onemandid.
Question: You admit that you were an active member of Detachment 731, a secret
bacteriologicalunitoftheJapaneseArmy?
Answer:Yes.
Counsel Bolkhovitinov: Accused Nishi, did you join the army voluntarily, or were you
enlisted?
AccusedNishi:Ijoinedasavolunteer.
Question: Under what circumstances were you assigned to Detachment 731, and to its
Branch673inparticular?
Answer:InJanuary1943,IreceivedanorderoftheJapaneseWarMinisterappointingme
ChiefoftheSunyuBranch.InJuly1944,alsobyorderoftheWarMinister,Iwasappointed
Chief of the Training Division, and from July 1945 on, parallel with this post, I also
performedthedutiesofChiefoftheSunyuBranch.
Question: Do you now realize the utter criminality of the ultimate aims of the work of
Detachment731,andbyitsBranch673inparticular,anddoyounowrepentofyourdeeds?
Answer:IconsiderthattheexperimentsonthepeopleconfinedinDetachment731'sprison
wereinhuman.Ialsorealizethattheratsandfleasbredbymybranchwerethecauseofgreat
evil.
EXAMINATIONOFACCUSEDKAJITSUKA
President of the Court: Accused Kajitsuka, what positions did you hold in the Japanese
Army?
AccusedKajitsuka:In1915IreceivedtherankofLieutenantoftheMedicalServiceofthe
JapaneseArmy.AfterthisIworkedinthe1stMilitaryHospital,andwasthenateacheratthe
Military Medical Academy in the city of Tokyo and Chief of the Sanitary Division of the
MedicalAdministrationoftheMinistryforWar.In1937IwasChiefoftheMedicalDivision
oftheJapaneseArmyinChina.ThatsameyearIwaspromotedtotherankofMajorGeneral
oftheMedicalService,andalsointhatyearIwasappointedChiefoftheMedicalDivisionof
224
the2ndArmy.In1938IwasChiefoftheMedicalAdministrationoftheJapaneseArmyin
Korea. From December 1939 until Japan's surrender, I was Chief of the Medical
AdministrationoftheKwantungArmy.
Question:Whatisyourscientificdegree?
Answer:IamaDoctorofMedicalSciences.
Question:Whendidyoureceivethisdegree?
Answer:In1924.
Question:Forwhatscientificworkdidyoureceivethisdegree?
Answer:Forworkonparatyphoidfever.
Question:Whatisyourmedicalspeciality?
Answer:Iamabacteriologist.
Question:Haveyoudoneresearchworkinbacteriology?
Answer:Ihave.
Question: Have you any other work to your credit in bacteriology, besides those already
mentioned?
Answer:Ihavewrittenaworkonquestionsconnectedwithepidemicplague.
Question: What were your functions in the Sanitary Division of the Medical
AdministrationoftheWarMinistry?
Answer: I was Chief of the Medical Division of the Administration. The Administration
hadtwodivisions,andIwasChiefofone,theMedicalDivision.
Question:Whendidyoureceiveyourlastmilitarypromotion?
Answer:MylastpromotionwastotherankofLieutenantGeneral;itwasinAugust1940.
MORNINGSITTING,DECEMBER27
EXAMINATIONOFACCUSEDKAJITSUKARESUMED
StateProsecutor:AccusedKajitsuka,whenwasDetachment731formed,andbywhom?
225
AccusedKajitsuka:Detachment731wasorganizedattheendof1935orthebeginningof
1936,1don'trememberexactly,bydecreeoftheEmperorofJapan.
Question: Who in the Medical Administration visaed the draft of the order issued in
pursuanceofthisdecree?
Answer:ItwasdoneinthenameoftheEmperorofJapan.
Question:Iunderstandthat,butIamaskingyouwhosevisawasonthedraft.Didthedraft
bearyourvisa?
Answer:Myvisamusthavebeenonthedraft.
Question:DoyouconfirmthetestimonyyougaveonOctober23and24,1949?
Answer:Ido.
Question:Nowletuspasstothewaythedetachmentwasrecruited.Didyoutakepartin
therecruitingofqualifiedbacteriologicalspecialistsforthedetachment?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Question:Willyoutellus,didyoueverworkinthe1stMilitaryHospitalinTokyo?
Answer:Idid.
Question:AndwheredidyoumaketheacquaintanceofIshiiShiro,whowaslaterChiefof
Detachment731?
Answer:IfirstbecameacquaintedwithIshiiShirointhe1stMilitaryHospitalinTokyo.
Question:WhenworkingtogetherwithIshii?
Answer:Yes.
Question:WhowasfirstappointedChiefofDetachment731?
Answer:IshiiShiro.
Question: The same Ishii Shiro who, after his return from a mission abroad, began to
advocatethenecessityofJapan'smakingactivepreparationstowagebacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Yes,thatisso.
226
Question:DidyousharetheviewsofIshiiShiro?
Answer:Yes,Iagreedwithhimasregardsthenecessityforsuchresearches.
Question: Did you support the nomination of Ishii Shiro to the post of Chief of the
detachment?
Answer:Idid.
Question:Bytheway,youwereabacteriologistbyspeciality?
Answer:Yes.
Question:WillyoutellusingreaterdetailwhatyouknowaboutIshiiShiro?Inparticular,
telluswhichhighplacedpersonsintheJapaneseMinistryforWarandtheJapaneseGeneral
Staffsharedandsupportedhisviewsregardingpreparationsforbacteriologicalwarfare.
Answer: In 1931, after his return from Europe, Ishii Shiro taught at the Army Medical
Academy in Tokyo. He began to say that the most powerful states were preparing for
bacteriologicalwarfare,andthatifJapandidnotdothesame,shewouldinthefuturefind
herselfinseriousdifficulties.IheardthatIshiiwastellingresponsibleleadingofficialsof,the
Japanese Ministry for War and General Staff that, from the operations and strategical
standpoint,thebacteriologicalweaponwasveryusefulasaweaponofattack.
Question:AndwhichoftheleadingofficialsoftheGeneralStaffandintheMinistryfor
WarsupportedandsharedIshii'sviews?
Answer:AsfarasIknow,hismostactivesupporterwasLieutenantGeneralNagata,who
waslaterChiefoftheMilitaryAffairsDepartmentoftheMinistryforWar.
Question: And what about Colonel Suzuki, Chief of the 1st Section of the Strategical
DivisionoftheGeneralStaff.
Answer:AstoColonelSuzuki,IknowthatheagreedwithIshii.ThatGeneralNagatawas
Ishii's most active supporter is borne out by the following fact. In Ishii's study in his
laboratory at Pingfan Station there stood a bust of General Nagata. Ishii was so grateful to
him,thathealwayskepthisbustabouthim.
Question:TosumupyourownpersonalparticipationintheformationofDetachment731,
would it be correct to say that, as Chief of the Sanitary Division of the Medical
AdministrationoftheJapaneseMinistryforWar,youtookadirectpartintheorganization
andformationofDetachment731,andatanyrate,agreedtoandsupportedtheappointment
ofIshiiShiroasChiefofthedetachment?
Answer:Thatiscorrect.
227
Question:WereyouacquaintedwiththeJapaneseEmperor'ssecondsecretorder,regarding
theexpansionandreorganizationofDetachment731?
Answer:IlearnedaboutitafterIwastransferredtotheKwantungArmy.
Question:WillyoutellusthesubstanceofEmperorHirohito'ssecretorder,onthebasisof
whichthedetachmentwasreorganized?
Answer: For some time after its formation the detachment was called the "Prophylaxis
Administration,"orthe"AntiepidemicAdministration,"butwhenitwasreorganizeditwas
calledthe"ProphylaxisandWaterSupplyAdministration."
At first, the Prophylaxis Administration had a personnel of less than 1,000, but after the
reorganization, the Prophylaxis and Water Supply Administration had a personnel of about
2,000.
In addition, after the reorganization the detachment was divided into divisions: General
Division,1stDivision,2ndDivision,etc.
Theseweretheprincipalchangesintroducedduringthereorganization.
Question:Ofthedivisionswhichwereinstitutedinaccordancewiththeemperor'ssecond
order,whichofthemdealtwithwatersupply?
Answer:The3rdDivision.
Question:Consequently,ofalltheeightdivisions,onlyonedealtwithquestionsofwater
supply.Isthatcorrect?
Answer: Yes, that is so. The 3rd Division dealt with water supply, while all the other
divisionshadnorela-tionto•watersupplywhatever.
Question:Wherewasthe3rdDivisionlocated?
Answer:InthecityofHarbin.
Question:Andwhereweretheotherdivisionslocated?
Answer:AtPingfanStation.
Question:Wastheworkofthesedivisionstop-secret?Answer:Yes.
Question:Isittruethatpermitstoenterthesedivisionsofthedetachmentcouldbeissued
onlybytheCommanderin-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy?
228
Answer:Yes.
Question:WherewerethebranchesofDetachment731located?
Answer:InLinkow,Hailin,SunyuandHailar.
StateProsecutor:IrequestthepermissionoftheTribunaltohavepresentedtotheaccused
and read out Operations Order No. 398/1 of the Commander of the Kwantung Army of
December 2, 1940, on the organization of the branches of the Water Supply and
AntiepidemicAdministrationinLinkow,Hailin,SunyuandHailar(Vol.15,p.3).
PresidentoftheCourt:TheMilitaryTribunalhasruledthattheorderoftheCommanderof
theKwantungArmyofDecember2,1940,shallbereadout.*
State Prosecutor: Accused Kajitsuka, were you acquainted with this order of the Army
Commander?
AccusedKajitsuka:Iwas.
Question: Why were all Detachment 731's branches located in the immediate vicinity of
thebordersoftheSovietUnion?
Answer: The basic consideration was to have these branches located where the army
formationsofthefirstlinewerestationed.
Question:WhenyouassumedyourdutiesasadministrationchiefoftheKwantungArmy,
did you proceed to inspect and familiarize yourself with the work of the institutions under
yourcharge?
Answer:Idid.
Question:DidyoufamiliarizeyourselfwiththeactivitiesofDetachment731?
Answer:Idid.
Question: Prior to familiarizing yourself with the activities and work of the institutions
underyourcharge,didyoureceivecorrespondinginstructionsfromtheCommander-in-Chief,
GeneralUmezu?
Answer:Idid.
*Seepp.197-98.
229
Question:DidGeneralUmezutellyouanythingaboutDetachment731?
Answer:BeforeleavingtoinspectDetachment731,IwenttoreporttoGeneralUmezuthat
Iwassettingoutfortheinspection,anditwasthenthathetoldmethatDetachment731was
engagedinpreparationsforbacteriologicalwarfare.
Question:Whendid"youmakeyourfirstinspectionofDetachment731?
Answer: It was soon after my appointment as -Chief of the Medical Administration, in
March1940.
Question:WhowasthenChiefofthedetachment?
Answer:IshiiShiro,whowasacolonelatthattime.
Question:WhatdidIshiiShirotellyouabouttheactivitiesofDetachment731?
Answer: Ishii made a general survey of the work of the detachment, referring mainly to
thatpartofitsworkwhichwasspecifiedintheofficialinstructionsoftheKwantungArmy.
Question:AndwhenwasitthatIshiiShirospokeofthedetachment's"secretofsecrets"?
Answer:AsfarasIremember,itwasintheearlypartof1941.
Question:Whatwasthis"secretofsecrets"ofDetachment731thatColonelIshiiShiro,the
Chiefofthedetachment,toldyouabout?
Answer: The "secret of secrets" was research and other work in preparation for
bacteriologicalwarfare,theresultsofthisworkandexperimentsonhumanbeings.
Question:WhatdidIshiiShirotellyouinrespecttothis?
Answer:Ishiitoldmethattherewerevariousmethodsofwagingbacteriologicalwarfare,
andamongthesemethodswere:first—sabotage,second—useofartilleryshells,andthird—
useofaerialbombs.
IshiiShirofurthersaidthatusuallyartilleryshellsandaerialbombsweremadeofmetal,
but that if such bombs and shells are loaded with bacteria, when the metal bursts, the high
temperature developed by the explosion of the heavy charge kills the bacteria. The Ishii
Detachment had therefore decided to use porcelain bombs, on which they were now
conductingresearches.
He said that if the method of spraying bacteria from aircraft is used, this has to be done
from'ahighaltitudeanddoesnothavetheeffectdesired;ifthebacteriaarenottoperish,they
havetobesprinkledfromalowaltitude.
230
Ishii further said that if the bacteria are disseminated in pure form, they perish when
sprinkled from a great altitude. They had to be put in some kind of envelope, and the best
envelopewasfleas.Itwasthereforedecidedtouseplagueinfectedfleas.
Anothereffectivewayofemployingthebacteriologicalweapon,accordingtoIshii,wasto
contaminatedrinkingwaterandfoodwiththehelpofpathogenicagents.
Question: Which pathogenic agents did Ishii consider most suitable for use in a future
bacteriologicalwar?
Answer:Alreadyatthattimeheconsideredplaguefleasthemostsuitable.
Question:WillyoutelltheCourtaboutthisatgreaterlength?
Answer:Ishiisaidthatplagueepidemicsaroseeasilyundernaturalconditions,butthatit
wasnoteasytoinducethemartificially.Astudyofthereasonsforthisshowed,hesaid,that
itwasnotenoughtohavethepathogenicagentstostartanepidemic;itwasnecessarytohave
a gcod knowledge of physiological conditions and the physiological properties of human
beings.AndhesaidthatonlybystudyingthephysiologicalpropertiesofmancouldoneJearn
howtoprovokeepidemicsartificially.
Question: That is, this study of physiological properties was to be made by means of
experimentsonhumanbeings?
Answer:Thatisso.
Question:Whereweretheseexperimentsonhumanbeingsconducted?WhatdidGeneral
Ishiitellyouabouttheseexperiments?
Answer: All he told me was that Chinese were being used for the experiments, and that
theywereperformedbothinthedetachment,thatis,underlaboratoryconditions,andinfield
conditions.Hedidnottellmeanythingmoreonthissubject.
Question:Andthis,accordingtoIshii,wasthedetachment's"secretofsecrets"?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Didyouknowthatthebacteriologicalweaponwasusedagainstthe'Chinese?
Answer:Ilearnedofthisintheearlypartof1944fromMajorGeneralKitano.
Question:WhatdidKitanotellyou,andinwhosepresence?
Answer:HespokeofthisinmyofficeattheHeadquartersoftheKwantungArmy.Noone
elsewaspresent.HetoldmethatagroupofseveralmenfromIshii'sdetachmenthadgoneto
231
an area south of Shanghai, taking with them the necessary materials, and had there
disseminatedplaguefleasfromtheair,andthattheseexperimentshadprovedeffective.This
wasallhetoldmeabouttheemploymentofthebacteriologicalweaponinChina.
Question:Consequently,hetoldyouthatthebacteriologicalweaponhadbeenemployedin
China in the form of masses of plague fleas, that is, fleas infected with plague. Is that so?
Answer: Yes, that is what he said. He said that this method could be used for spreading
plague.
Question: Consequently, Major General Kitano reported to you that those same plagueinfectedfleaswhichIshiiwasthefirsttotellyouaboutwerethemosteffectiveweaponof
bacteriological warfare, had been practically employed against the Chinese. Is that so?
Answer:Thatisso.
Question:Consequently,youknewthattheexperimentswhichwereoriginallyconducted
by Detachment 731 under laboratory conditions and on the proving ground, subsequently
assumedamassscaleandpassedintothecategoryofbacteriologicalattacksonthecivilian
populationofChina?Answer:Thatisso.
Question: Now let us pass to the question of how you yourself assessed these
bacteriologicalattacksontheChinesepeople.
IshallrecallthetestimonyyougaveonOctober30,1949,tobefoundinVol.8,p.105.
Youthensaid:
"I confirm that Detachment 731 employed the bacteriological weapon against Chinese
troops and civilians in Central China. Undoubtedly, for the Chinese this was a weapon of
attack,butfortheJapanese,Iconsideritwasanexperimentalone."
Perhapsyouwillexplainthesewordsandtelluswhatyoumeantwhenyousaidthatforthe
Japanesethisweaponwasanexperimentalone.
Answer:Thisshouldbeunderstoodinthesensethattheeffectofthisweaponhadnotbeen
finallyinvestigated,andthattheexperimentswerebeingconductedtodetermineitseffect.
Question:Youareaphysicianbyspeciality?
Answer:Yes.
Question: And being a physician by speciality, a member of a humane profession, you
nevertheless considered that the employment of tens of millions of plague fleas against the
Chinesecivilianpopulationwasonlyanexperiment?
Answer:Ofcourse,itwasanexperiment,butitwasaninhumanexperiment.
Question:WhatdidGeneralKitanotellyouabouttheexperimentsonhumanbeingsthat
232
wereconductedontheprovinggroundatAntaStation?
Answer:Hetoldmethatonthedetachment'sprovinggroundatAntaStationexperiments
were being conducted in infecting human beings and animals with the help of a specially
designed shell placed at a definite distance away from them, and that as a result of these
experimentshumanbeingsandanimalshadbeeninfectedwithanthrax.Inotherwords,these
experimentsininfectinghumanbeingsandanimalswereperformedwiththehelpofbombs.
Question:Whatwasthenationalityofthepeoplewhowereexperimentallyinfectedwith
anthrax?
Answer:Kitanodidnotexpresslysaywhatthenationalityofthesepeoplewas,butsince
IshiihadtoldmethatthepeopleheldfortheexperimentswereChinese,Iinferredthatthey
wereChineseinthiscasetoo.
Question: I shall recall the testimony you gave at the preliminary investigation on
November 15, 1949 (Vol. 8, p. 139). On the subject of these experiments,you said the
following:
"AccordingtoKitano,theseexperimentswereperformedonanimalsandChinese.Special
bombscharged
withanthraxbacteriawereusedfortheexperiments.
Thebombwasexplodedfromtheground,andaftertheexplosiontheexperimentalanimals
andhumanbeings
werefoundtobeinfectedwithanthraxbacteria."
Doyouconfirmthistestimony?
Answer:Ido.
Question: Do you confirm your testimony to the effect that the Chief of the Medical
Administration of the Kwantung Army exercised direction of Detachment 731 's research
work?
Answer:Ido.
State Prosecutor: I request the Court to have read out the record of the confrontation
between accused Kajitsuka and witness Matsumura, former Major General of the Japanese
ArmyandformerChiefoftheOperationsDivisionoftheKwantungArmyHeadquarters.The
recordofthisconfrontationistobefoundinVol.8,onpp.265-67.
PresidentoftheCourt:TheMilitaryTribunalrulesthattherecordoftheconfrontationon
233
December8,1949,betweenwitnessMatsumura,formerChiefoftheOperationsDivisionof
theKwantungArmyHeadquarters,andaccusedKajitsukashallbereadout.
(ThePresidentreadstherecordoftheconfrontationbetweenMatsumuraandKajitsuka.
TherecordissimultaneouslyreadinJapanese.)
AccusedKajitsuka,willyoupleasegouptothemicrophone.
StateProsecutor:Doyouconfirmthesestatementsyoumadeattheconfrontation?
AccusedKajitsuka:Ido.
Question: When you directed Detachment 731's research work on the properties of
bacteria,youknewthattheseexperimentswerebeingconductedonhumanbeings?
Answer:Idid.
Question:DoesthenameofresearcherYoshimurasuggestanythingtoyou?
Answer:Itdoes.
Question:WillyoutelltheCourtwhat_YoshimuradidinDetachment731?
Answer:IfirstlearnedthatresearcherYoshimurawasworkinginDetachment731whenI
made my first visit of inspection to the detachment in March 1940. While examining the
detachment'slaboratories,ImadetheacquaintanceofresearcherYoshimura.
Here,inthislaboratory,IlearnedthatYoshimurawasengagedininvestigatingfrostbite,in
studyingthecausesleadingtofrostbite,inotherwords,thepathologyoffrostbite.
IsubsequentlyfamiliarizedmyselfwithYoshimura'sscientificwork.Essentially,theidea
wasthatthebestwaytocurefrostbitewastoimmersethefrozenextremityinwarmwaterat
a temperature of 37°. From this I knew that Yoshimura was engaged in researches on
frostbite.
Question:AndYoshimura'sworkonthepathologyoffrostbitecamewithinthepurviewof,
and was of particular interest to, precisely the Medical Administration of the Kwantung
Army,ofwhichyouwerethehead,intheeventofwinteroperationsbytheKwantungArmy.
Isn'tthatso?
Answer:Yes,theywereofinteresttous.
Question:AndyouknewabouttheseexperimentsofYoshimura?
234
Answer:Idid.
Question:Andyouwerefamiliarwithhiswrittenreports?
Answer:Yes.
Question:DidyoudirectDetachment731'sresearchesinhaemorrhagicfever,andalsoin
vaccinesoftyphoid,plagueandcholera?
Answer:Yes.
Question: And you knew that all these experiments were being conducted on human
beings?
Answer:Yes,Iwastoldaboutit.
Question: Hence, you knew Detachment 731 was conducting experiments on human
beingsonaverywidescale?
Answer:Yes.
Question: Did you report to General Yamada, Commander of the Kwantung Army, that
Detachment 731 was conducting secret researches on the practical application of the
bacteriologicalweapon?
Answer:Yes,Itoldhimaboutthis.
StateProsecutor(totheCourt):Permitme,inthisconnection,toputaquestiontoaccused
Yamada.
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedYamada,willyougouptothemicrophone.
State Prosecutor: Accused Yamada, from whom did you first learn that Detachment 731
was engaged in active work on the study and practical application of bacteriological
weapons?
AccusedYamada:FromKajitsuka,ChiefoftheMedicalAdministrationoftheKwantung
ArmyHeadquarters.
Question:ThesameKajitsukawhoisstandingbyyourside?
Answer:Yes.
StateProsecutor:IhavenomorequestionstoputtoaccusedYamada.
235
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedYamada,pleasesitdown.AccusedKajitsuka,gouptothe
microphone.
State Prosecutor: Accused Kajitsuka, will you tell us what uniform was worn by the
militarypersonnelofDetachment731?WasittheusualuniformoftheMedicalService,or
ordinaryarmyuniform?
Accused Kajitsuka: The personnel of the Army Medical Service working in Detachment
731didnotweartheinsigniaoftheirbranchoftheservice.
Question:Andwhatwasthereasonforthis?
Answer:InordertokeeptheworkofDetachment731secret.
StateProsecutor:Inthisconnection,IwouldrequesttheCourttohavereadoutthecircular
oftheKwantungArmyHeadquartersNo.1539,ofJune30,1938,containedinVol.21,pp.34.ItisthecircularabouttheestablishmentofaspecialmilitaryzoneinthePingfanarea.
PresidentoftheCourt:TheMilitaryTribunalhasruledthatthecircularoftheKwantung
ArmyHeadquartersNo.1539,ofJune30,1938,shallbereadout.AccusedKajitsuka,please
takeyourseat.
(The President reads out the circular of the Kwantung Army Headquarters No. 1539, of
June30,1938,"OntheEstablishmentofaSpecialMilitaryZoneinthePingfanArea."*
ThedocumentisalsoreadoutinJapanese.)
Accused Kajitsuka, please go up to the microphone. Continue your interrogation, State
Prosecutor.
236
State Prosecutor: Accused [Kajitsuka, do you confirm that the special military zone at
PingfanStationwasverystrictlyguarded,thatitwasastrictlysecretmilitaryzone?
AccusedKajitsuka:Ido.
Question: Did you know what was the productive capacity of the equipment of
Detachment731's4thDivision?
Answer:Iknewthatthisdivisionhadaveryhighproductivecapacity,butIhadnoinkling
itwasasbigasitappearstohavebeenfromthetestimonyofotheraccused.
Question:WereyoufamiliarwiththeconstructionoftheIshiicultivator?
Answer:Iwas.
Question:Wasitnotcleartoyou,asabacteriologicalspecialist,thatbytheverynatureof
theprocessbywhichthebacteriawerebredintheIshiicultivator,thesebacteriacouldnotbe
used for the preparation of vaccines, and could only be used for the mass production of
microbesforuseinbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Yes,thatwascleartome.
Question: Hence you were aware that the 4th Division of the Ishii Detachment was
engagedinthemasscultivationofbacteriaforpurposesofbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Doyouconfirmthetestimonyyougavetotheeffectthatyouwerefullyaware
that the experiments in testing deadly infectious diseases were being performed by
Detachment731onhumanbeings?
Answer:Ido.
Question: You admit that you directed the detachment's research work on ,,songo" fever
andonvaccinesoftyphus,plagueandcholera?
Answer:Ido.
Question: And you also admit that you were fully aware of the experiments being
conducted by experimenter Yoshimura, researcher of Detachment 731, namely, his
experimentsonfrostbite?
Answer:Ido.
237
Question: You admit that, by their very nature, these experiments were such as to
particularlyinteresttheMedicalAdministrationoftheKwantungArmy?
Answer:Ido.
Question: And do you admit, lastly, that you were informed of the attacks made by
Detachment731ontheChinesepopulationwiththehelpofplague-infectedfleas?
Answer:Ido.
StateProsecutor:IhavenomorequestionstoputtoaccusedKajitsuka.
CounselSannikov:WhenDetachment731wasbeingformedin1936,didyouknowthat
itsrealpurposewastoprepareforbacteriologicalwarfare,ordidyounot?
Accused Kajitsuka: I knew that the detachment would engage in researches in this field,
butIthoughtthatitwouldchieflyfunctionaspartoftheantiepidemicservice.
Question: Will you tell us by whom, and when, you were first informed of Detachment
731'sworkinpreparationforbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer: I definitely learned that the detachment was conducting such researches from
whattheCommander-inChiefoftheKwantungArmytoldmewhenIwasabouttoleavefor
myfirstinspectionvisittothisdetachment.
Question:YouknewdefinitelywhichpartofDetachment731'sactivitieswereunderthe
directionoftheOperationsDivisionoftheKwantungArmyHeadquarters?
Answer:Idid.
Question: When you visited Detachment 731 in March 1940, did you examine all the
detachment'sdivisions,andifnot,why?
Answer:WhenIvisitedDetachment731inMarch1940,thewrittenpermitissuedtome
bytheKwantungArmyHeadquartersrestrictedtheplacesIwasallowedtovisit.Irecall,for
instance,thatIwasnotpermittedtovisitbuildings7and8,oritmayhavebeen6and8,I
cannot remember exactly. I might familiarize myself with everything else, and when I was
metinthedetachment,Iwasconductedthroughallitspremises,butnotthroughthese.From
this I understood that I was forbidden to visit and acquaint myself with the detachment's
secretpremises.
Question:ThatwhichMajorGeneralIshiitoldyouabouttheworkofDetachment731,did
hetellittoyouinperformanceofhisofficialduties,orinthewayofprivateconversation?
Answer:Inthewayofprivateconversation.
238
Question:Yousaid,whenreplyingtothePresident,thatyouhadascientificdegree,and
were the author of scientific works. Do you consider it compatible with your work as a
physicianandspecialisttohavesharedtheviewsoftheadvocatesofbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer: I shared Ishii's opinions and ideas regarding the necessity for an antiepidemic
service, but I consider all the subsequent activity of this detachment villainous; and that I
myselfwasconnectedwiththisworkandsharedinit,Iconsidercomplicityinvillainy,and
repentofit.
EXAMINATIONOFACCUSEDSATOSHUNJI
State Prosecutor: Accused Sato, when were you appointed Chief of Detachment Nami
8604,andhowlongdidyouholdthisposition?
AccusedSato:IwasChiefofDetachmentNami8604inthecityofCantonfromDecember
1940toFebruary1943.
Question:TowhatpostwereyoutransferredfromDetachmentNami8604inCanton?
Answer:IwastransferredtothepostofChiefofDetachmentEi1644inNanking.
Question:HowlongwereyouChiefofDetachmentEi1644inNanking?
Answer:Exactlyayear,untilFebruary1944.
Question:WhenweredetachmentsNami8604andEi1644formed?
Answer:In1939.
Question:HowmanybranchesdidDetachmentEi1644inNankinghave?
Answer:Twelve.
Question:WhatwasthesizeofthepersonnelofDetachmentEiinNanking,togetherwith
itsbranches?
Answer:About1,500men.
Question:WhatconnectiondidIshiiShirohavewithDetachmentEi1644inNanking?
Answer:Whenthedetachmentwasformed,Ishiiwasitschief.
Question:YouknewthatIshiiShirowasmostactiveinresearchonbacteriologicalmeans
ofwarfare?
239
Answer:Yes,Iknewthat.
Question:WhoheadedDetachmentEi1644whenIshiileft?
Answer: The Chief of the Nanking Detachment after Ishii was Colonel Oota, who also
servedintheIshiiDetachment.
Question:WhatpositiondidLieutenantColonelOnaderahold?
Answer:HewasChiefoftheGeneralDivisionofDetachmentEi1644.
Question: Let us now pass to the equipment of Detachment Ei 1644, which you headed.
WillyoudescribetheequipmentDetachmentEi1644possessedforthemasscultivationof
bacteria?
Answer: Of the equipment for the mass production of bacteria,1 consider it necessary to
mention the incubator room, whose dirmnsions were 5x5x2.5 metres, two autoclaves of
cylindricalform,1.5m.indiameterand2.5m.inlength,andalsoabout200Ishiicultivators.
Question:DidDetachmentEi1644inNankingpossessKochboilers?
Answer: Detachment Ei 1644 had 50 Koch boilers. And another 10 in addition. Part of
themwereatheadquarters,butthebranchesalsohadboilers.
Question:Whatoutputofbacteriasubstancewasthedetachment'sequipmentdesignedfor?
Answer: With all the equipment operating, the output of bacteria substance was 10
kilogramsperproductioncycle.
Question: Do you confirm the testimony you gave on December 9, 1949, which is to be
found in Vol. 14, p. 302, to the effect that Detachment Ei 1644 in Nanking, which you
directed,dealtnotonlywithprophylaxisandwatersupply,butalsoengagedinresearcheson
themassproductionofbacteriologicalweapons?(ThistestimonyisreadoutinJapanese.)
Answer:Idoconfirmit.
Question:DidDetachmentEi1644inNankingengageinthebreedingoffleas?
Answer:Yes,itdid.
Question:Willyoupleasetellushowthefleaswerebred?
Answer:DetachmentEi1644bredfleasbeforeIjoinedit,usingforthispurposeabout100
motorspiritcans.
240
Question: Accused Sato, will you please tell us what you know about the assistance
Detachment Ei 1644 rendered Detachment 731 in bacteriological attacks on the Chinese
population?
Answer:When I was servingwith Detachment Ei 1644, I wastold by Colonel Oota and
Lieutenant Colonel Onadera that the bacteriological weapon was employed at Nimpo in
1940, at Changteh in 1941, and in the Chekang operation in 1942. Plague fleas were used,
whichwerescatteredfromaircraft.
Some of the men of Detachment Ei 1644 assisted in the Chekang operation. In addition,
manymenweresentbyDetachment731.Idon'tknowtheexactdetailsoftheoperation,butI
doknowthatheadquartersofDetachmentEi1644assistedtheexecutionofthisoperation,in
particular,bybreedingfleas.
Question:Inotherwords,DetachmentEi1644suppliedtheexpeditionarygroupfromthe
IshiiDetachmentwithacertainquantityoffleasforpurposesofinfectionwithplague?Isthat
so?
Answer:Yes.
Question: When Detachment 731's expeditionary group arrived in Nanking, where did it
makeitsbase?
Answer:AtDetachmentEi1644inNanking.
Question:Consequently,atthetimeofthisexpeditionfromtheIshiiDetachmenttoCentral
China,DetachmentEi1644servedasthebasefortheexpeditionarygroup.Isthatso?
Answer:Yes.
Question:WhileyouwereChiefofDetachmentEi1644,whoengagedincultivatingthe
bacteriaofplagueandinbreedingfleas?
Answer:CaptainMurata.
Question: Did the detachment's Bacteriological Division set up any special section or
specialsub-sectionforthebreedingoffleasandthecultivationofplaguegerms?
Answer:Yes,itdid.
Question:TowhatpositionwereyoutransferredfromDetachmentEi1644inNanking?
Answer:TothepositionofChiefoftheMedicalServiceofthe5thArmy.
Question:WhatbranchofDetachment731wasbasedintheterritorywhereyourarmywas
241
stationed?
Answer: There were two branches in the area of the 5th Army, one of them at Hailin
Station,theotheratLinkow.
Question:WhatbranchwasaccusedOnouechiefof?
Answer:HewasChiefofBranch643atHailinStation.
Question:Didyou,attherequestofaccusedOnoue,issueanorderforthecatchingofrats
tohelpthebranchinthebreedingoffleas?
Answer:Itwasnotanorder,itwasarequesttounitcommanders.TheChiefofthearmy's
MedicalServicehadnorighttoissueorderstoarmyunits.
Question;Soyouwroteaspeciallettertotheunitcommandersonthesubject?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Whatcircumstancesinducedyoutowritethislettertotheunitcommanders?
Answer: Major Onoue had applied to me on the desirability of having rats. I therefore
wrotealettersayingthatratswhichwerecaughtinthearmyunitsshouldnotbekilled,but
senttoMajorOnoue.Ishouldexplainthatitwasnotconvenienttosayintheletterthatthe
armyunitsshouldgoinforratcatching,andsoitwasputintheformofasuggestionthat
theyshouldnotkilltheratstheycaught,butsendthemtoBranch643.
Question: As a bacteriologist, and, moreover, as former Chief of Detachment Ei 1644 in
Nanking,itwasofcoursecleartoyouthattheserodentsweretobeusedbyDetachment731
forthebreedingoffleas?
Answer:AlthoughMajorOnouedidnotsayasmuch,Icouldguessthatthiswasso.
Question:HowmanybacteriologicalunitswerethereinNanking?
Answer:Ifbacteriologicaldetachmentsaremeant,therewerenonebesidesDetachmentEi
1644.
Question:YouknowthatDetachmentEi1644inNankingwasatonetimedesignatedby
thecodename"Tama"?
Answer:Ido.
Question: Now, accused Sato, will you tell us what experiments on human beings were
conductedbyDetachmentEi1644,ofwhichyouwereChief?
242
Answer:Itdidnotconductexperimentsonhumanbeings.
StateProsecutor:Sincetheaccuseddeniesthisfact,Ihavenomorequestionstoputtohim.
But I have a request to make to the Court. I request the Court to have read out the
stenographic record of the sitting of the International Military Tribunal of the Far East in
TokyoonAugust29,1946.AtthissittingoftheInternationalMilitaryTribunalfortheFar
East in Tokyo a report of the District Prosecutor's Office of Nanking was read out of an
investigationithadmadeofJapaneseatrocitiesinNanking,and,inparticular,ofthecriminal
activitiesofDetachmentTama,orDetachmentEi1644.Itwasestablishedthatatrocitieshad
beencommittedsimilartothoseperpetratedbytheIshiiDetachment.Thisexcerptfromthe
stenographic record of the sitting of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in
TokyoistobefoundinVol.22,p.36.IrequesttheTribunaltohavethisexcerptreadout.
President of the Court: The Military Tribunal has ruled that the excerpt from the
stenographic record of the sitting of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in
Tokyoshallbereadout.
(The President reads the excerpt from the stenographic report of the sitting of the
InternationalMilitaryTribunalfortheFarEast.ThedocumentisalsoreadinJapanese.*)
CounselBogachov:AccusedSato,whatisyoursocialorigin?
Sato:Icomefromafamilyofnobles.
Question:Whatisyourmedicalspeciality?
Answer:Pathology.
Question:Whatisyourscientificdegree,whendidyoureceiveitandforwhatscientific
work?
Answer: In 1931 I received the degree of Doctor of Medical Sciences for a work on
"ExperimentalInfusionofGlucoseSolutions."
Question:Didyouspecializeinbacteriology?
*Seep.220.
Answer:No.
Question:Forwhatwereyoudecorated,andwhen?
Answer: I was granted the Order of the Rising Sun, Fourth Class, for taking part in the
243
Manchurian events, and the Order of the Golden Hawk and the Order of the Rising Sun,
ThirdClass,fortakingpartintheChineseevents.
Question:Didyoureceiveanydecorationsfrom1941on?
Answer:Ididnot.
EXAMINATIONOFACCUSEDHIRAZAKURA
StateProsecutor:AccusedHirazakura,fromwhatdate,andinwhatcapacity,didyouserve
inDetachment100oftheKwantungArmy?
AccusedHirazakura:IservedwithDetachment100fromJuly1942.
Question:InwhatsectionofDetachment100didyouserve?
Answer:From1942toDecember1943,Iworkedinthe1stSectionofthe2ndDivision,
thenIworkedinthenewlyformed6thSection,andfromApril1944untilJapan'ssurrenderI
workedwithanexpeditionofthedetachmentintheHailararea.
Question:WillyoutelltheCourtindetailwhatwasthecharacterofDetachment100,in
whichyouservedsince1942?
Answer:Accordingtoitsofficialname,Detachment100wasoutwardlyahippo-epizootic
unitoftheKwantungArmy.Actually,itengagedinpreparationsforbacteriologicalwarfare.
Question:Wherewasthedetachment'sheadquarterslocated?
Answer: Its headquarters were located in the village of Menchiangtung, 10 kilometres
southofthecityofChangchun.
Question:TowhomwasDetachment100directlysubordinated?
Answer:ItwasdirectlysubordinatedtotheCommandoftheKwantungArmy.
Question:WhodirectedtheactivitiesofDetachment100?
Answer: Lieutenant General Takahashi, who was then Chief of the Veterinary
AdministrationoftheKwantungArmy.
Question:DidDetachment100havebranches?
Answer: The detachment had a branch in Dairen, and there were also hippo-epizootic
branchesinDairenandHailar,buttheHailarBranchwaslatertransferredtoKoshan.
244
Question:Ofwhomdidthepersonnelofthedetachmentanditsbranchesconsist?
Answer:Thepersonnelofthedetachmentconsistedofchemists,bacteriologists,botanists
andveterinaryspecialists.
Question:WillyoutellwhatyouknowofthestructureandworkofDetachment100?
Answer:Thedetachmenthadapersonnelofroughly600to800.Thenumbervariedfrom
time to time, so I give an approximate figure. Besides the headquarters of the detachment,
there was a General Division, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th divisions. TheGeneral Division
consisted of several sections— a Planning Section, and a Research Section, for example—
andithadaspecialplantation,orexperimentalfield,atitsdisposal.The1stDivisionchiefly
engagedinmakingbloodtestsofthehorsesandotheranimalsoftheKwantungArmyforthe
purposeofdeterminingsuchdiseasesasglanders,piroplasmoseandinfectiousanemia.
The1stDivisionwasdividedintoseveralsections,buthowmanyIdonotrecollect.
Atfirst,until1943,the2ndDivisionconsistedoffivesections,andlaterofsixsections,
and chiefly engaged in experimental and research work in bacteriological warfare. The 1st
Section was a bacteriological section, the 2nd a pathological section, the 3rd had charge of
the experimental animals, the 4th was an organic chemistry section, the 5th botanical, and
alsodealtwithquestionsofplantpathology,andthe6thengagedexclusivelyinpreparations
forbacteriologicalwarfare.
The3rdSectionhadexperimentalanimals—horses,forexample—atitsdisposal.
The chiefs of the sections, whether army officers or civilian scientific workers, were
specialistsinbacteriology,botany,organicchemistry,orpathology.AfterLieutenantGeneral
Takahashi,formerChiefoftheVeterinaryAdministrationoftheKwantungArmy,inspected
the detachment in December 1943, a sixth section of the 2nd Division was organized. It
engaged in preparation for bacteriological warfare. I should add that the 5th Section of the
2ndDivisionconductedresearchonmeansofpoisoning,orinfecting,plantswiththehelpof
bacteria.ThatisallIcansay.
Question:Whatinfectiousdiseaseswereadoptedbythe2ndDivisionasthebasicmeansof
bacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Glanders,sheepplague,cattleplagueandanthrax,tomyknowledge.
Question:Howmanymenworkedinthe2ndDivisiononthemasscultivationofmicrobes
forbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:IknowthatatthetimeofmytransfertotheHailararea,agroupofabout20men
had been working for a long time under researcher Nishida and laboratory assistant
Yamaguchi on research on anthrax and glanders. In addition, there was Captain Takaaki's
group, which studied and also prepared mass quantities of cattle-plague and sheepplague
245
microbes;the6thSectionworkedinthisfieldtoo,andhad40or50men.
Question:Doyouconfirmthetestimonyyougaveatthepreliminaryinvestigationtothe
effect that the detachment's 2nd Division, which specialized in preparations for
bacteriologicalwarfare,had20officers,30researchersand50technicalworkers?
Answer:Isaidthatthiswasthepersonnelofthe2ndDivision.
Question:Thatis,youconfirmthistestimony?
Answer:Ido.
Question: Will you tell us in greater detail about the history and functions of the 6th
Sectionofthe2ndDivision?Whatwerethe6thSection'sspecificfunctions?
Answer:The6thSection,asIrecallit,wasorganizedtowardstheendof1943.AsIhave
alreadysaid,LieutenantGeneralTakahashi,formerChiefoftheVeterinaryAdministrationof
theKwantungArmy,visitedthedetachment.EscortedbyLieutenantColonelYamaguchiand
researcherTakase,hemadeanexaminationofthe2ndDivision'slaboratories.Afterthisthey
conferred for a long time together in private. Then Chief of the Veterinary Administration
Takahashileft,andaweeklateranorderwasissuedtosetupanew,the6th,sectionofthe
2nd Division. The functions which had until then belonged to the 1st Section, were turned
over to the new, 6th Section, as well as part of the functions of other sections, and also
personnel.AllthecellarsbelongingtothelstSectionwereturnedoverfortheuseofthenew
section.Togetherwiththis,theconstructionofnewbuildingsfortheneedsofthe6thSection
was begun, and the building work was still continuing in 1944, when I was transferred to
Hailar.
Question:DidDetachment100performexperimentsonhumanbeings?
Answer:In1944IwenttothedetachmentfromHailartoreportonmywork.Thiswasin
themonthofSeptember.WhenIenteredthedetachment'sterritory,ImetresearcherMatsui,
carryingavesselcontainingsomesortofvegetablefood.Inanswertomyenquiry,hesaid
thathewastakingthefoodtotheconfinementcellstomakeanexperimentonhumanbeings,
butwhatsortofexperimenthedidnotsay.
Question:WhatdoyouknowabouttestsandexperimentsconductedinDetachment100on
the practical employment of various microbes in bacteriological warfare? Did you yourself
takepartinanyexpeditions?
Answer:In1942,approximatelyinJulyandAugust,Itookpartinsummermanoeuvres.Of
theseIshallnowspeak.
The contingent which took part in these summer manoeuvres was commanded by Major
Muramoto. Besideshim, there Were several researchers, officers and technical workers, a
totalofabout30men.
246
AllthenecessaryapparatusandmaterialweresenttoChangchun,thetransportationbeing
directedbySub-LieutenantKaneda.
TheexperimentsunderfieldconditionswereconductedintheNorthKhinganProvince,in
theTryokhrechyearea,onthebanksoftheriverDerbul,whichflowsneartheSovietborder.
The purpose of these experiments was to test the possibility of employing bacteria in the
eventQuestion:Whichbacteriaexactly?
Answer:Theriverandlakeswereinfectedwithglanders,andthegroundwithanthrax.
Question:Whichriver?
Answer: River Derbul, near the Soviet border. Tracts about a kilometre long were
contaminated.Thecontaminationwaseffectedatdefiniteintervals,approximately100metres
apart.ThecontaminationwasdonebyresearchersMitsudaandIdaKiyoshi,whousedrubber
boatsforthepurpose.Howtheyscatteredthebacteria,Idonotknow.
Question: Incidentally, accused Hirazakura, this is the river Derbul that falls into the
Argun,whichiscontiguouswithSovietterritory,isitnot?
Answer: Yes, that is so. River Derbul falls into a river which flows along the SovietManchurianborder.
Question: And it was this river Derbul which was contaminated with glanders germs, is
thatso?
Answer:Yes,thatisso.
Question: Will you now tell us about the next expedition in which you took part? I am
referringtothe1944expedition.
Answer:InApril1944,LieutenantColonelOsaka,Chiefofthe2ndDivision,summoned
me and took me to the office of General Wakamatsu, the detachment chief, where I was
informed of an order assigning me to take part in an expedition. The expedition was to
consistofsevenmen,andwastobecommandedbyCaptainAsao,butoneofthegrouptook
sick,andIwasappointedinhisplace.Iwaswarnedthattheexpeditionwassecret,andthatit
wasgoingtotheNorthKhinganProvince.Iwasgiventwodocumentstoreadandwastold
thatIwouldreceivedetailedinstructionsandexplanationsfromCaptainAsaoonthespot.
Oneofthedocumentswasanorderwhichsaidthatthegroup'smissionwastoinvestigate
areasoftheNorthKhinganProvinceanddeterminethetotalnumberofcattleintheseareas.
Thecattleintheseareasroamedfreelyinpastures,andourtaskwastomakeasurvey'ofthe
cattle,pastures,watersources,roadsandcattlediseases.
This order was a top-secret one, or as it was marked, a "military secret." It said that, in
pursuance of an operations order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army(Ido
247
notrememberthenumberofthatorder,butitboretheletterHei),intheeventofwar—war
with the Soviet Union was meant—the cattle, of which there were large quantities in the
NorthKhinganProvince,weretobeevacuatedtotheeastoftheGreaterKhinganMts.and,if
thisshouldproveimpossible,weretobedestroyed.
On receiving this order, I went alone to Hailar, where I placed myself at Captain Asao's
disposalandworkedasamemberofthegroupuntilSeptember1944.
In September, a coded telegram was received, ordering Captain Asao to make his first
report on the work done by the group. I proceeded with Captain Asao to Detachment 100,
wherehemadethereporttoGeneralWakamatsu,Chiefofthedetachment.Iwasnotpresent
whenthereportwasmade.AtthistimeCaptainAsaowasnotifiedofhistransfertoTokyo,
presumably to the veterinary school, and on his return to Hailar, he proceeded to Tokyo at
once. After he left, I was appointed chief of the special group, the survey group. The
followingyear,1945,inthemonthofMarch,IproceededtothecityofChangchuntomakea
second report. I made the report to Major General Wakamatsu, Chief of Detachment 100,
reviewingalltheworkdonebythegroup.LieutenantColonelOsakaandresearcherIdawere
present.Idrewupthereportinwriting,andillustrateditwithmapsandcharts.Detachment
ChiefMajorGeneralWakamatsuandLieutenantColonelOsakatookmealongwiththemto
the KwantungArmy Headquarters, where they ordered me to make the report to Lieutenant
GeneralTakahashi,ChiefoftheVeterinaryAdministration,whichIdidinhisoffice.Shortly
after I had made the rep'ort I returned to Hailar, carrying with me instructions from
detachmentchiefMajorGeneralWakamatsutopurchasecattleinHailar.Thecattlewereto
bepurchasedthroughManchukuogovernmentagencies.Iwastoreceivethecattlefromthe
HailarBranchoftheAgriculturalLivestockCompany.Amemberofthedetachmentnamed
HayashicamefromChangchunbringingwithhim80,000yen,andwebought500sheep,as
wellashorsesandcowstothenumberof90or100each.Iknewfromwhatdetachmentchief
Major General Wakamatsu had told me that these animals were intended for sabotage
purposes,thatis,theyweretobeinfectedandusedforspreadingepizooticdiseases.
Question:Withwhatbacteriawerethesecattletobeinfected?
Answer:Ididnothearwhatbacteriatheyweretobeinfectedwith,butIpresumeitwas
anthrax,glandersandcattleplague.
The purchased cattle were despatched to a place 80 kilometres northwest of Hailar, and
werekeptthereuntilJapan'ssurrender.WhenmakingmyreporttodetachmentchiefMajor
General Wakamatsu in March 1945, I had told him that there were about one and a half
million head of cattle in the North Khingan Province. He told me then that in the event of
war,thecattleweretobeinfectedwithdiseasewiththehelpofaircraft,andthatthespecial
sabotagesquadwhichwastocarryoutthisoperationwouldbeformedeitherbyDetachment
100,orbytheKwantungArmyHeadquartersindependently.
Question:Andso,accusedHirazakura,haveIunderstoodyourightly,thatbeginningfrom
March 1944, you were a member of a reconnaissance group which made a bacteriological
reconnaissanceofareasborderingontheSovietUnion,withaviewtothewagingofactive
bacteriologicaloperationsintheeventofwarwiththeSovietUnion.Isthatcorrect?
248
Answer:Itis.
EVENINGSITTING,DECEMBER27
EXAMINATIONOFACCUSEDHIRAZAKURARESUMED
StateProsecutor:WhatdoyouknowabouttheexpeditionofDetachment100intheregion
oftheriverSouthKhanGolinMarch1945?
AccusedHirazakura:TheexpeditionwassenttotheregionoftheriverSouthKhan-Golin
March 1945. It was headed by Lieutenant Colonel Osaka who was later replaced by Major
Yamaguchi.
The group included more than 20 researchers. When the group arrived I accompanied it
fromHailartoitsdestinationintheHaunoarea,20kilometrestothesouthofHailar.
Question:TelltheCourtforwhatpurposethisexpeditionwasorganized.
Answer:FromwhatMajorYamaguchitoldmeaboutthisafterthemanoeuvres,theobject
oftheexpeditionwastoascertaintheconditionsandpossibilityofinfectingcattleandsheep
withplagueinwinterconditionsbysprayingsnowandgrasswithbacteria.
Question:DoyouconfirmyourtestimonygivenduringtheinterrogationonNovember23,
1949?Thenyoustatedthefollowing:
"As I have earlier stated these experiments had as their aim to test how the vitality of
bacteriacouldbepreservedunderdifferentconditionssoastoemploytheresultsobtainedfor
bacteriologicalsabotage."(Vol.17,p."116.)
(ThetestimonyisreadinJapanese.)
StateProsecutor:Doyouconfirmthistestimony?
AccusedHirazakura:Yes,Ido.
Question:AccusedHirazakura,tellushowmanytimesyoureportedtoLieutenantGeneral
Takahashi on the results of your bacteriological experiments in the areas bordering on the
SovietUnion.
Answer:Ireportedontwooccasions.
Question: Did Lieutenant General Takahashi tell you anything at the time about the
methodswherebythecattleinthoseareasweretobeinfectedintheeventofbacteriological
warfare?
Answer:InMarchMajorGeneralWakamatsutoldmethatbacteriologicalwarfarewould
249
beconductedbyinfectingcattle,usingaircraftforthepurpose.
Question:WhatwasthenatureofyourreporttoLieutenantGeneralTakahashi?
Answer: I reported to Lieutenant General Takahashi in the presence of the Chief of
Detachment 100 on the results of the investigation, that is, on the state of the rivers, water
sources, their location, the location of roads, on changing cattle pastures and on the
possibilityoftransferringcattle.
Question:Wasthereanytalk,inthecourseofyourreporttoLieutenantGeneralTakahashi,
regardingthequantityofbacterianeededtoinfectthosedistricts?
Answer:Yes,therewastalkofthat.Idonotremembertheexactfigures,butIdorecall
thatkilogramswerementioned.
Question: On whose orders did you purchase cattle from the people of North Khingan
Province?
Answer: I purchased the cattle on the orders of Wakamatsu, Chief of Detachment 100,
fromanindustrialcompanyandnotfromthepeople.
Question:Whatwastohappentothiscattleintheeventofwar?Forwhatpurposedidyou
purchaseit?
Answer: Going by what Major General Wakamatsu said I know that this cattle was
intendedforbacteriologicalsabotage.Intheeventofwarthiscattlewasto'beinfectedand
dispersedinordertoinfectthecattleintheenemyrear.
Question:Tosummarizeyourtestimony:Youpersonallytookpartintwoexpeditionsof
Detachment 100: in the expedition to the Tryokhrechye area and the expedition to North
KhinganProvince?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Question: The main purpose of these two expeditions was to prepare for bacteriological
warfareagainsttheU.S.S.R.,isthatnotso?
Answer:Thatiscorrect.
Question:Wereyouonthestaffofthe6thSectionofDetachment100?
Answer:Thatiscorrect.
Question:WastheprincipalassignmentofSection6toprepareforbacteriologicalwarfare
againsttheSovietUnion?Answer:Yes.
250
Question: And in particular to engage in bacteria research and its production on a mass
scaleforpurposesofbacteriologicalwarfare?Isthatalsoright?
Answer:Yes.
StateProsecutor:Ihavenofurtherquestionstotheaccused.
Counsel Bolkhovitinov: Accused Hirazakura, on whose initiative were you enlisted in
Detachment100?
AccusedHirazakura:IwasaveterinarysurgeonatthetimeontheJapaneseislandsanddo
not know on whose initiative this was done, but it was either by order of the Divisional
CommanderoroftheMinisterforWar.
Question:Wereyoumobilizedintothearmyordidyouvolunteerforservice?
Answer:Iwasmobilized.
Question: Do you condemn your activities in Detachment 100, and also the idea of
bacteriologicalwarfareingeneral?
Answer:Yes,verymuchso.
EXAMINATIONOFACCUSEDMITOMO
StateProsecutor:AccusedMitomo,whendidyoufirstjoinDetachment100?
AccusedMitomo:IjoinedDetachment100inApril1941.
Question:InwhatdivisionofDetachment100didyouserve?
Answer:Inthe2ndDivision.
Question:Inwhatsectionsofthe2ndDivision?
Answer:Atfirstinthe1stSectionofthe2ndDivision.Whenthe6thSectionwasformedI
begantoworkthere.
Question:Whendidyoubegintoworkinthe6thSection?
Answer:AfterApril1943.
Question:Telluswhatactivitieswereconductedbythe6thSectionofthe2ndDivisionof
Detachment100.
251
Answer:Themainfunctionofthe6thSectionofthe2ndDivisionwastodevisemethods
ofbacteriologicalwarfareandsabotageandtheproductionofbacteriaonamassscale.
ThisresearchwasmadeinpreparationforbacteriologicalwarfareagainsttheSovietUnion.
Question:Whatgermsprimarilywerestudied?Answer:Glanders,anthrax,cattleandsheep
plague. Question: Have I understood you correctly in taking it that not only were definite
kindsofinfectionforpurposesofbacteriologicalwarfareinvestigatedinthe6thSection,but
alsobacteriacultivatedonamassscale?Answer:Yes,thatiscorrect.
Question: What were your functions in the 6th Section? Answer: I was engaged, in the
main,incultivatingtheglandersgerm.Ialsotookpartinexperimentsonhumanbeings.
Question:DidyoutakepartinanyexpeditionofDetachment100?
Answer:ItookpartintheexpeditiontotheriverDerbulinJulyandAugust1942whenI
workedinthe1stSection.Question:Whowentwiththisexpedition?Answer:Theexpedition
was headed by Major Muramoto. In addition to him there were several officers and
researchersandthreetechnicalworkers.Inallover20people.
Question: Was accused Hirazakura among the men who took part in the expedition?
Answer:Yes,hewas.
Question: What was the purpose of this expedition? Answer: The purpose of this
expeditionwastostudythepossibilityofemployingglandersandanthraxgermsforsabotage
purposesagainsttheSovietUnion.DuringthisexpeditionthewatersoftheriverDerbulwere
contaminatedwithglandersgermsandthereservoirswithanthraxgerms.
Question:Wewillnowpassovertothequestionofexperimentsonhumanbeings.Tellus
whatexperimentswereperformedonhumanbeingsinDetachment100.
Answer: While serving in Detachment 100 I took part once in experiments on human
beings.
Question:Iamaskingyouaboutsomethingelse:wereexperimentsperformedonhuman
beingsinDetachment100,ornot?
Answer:Yes,theywere.
Question:Whoperformedthoseexperiments?
Answer:Fourpeopleconductedtheexperiments:Ida,aresearcher,whosupervisedallthe
work,withLieutenantNakazima,Matsui,alaboratoryassistant,andmyselftakingpart.
Question: Where were the persons designated for experimentation kept in Detachment
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100?
Answer:Theywerekeptinanisolationcellofthedetachment'sguardroom.
Question:Towhompersonallywasthisisolationcellsubordinated?
Answer:Theisolationcellwassubordinatedtothechiefoftheofficeofthedetachment's
GeneralDivision.
Question: Tell us all you know about the experiments on human beings performed in
Detachment100.
Answer:ExperimentsonhumanbeingswereperformedinAugust-September1944.These
experiments took the form of giving the experimentees, without their knowledge, soporific
drugsandpoisons.Theexperimenteesincluded7-8RussiansandChinese.Koreanbindweed,
heroin and castor-oil seed were among the poisons used in the experiments. These poisons
wereputinthefood.
Thepoisonedfoodwasgiventotheexperimenteesfiveorsixtimesoveraperiodoftwo
weeks.Koreanbindweedwasusedmostlyinsoups,Ithinkheroininporridge,whiletobacco
was mixed with heroin and bactal. After eating the soup mixed with Korean bindweed the
experimenteesdroppedoffintoadeepfive-hoursleep30minutesoranhourlater.Aftertwo
weekstheexperimenteesweresoweakthattheycouldnolongerbeused.
Question:Whathappenedtothemthen?
Answer:Forpurposesofsecrecyalltheexperimenteeswereputtodeath.
Question:How?
Answer: There was the case of a Russian experimentee who, on the orders of Matsui, a
researcher,wasputtodeathwithaninjectionofone-tenthofagramofpotassiumcyanide.
Question:Whoputhimtodeath?
Answer:Imadetheinjectionofpotassiumcyanide.
Question:WhatdidyoudowiththebodyoftheRussian,whomyouhadkilled?
Answer:Idissectedthebodyatthedetachment'scattlecemetery.
Question:Whatdidyoudowiththebodyafterwards?
Answer:Iburiedit.
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Question:Wheredidyoudigthepit?
Answer:Inthecattlecemetery,atthebackofthedetachment'spremises.
Question:Inthesameplacewherethecarcasesofcattlewereburied?
Answer: The place is the same, only the pit different. (There is movement in the
courtroom,alowmurmurofindignation.)
Question: Tell us in what way you put this person to death, how you committed the
murder.
Answer: In order to make the potassium cyanide injection the experimentee was first
brought down with diarrhea on Matsui's orders. This served as a pretext to make the
potassiumcyanideinjection.
Question:Inotherwords,youdeceivedthatperson?Youtoldhimthatyouweregoingto
givehimaninjectionasamedicaltreatment,butactuallygavehimaninjectionofpotassium
cyanide,isthatright?
Answer:Thatiscorrect.
Question:Washetheonlypersonyoukilled,orhaveyoukilledothers,too?
Answer:TherewastheChineseexperimenteewho,aftereatingtheporridgeIhadmixed
withpoison,wanderedaboutdistraughtforseveralhoursandthendied.
Question:Whatpoisonwastheporridgemixedwith?
Answer:Onegramof-heroin.
Question:Didyouknowthatyouweremixingtheporridgewithafataldoseofpoison?
Answer:Idid.
Question:Soyoucommittedthismurderfullyawareofwhatyouweredoing?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Wherewasthebodyofthepersonyoukilledburied?
Answer:InthesameplacewheretheRussianwasburied.
Question:Thatis,inthecattlecemetery?
254
Answer:Yes.
Question:Doyouknowofotherinstancesofexperimenteesbeingkilled?
Answer:TwoRussiansandoneChinesewereshotdeadbygendarmesonthesameplace.
Question:Thatis,thosepeoplewereshotdeadrightonthecattlecemetery?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Whyweretheykilledbythegendarmes?
Answer:Ithinkforpurposesofsecrecy.
Question: So it would be correct to say that all persons brought to Detachment 100 for
experimentalpurposes,weredoomedtodie?
Answer:Thatisso.
StateProsecutor:IhavenofurtherquestionstoaccusedMitomo.
CounselProkopenko:AccusedMitomo,whatimpelledyoutovolunteerforserviceinthe
detachment?
Accused Mitomo: I wanted to see Manchuria. Just then several of my friends were
planningtojoinDetachment100,andIlefttogetherwiththem.
Question: You have just told the Prosecutor in answer to his question that you
experimentedonhumanbeings.Whatwasyourpurposeindoingso,whydidyoudoit?Did
youpersonallybenefitbythis?
Answer:I,personally,didnotinanywaybenefitbythis.
Question:Howdoyoulookuponyouractionsnow?
Answer: I repent having taken part in these inhuman experiments on living people, in
bacteriologicalsabotageandinthepreparationsforbacteriologicalwarfareagainsttheSoviet
Union.
EXAMINATIONOFACCUSEDTAKAHASH1
StateProsecutor:Tellus,accusedTakahashi,fromwhenandtillwhendidyouserveinthe
KwantungArmyandinwhatcapacity.
255
Accused Takahashi: I served in the Kwantung Army as Chief of the Veterinary
AdministrationofKwantungArmyHeadquartersfromMarch1941uptoAugust1945,when
IwastakenprisonerbySoviettroops.
Question:IsyourmilitaryrankLieutenantGeneraloftheVeterinaryService?
Answer:Yes.
Question:WhenwasDetachment100oftheKwantungArmyformed?
Answer: The Kwantung Army Administration of the Antiepizootic Protection of Horses
wasorganizedattheendof1935orbeginningof1936.
Question: At any rate, when you reported for service in the Kwantung Army this
administrationwasalreadyfunctioning?
Answer:Yes,thatiscorrect.
Question:TelltheCourtwhatfunctionswereassignedDetachment100in1941.
Answer: In March 1941, when I was in charge, the administration's activities centred on
manufacturing vaccine and serum, mainly for the horse herd, and on research in infectious
diseases.
InSeptember1941thedetachmentwasgiventheassignmenttoprepareforbacteriological
warfareandbacteriologicalsabotage,tostudythesequestionsanddevisethemeans.
Question:Againstwhatcountrychieflywasbacteriologicalwarfareintended?
Answer:ChieflyagainsttheSovietUnion.
Question: What bacteria was it decided to cultivate in Detachment 100 as a weapon of
bacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Inthemainglandersandanthraxgerms,laterred-rustandmosaic-diseasegerms
andafterwardscattleandsheep-plaguegerms.
Question: What pathogenic germs did you consider most suitable for purposes of
bacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Theanthrax,cattle-andsheep-plaguegerms.
Question:WhowastheChiefofDetachment100?
Answer:Wakamatsu,MajorGeneraloftheVeterinaryService.
256
Question: Who, in September 1941, ordered General Wakamatsu, Chief of Detachment
100, to begin manufacturing the germs just mentioned by you in Court, for purposes of
bacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:I,Takahashi,ChiefoftheVeterinaryAdministration.Theorderwasgiveninthe
nameoftheCommanderin-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy.Ipersonallyissuedtheorder.
Question:WhowasCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmyatthetime?
Answer:GeneralUmezu.
Question: Thus, the order to prepare actively for bacteriological warfare came from
GeneralUmezu?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Andyou,inyourturn,transmittedGeneralUmezu'sordertoDetachment100?
Answer: Yes, I supervised its execution. According to Regulations the Commander-inChiefhadtoissuetheorder.
Question: Tell us, accused, what division of the detachment engaged in producing the
bacteriologicalweapons?
Answer:The6thSectionofthe2ndDivision.
Question:DidDetachment100haveitsbranches?
Answer:Yes,itdid.
Question:Whatbrancheswerethese?
Answer:TherewasthebranchatRakoStationandasmallsectioninthetownofDalny.
Question: Were hippo-epizootic detachments or administrations formed in the armies in
1941?
Answer:Yes,theywere.
Question:Pleasetelluswheresuchhippo-epizooticadministrationsweresetup.
Answer:InthetownsofTunan,Tungning,Koshan,Chining.
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Question:Whowastheinitiatorofformingsuchdetachments?
Answer:TheGeneralStaff.
Question:WhatdepartmentoftheGeneralStaff?
Answer:The1stStrategicalDivision.
Question:Telluswhatfunctionswereassignedthesedetachments.
Answer: In the event the Kwantung Army began bacteriological warfare, these
detachmentsweretowageit.
Question:Thatis,theyweretobethebacteriologicalsupportbasesofDetachment100?
Answer:Yes,thatiscorrect.
Question:Tellus,accusedTakahashi,whotrainedcadresfortheepizooticdetachments?
Answer:Detachment100trainedthesecadres.
Question:Thus,Detachment100wasnotonlyacentrefordevisingandmanufacturingthe
means of bacteriological warfare, but also a centre for training cadres for this war, is that
right?
Answer:Yes,thatiscorrect.
Question:PleasetelluswhetherDetachment100devisedmeansofbacteriologicalwarfare
only for spreading epizooty among cattle or was research conducted also in the sphere of
infectingvegetation?
Answer:Asfarasvegetationisconcerned,researchwascarriedoninpathogenicgerms,
butIamnotanauthorityonthisquestionandthereforecannotgointodetails.
Question:Wasresearchconductedinmosaicdiseaseorwheatrust?
Answer:Atfirstresearchwasconductedinredrustbutwhennoheadwaywasmadeinthe
cultivationandbreedingofgermswewentovertomosaicdisease.
Question:Thus,youdecidedoncultivationofthemosaic-diseasegerminsteadofredrust
forpurposesofbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Yes,thatiscorrect.
258
Question: Tell us, did you have to submit a R-port to General Umezu, Commander-inChief of the Kwantung Army, regarding the preparedness of Detachment 100 for
bacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Yes.
Question:PleasetellusaboutthereportsyoumadetoGeneralUmezuinthisconnection.
Answer:Detachment100begantoworkinallearnestnessinthesphereofbacteriological
warfarebeginningwithDecember1943.Differentexpertsweredetailedtothe6thSectionof
the detachment and began research on glanders, anthrax, mosaic disease, cattle and sheep
plague.InviewofthefactthatJapanwaswagingwaragainsttheUnitedStatesandBritainat
thetimeitwasverydifficulttosecurethenecessaryequipment,butthedetachmentdirected
allitseffortstowardresearchinpathogenicmicrobes,andtheircultivation.
Question:WhenyoureportedtoGeneralUmezuthefirsttimeregardingthepreparedness
of Detachment 100 to start work to manufacture bacteriological weapons, did you suggest
definitefiguresforcultivatingthecorrespondinggerms?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Question:DidGeneralUmezuacceptthefiguresyouproposed?
Answer:Hedid.
Question:InyourreporttoGeneralUmezuatthetimewhatgermsdidyouproposeasthe
mosteffectivemeansofbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Theglanders,anthrax,cattle-plague,sheepplagueandmosaic-diseasegerms.
Question: Did you report to Umezu on the concrete amount of germs Detachment 100
couldproduce?
Answer:Yes,Ididatthetime.
Question:Namethefigures.
Answer: I reported that Detachment 100 could produce in the course of the year: 1,000
kilograms of anthrax germs, 500 kilograms of glanders germs, 100 kilograms of redrust
germs.Isubmittedthesefigures,anditwaspossibletodoit,providingtherewassufficient
equipment.ThisequipmentbegantoarrivebeginningwithDecember1943,andbegantobe
installedinthe6thSectionofthe2ndDivision.Butwedidnotsucceedincarryingoutthis
plan and at the end of March 1944 I reported to the Commander-in-Chief that only 200
kilogramsofanthraxgerms,100kilogramsofglandersand20-30kilogramsofredrusthad
beenproduced.
259
Question:DidyoureckonthattheamountofbacteriaproducedbyDetachment100would
meetthedemandsofbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:No,Ididnotconsideritwasenough.
Question:Atanyrate,after1941measuresweretaken,onyourinsistence,toincreasethe
massproductionofbacteriaforpurposesofbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Yes.
Question:WhowastheinitiatorinsendingagroupofmembersofDetachment100tothe
districtofNorthKhinganProvincein1944?
Answer:TheSabotageSectionofthe2ndIntelligenceDivisionoftheKwantungArmy.
Question:Didyoutakepartinthis?
Answer:Yes,ontheordersoftheCommander-in-Chief.
Question: What document authorized the despatch of this group to the district of North
KhinganProvince?
Answer:OperationsOrderoftheCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy.
Question:WhowasCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmyatthetime?
Answer:GeneralUmezu.
Question:WhatassignmentwasgiventhegroupsenttoNorthKhinganProvince?
Answer:Thisgroupwasgiventheassignmentofinspectingrivers,reservoirs,pastures,the
numberofcattleandalsotheseasonaltransferofcattle.
Question:Whatwastheultimateaimofthisreconnaissance?
Answer:GeneralUmezutoldmethatintheeventofwaragainsttheSovietUnionandif
the Japanese Army retreated to Greater Khingan, where it would go over to defence,
Detachment 100 was to infect all the cattle of North Khingan Province with epizootic
diseasesandifpossible,destroyit,sothattheenemyshouldnotbeabletousethiscattle.As
for the horses, seeing they could move swiftly, they were to be transferred to the east of
Khingan.
Question:Inotherwords,thisreconnaissanceinNorthKhinganProvincewasconducted
also for the purpose of preparing bacteriological warfare against the Soviet Union. Is that
right?
260
Answer:Yes,itis.
Question:DidHirazakurareporttoyouontheresultsofhisreconnaissancegroupinthe
districtofNorthKhinganProvince?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Howmanytimes?
Answer:InSeptember1944andinMarch1945.
Question:WhatdidHirazakurareporttoyou?
Answer: I do not recall the exact content of his report, but I corroborate Hirazakura's
testimony which he gave today. As for the report he submitted in March 1945, it was a
detailedreport,illustratedwithchartsandmaps.
Question:Duringthesecondreportwasthereanydiscussionaboutwhatgermsitwouldbe
best to employ to infect the cattle belonging to the local population of North Khingan
Province?
Answer: Aircraft was to be employed to spread infection with the germs of anthrax and
cattleplague.
Question:TellusforwhatpurposewastheexpeditionsenttotheTryokhrechyeareainthe
summerof1942?
Answer:Itwasmanoeuvresinpreparationforsabotagewhichwastobecarriedoutinthe
eventofJapanstartingwaragainsttheSovietUnion.
Question:Whatconcretemeasureswerecarriedoutduringthisexpedition?
Answer:Asconcernsthereservoirsandriverstheywerecontaminatedwithglandersgerms
andthegroundsprayedwithanthraxgerms.Afterwardstheirdurabilitywastested.
Question:Tellus,accusedTakahashi,whenGeneralYamadawasappointedCommander
oftheKwantungArmy,didyoureporttoGeneralYamadaontheactivitiesofDetachment
100?
Answer:Yes.
Question: Did you report to the new Commander-in-Chief that Detachment 100 was
engagedinsecretworkinpreparationforbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
261
Question: Tell us, how many times did you report to General Yamada regarding this
activitybyDetachment100?
Answer: The first time I reported at the end of July 1944, the second time in November
1944andthethirdtimeinFebruary1945.
Question:TellusthecontentsofyourfirstreporttoGeneralYamada.
Answer:InmyfirstreportIorallyinformedtheCommanderin-Chief,Yamada,aboutthe
work of the Veterinary Administration. After giving a description of the work of the
VeterinaryServiceoftheKwantungArmyIbrieflyoutlinedtheworkofDetachment100.As
for the secret work that Detachment 100 was conducting I told General Yamada that
Detachment100wascultivatinganthrax,glanders,mosaic,cattleandsheep-plaguegermson
theordersofGeneralUmezu,formerCommander-in-Chief.Ialsoreportedonthequantityof
germsbeingproduced.
Question:WhatwasthecontentsofyoursecondreporttoGeneralYamada?
Answer: In my report in November 1944 I informed the Commander-in-Chief of the
Kwantung Army of the order I had received in my time from General Umezu, former
Commander-in-Chief, and which had been signed by Colonel Sasai, Chief of the Sabotage
Section.TheorderstatedthatintheeventoftheJapaneseArmyhavingtoretreatbeyondthe
GreaterKhinganlineDetachment100wastoinfectthecattleonthisterritory.Ialsoinformed
himthatthegroupunderLieutenantHirazakura,detailedbyDetachment100,wasengagedin
reconnaissanceonthisterritory.
Question:TellusthecontentsofthethirdreporttoGeneralYamadainFebruary1945.
Answer:IsimplyinformedCommander-in-ChiefYamadaatthetimethatDetachment100
wascontinuingonitsassignment.
Question:WhatwasGeneralYamada'sattitudetothereportsyousubmitted?
Answer:Heheardmeoutandsaid:"Continuealongthesameline."
Question:Wasitclearfrom-thisthattheinstructionsgivenbyGeneralUmezuYoshijiroin
thisrespectwereleftinforcebyGeneralYamada?
Answer:Yes,itwasclear.
Question:AccusedTakahashi,youheardthetestimonyofaccusedMitomoregardingthe
experimentsperformedinDetachment100onlivingpeople?
Answer:Yes,Iheardit.
262
Question:Areyouresponsiblefortheseexperiments?
Answer: Yes, I am responsible for these experiments. But I did not know about the
experimentsatthetime,theyweremadewithoutmyknowledge.NonethelessIrecognizethe
greatresponsibilityfortheseexperiments.
Question:AccusedTakahashi,tosummarizeyourtestimony.Doyouadmitthatitwasyou
precisely who supervised the work of Detachment 100 in actively preparing for
bacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Yes,Ido.
Question: And the active preparations for bacteriological warfare conducted by
Detachment100underyoursupervisionweredirected,chiefly,againsttheSovietUnion.Is
thatright?
Answer:Yes,thatiscorrect.
StateProsecutor:IhavenofurtherquestionstoaccusedTakahashi.
Counsel Zveryev: Accused Takahashi, why were you receiving a stipend from the War
MinistrywhenastudentoftheTokyoUniversity?
AccusedTakahashi:IwasingreatfinancialstraitsatthetimeIenteredtheUniversity.I
hadtopayformybrotherandthereforewascompelledmyselftoacceptastipend.
Question: Tell us, did not the War Ministry stipend oblige you to enter the army after
graduatingtheeducationalestablishment?
Answer:Yes,itimposedsuchanobligation..
Question:Tellus,didyouvisitEnglandonascientificmission?WheninEnglanddidyou
notstudyproblemsrelatingtobacteriology?
Answer:IstudiedvitaminsinEngland.
Question:Howdoyouaccountforyourignoranceabouttheexperimentsonhumanbeings
inDetachment100?
Answer:BeforeanynewexperimentcouldbestartedtherehadtobeaWarMinistryorder;
itcouldonlybedonebyorderoftheMinistryforWar,buttherewasnosuchorder;atthe
sametime,whensanctionforthishadtobeobtainedatHeadquartersoftheKwantungArmy,
itwasgrantednotbyme,theChiefoftheVeterinaryAdministration,butbytheCommanderin-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy.ButnosuchrequestwasaddressedtotheCommanderofthe
Kwantung Army. I have just heard, during the examination of another accused, about the
263
differentexperiments.ButIdidnotknowofthematthetime.
Question: During the interrogation on October 23, you said that you, personally, were
opposedtotheideaofbacteriologicalwarfare.Iaminterestedinknowingwhereandwhen
youexpressedthisview?
Answer:Ididnotexpressthisviewanywhereafterreceivingtheorderofmyappointment
to the Kwantung Army. But when in the veterinary school I was opposed to this idea.
However,notbeingabacteriologist,nobodyconsideredmyopinion.
Question: How do you now look upon your activities in preparing for bacteriological
warfare?
Answer:IthinkitwasveryinhumanandIrepentofhavinghadanythingtodowithit.I
repentparticularlythefactthatundermydirectionyoungJapanesecommittedsuchatrocities.
ExpertZhukov-Verezhnikov:Areyouawareofthefact,accusedTakahashi,thatglanders
andanthraxmicrobescausediseasenotonlyinanimalsbutalsoinhumanbeings.
Answer:Yes,Iam.
MORNINGSITTING,DECEMBER28
EXAMINATIONOFACCUSEDONOUE.
State Prosecutor: Accused Onoue.from when and till when did you serve in Detachment
731andinwhatcapacities?
AccusedOnoue:FromSeptember1943untilthecapitulationofJapanIservedasChiefof
theMutankiangBranchofDetachment731.
Question:Thisbranchwasgiventhenumber643?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Wherewereyouservingbeforeyourappointmenttothispost?
Answer: Before that I worked in the Water Supply and Prophylaxis Section of the llth
Division,locatedinthetownofHulin.
Question:Whatisyourspeciality?
Answer:Bacteriologist.
Question:Wflatisyoureducation?
264
Answer:Igraduatedaspecialhighereducationalestablishment.
Question:DidyoutakeaspecialtrainingcourseintheschoolforarmysurgeonsinTokyo
from1935to1936?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Question:Youalsostudiedinthisschoolfrom1933to1934?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Question:Whilestudyinginthisschooldidyoureceivespecialtraininginbacteriology?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Thus,youhavethespecialtrainingofabacteriologist?
Answer:Yes.
Question:WhatdivisionsdidBranch643ofDetachment731have?
Answer: The branch had the following divisions: the General Division, the 1st Division,
2ndDivision,theSupplyDivisionandtheTrainingDivision.
Question:Whatdivisionofthebranchengagedinthewholesalebreedingofparasitesand
rodents?
Answer: Fleas were bred in a special flea-breeding section which was headed by
Nakamura, who was also Chief of the 1st Division, and rodents in the division headed by
Kamio,whowasalsoChiefofSupplies.
Question:Whatfunctionswereassignedyourbranchattheendof1943byMajor"General
Kitano,ChiefofDetachment731?|
Answer:MajorGeneralKitanosetourdetachmentthefollowingtasksattheendof1943:
tostrengthentheantiepidemicserviceintheMutankiangarea,tobreedrodents,whitemice
andotherrodentsonamassscale,andalsotoincreasetheequipmentforthemassproduction
ofbacteria.Butwedidnotcarryoutthelatterassignment.
Question:WhatwasthepurposeofMajorKarasawa'svisittoyou?
Answer:MajorKarasawavisitedourbranchinordertofindoutwhetheritwaspossibleto
installcultivatorboilersinthebranchandtheconditionsunderwhichtheseboilerscouldbe
installed.*.
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Question:Didyouafterthisreceivetheboilersforpreparingtheculturemedium?
Answer:Yes,thesewerereceived.
Question:Weretherefourboilers?
Answer:Irecallsix.
Question:Whatwasthesizeofeachboiler?
Answer:Theboilerswereeach1.5metresindiameterand2.5metreslong.
Question:Thatis,theywerebigboilers?
Answer:Yes.
Question: Hence, the question of the mass production of bacteria was put on a practical
footing?
Answer:Theequipmentwasnotreadyasyet,therewasthereforenopracticalbasis.
Question:Iamaskingyouaboutsomethingelse:weretheboilersforpreparingtheculture
mediumdeliveredtoyou,ornot?
(Silence.)
Yes,orno?Werethesesixboilersdeliveredtoyou,ornot?
Answer:Yes,theseboilerswerereceived.
Question:Canthisbeconsideredasapracticalmeasure
directedatthemassproductionofbacteria?Answer:Yes,itcan.Question:Nowtellus,were
onlyboilersdeliveredor
didyoualsoreceivepeptone,agar-agar,sodiumchlorideand
othermatterneededtopreparetheculturemediumandto
breedthebacteriaonit.
Answer:Theywerereceived,butIdonotrecalltheexact
quantity.
266
Question:Ishouldliketorefreshyourmemory,accused
Onoue,andreadyourtestimonyofOctober27,1949.
"It is necessary to point out that at the beginning of 1945 I received from the Materials
Division, on the orders of Major General of the Medical Service Kitano, Chief of the
detachment,threecarloads(25tonseach)ofmaterialsconsistingofpeptone,agar-agar,meat
extractandsodiumchlorideforstorageinmybranch."
(ThetestimonyisreadinJapanese.)
Doesthistestimonycorrespondtothefacts?Doyouconfirmit?
Answer:Iconfirmthatthistookplace.
Question:Hence,75tonsofdifferentkindsofmaterialsnecessaryforpreparingtheculture
mediumforbreedingbacteriawereconcentratedinyourbranch?
Answer:Thatiscorrect.
*Question:Andshortlybeforethis,sixbigboilerswerebroughttothedetachment,isthat
right?
Answer:Thatiscorrect.
Question:Thus,hadtheboilersbeenassembledandthesematerialsused,thedetachment
couldhavestartedproducingbacteriaonamassscale?Isthatalsoright?
Answer:Yes,itis.
Question: Along what lines were the activities of your branch directed after Lieutenant
GeneralIshiiwasreappointedChiefofthedetachment.Tobemoreconcrete,whatfunctions
didLieutenantGeneralIshiiShiroassignthebranch?
Answer:Inthebeginninghedidnotsetthebranchanyassignment.ButinApril-Mayhe
informedusthatourjobwouldbethebreedingoffleasonamassscale.
Question:Gointogreaterdetail.
Answer:IreceivedtheorderregardingthefleasroundaboutApril-May1945.Irecallthat
similarinstructionswereissuedtoallbranchesofDetachment731.AsIhavealreadystatedI
receivedtheorderinApril-May.However,Ididnotimmediatelycarryitoutbecause,dueto
a number of circumstances, I could not at once send the men to the headquarters of
Detachment731tobetrainedforthepurpose.ItwasonlyinJune,whenIreceivedacoded
telegraminstructingthatsuchmenimmediatelybesent,that1didsoandsenttwomembers
267
ofmybranchtothespecialcourses.
Idonotrecallexactly.howlongtheystudiedatthesecourses,butIdorememberthatit
was from half a month to a month. When they returned from these courses we began to
prepare for the mass breeding of fleas. An additional three men were sent to the courses.
Afterwards the group, consist ing of 5-6 persons,headed by a junior lieutenant, was sent to
Detachment731,whereitreceivedthenecessarynumberoffleasforfurtherbreedinginthe
branch.ThiswasapproximatelyinJuly.Ialsorecallthatintheinitialperiodofourworkin
themassbreedingoffleasweusedfrom6to10cansforthepurpose.
Later,inpursuanceoftheorderaddressedtous,wereceivedsome200emptybenzinecans
from the warehouse in Mutankiang which we used for breeding fleas. I do not exactly
remember,andthereforecannotsaywhetherallthesecanswereusedformassbreeding.
ThenwarstartedwiththeSovietUnion,and,asIknowfromthereportofmysubordinates,
about20-25gramsoffleasweresenttoDetachment731headquartersonAugust9,1945,and
the rest destroyed on August 13 when the detachment moved to the front line at Ai-he
Station.
Question:Doyouconfirmyourtestimonythatyoureceivedacodedtelegraminstructing
youtoincreasetothemaximumthemassbreedingoffleas?
Answer:Yes,Ido.
Question: In connection with this telegram were at first two members of your branch—
N.C.O.YabukiandSuzuki,acivilianemployee,senttothespecialtrainingcoursesforthe
massbreedingoffleasinDetachment731?
Answer:Yes,Iconfirmthistestimony.Atthepreliminaryinvestigation I testified tothis
andsaidthatIhadsentN.C.O.YabukiandcivilianemployeeSuzuki,butonsecondthoughtI
thinkitwassomebodyelseandnotSuzukiwhohadbeensent.
Question:AccordingtoinstructionsreceivedfromDetachment731,200incubatorswereto
beusedforcultivatingfleas,isthatright?
Answer:Theinstructionsconcernedonlythereceiptofthe200cans,therewerenoother
instructions.
Question:Didyourbranchreceive200cans,ordidn'tit?
Answer:Itdid.
Question:Werefleasbredinthesecans?Whatwasthemethodused?
Answer:AsfarasIcanrememberthemethodwasthefollowing:firstthinly-cutstrawwas
placedatthebottomofthecan,andthenoneortworatsinfestedwithfleasputinside.
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Question:Asabacteriologicalexpertyouknewwhatdiseasesthefleascouldbeinfected
with?
Answer:Yes,Iknew.
Question:Which?
Answer:Plague.
Question: Thus, the fleas bred in your branch and in other branches of Detachment 731
wereintendedforplagueinfection?
Answer:Yes,soitseems.
Question:Good.TelltheCourtwhatSub-LieutenantKamiowasdoinginyourbranch.
Answer:Sub-LieutenantKamiowasChiefofthebranch'sSupplyDivision,butinviewof
theshortageofcadresinthebranchhealsohadtocarryoutthedutiesofchiefofthegroup
engagedintrappingfieldrodentsandengageinthebreedingofwhiteratsandmice.
At first there were 10 men in the squad. They received trapped field rodents from army
unitsandthecivilianpopulation,broughtthemtothebranch,fromwheretheyweresenton
tothebaseofDetachment731.
Inadditiontothis,aspecialsquadheadedbySub-LieutenantKamioengagedinthemass
trappingoffieldrodentsinthetownofMutankiang.Thissquadconsistedofabout10-14or
15 men. In 1945 the squad was brought up to 30 men and the mass trapping of rats
intensified. Apart from this, a squad of five began the breeding of white rats and another
squad,alsonumberingfivemen—whitemice.Idonotrecallthemonth.Butthebranchwas
shortofwhitemiceandwhiteratsatthetimeand500whitemiceand500whiteratswere
receivedfromtheHarbinSupplyDivisionofDetachment731formassbreeding.Thismass
breedingwasstartedinthebranch.
Question: Accused Onoue, when your soldiers were trapping field rodents were they
dressedinuniformorcivilianclothes?
Answer:Theywereinworkers'overalls.
Question:Thatis,incivilianclothes?
Answer:Yes.
After this work was started on the mass breeding of white rats and white mice and their
despatchtotheheadquartersofDetachment731.Irecallthat100to150ratsand150to200
miceweredespatchedtothedetachment'sheadquarterseverymonth.
269
Question:Andwhataboutgreyratsandmice?
Answer:Altogetherupto200fieldrodentsweredespatchedeverymonth.
Question:WhatwasLieutenantKamiyamadoinginthebranch?
Answer: As far as I can remember Kamiyama first reported for service in the branch in
March1945.HewasappointedChiefofthebranch'sofficeandalsoofits1stDivision.When
hearrivedatthebranchhetoldmethattheMutankiangBranchwasmakinggreatheadwayin
thetrappingofrodentsandaskedmetogivehimtheassignment.
Question:Washegiventheassignment?
Answer:No,Ididnotchargehimexclusivelywiththejob.Buthewasinchargetogether
withSub-LieutenantKamio.
Question:WasthenumberofrattrappersincreasedafterLieutenantKamiyamareportedto
thebranchofthedetachment?
Answer:Yes,itwas.
Question:Uptohowmany?
Answer:Approximatelyupto30persons.
Question:DoyouknowhowmanyrodentswerekeptintheHailarBranchatonetime?
Answer:Yes,about13,000fieldrodents.
Question:WillyounowpleasetellusthenatureofyourtalkwithTakahashi,Chiefofthe
officeoftheGeneralDivisionofDetachment731.
Answer:IdonotrecalltheexactdateofmytalkwithMajorTakahashi,Chiefoftheoffice
of the General Division of Detachment 731. But the substance of his talk was information
abouttheexperimentsonlivingpeople,andalsoabouttheresearchonplagueandthework
on fleas in Detachment 731. He told me that experiments on living people were being
performed on a special proving ground by dropping bacteria bombs from aircraft from an
altitudeoffrom1,000to100metres.
TherewasalsoanotherTakahashiinDetachment731whotoldmethatplaguewasbeing
testedinthedetachment.ThisTakahashiwasalsoamajor.
Question:Wasyourbranchgiventheassignmentofbreedingparasitesonamassscale?
Answer:Yes.
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Question:DidyouknowthatDetachment731wasconductingspecialcoursesfortraining
specialistsinthemassbreedingoffleas?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Question:Didyourealizethattheseparasiteswhichwerebeingbredintensofkilograms
werenotneededfcrresearch,thatthescaleonwhichtheywerebeingbredexceededthescale
ofallscientificresearch?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Asabacteriologicalexpertwereyouawareofthefactthatthesefleascouldbe
infectedwithonlyonedisease—plague?
Answer:Yes.
Question: As a bacteriological expert were you aware of the terrible danger to mankind
thesetensofmillions,hundredsofmillionsofparasitesinfectedwithplaguewouldbeifthey
startedanepidemic?
Answer:Yes,Iwas.
Question:Thus,youknewwhatyouweredoingwhenyoubredthesefleasinyourBranch
643?
Answer:Yes.
StateProsecutor:Ihavenofurtherquestionsxtotheaccused.
Counsel Lukiantsev: Please specify the number of rodents trapped by you during your
periodofserviceinthebranch.
AccusedOnoue:Irememberthatitwasabout7,000.
Question:Statemoreexplicitlyhowyouusedthe75tonsofrawmaterialsfortheculture
medium.
Answer:Theywerenotused,theyweredestroyed.
Question:Statemoreexplicitlyoverwhatperiodoftimefleaswerebredinyourbranch.
Answer:AsfarasIcanremember,ahalfamonthoramonth.
Counsel Bogachov: Accused Onoue, do you remember the date when you asked the
271
MedicalDivisionofthe5thArmyforpermissiontotraprodents?
Accused Onoue: As I have already stated at the preliminary investigation during
confrontationIdidnotputinanyrequesttotraprodents.
Accused Nishi: I, Nishi, formerly Chief of the Sunyu Branch of Detachment 731, ask
Onoue,formerlyChiefoftheMutankiangBranchofthedetachmenttotellthesubstanceof
Ishii'sordertodestroytheMutankiangBranch,ifaccusedOnoueremembersthesubstanceof
thisorder.
Accused Onoue: On the evening of August 9, 1945, I was put in direct telephone
communication with Lieutenant Colonel Tanaka, who informed me that I was instructed to
actatmyowndiscretion.Idon'tremembertherestoftheconversationforIhandedoverthe
receiver to Junior Sergeant Yabuki; going by what he reported to me I know that it was
proposed, in a coded telegram, to despatch the fleas to Detachment 731 and destroy
everythingelse.
EXAMINATIONOFACCUSEDKIKUCHI
State Prosecutor: Accused Kikuchi, from what date did you serve in Branch 643 of
Detachment731?
Accused Kikuchi: Near Hailin Station I worked from April 1943 to the time of Japan's
surrender.
Question:Inwhatcapacity?
Answer:Asalaboratoryassistantinthatbranch.
Question:Whatdidyoudo?
Answer:Icultivatedbacteria,inparticular,typhoid.
Question:Whatotherbacteriadidyoucultivate?
Answer:Paratyphoidandfever.
Question:DoyoureaffirmthetestimonyyougaveonDecember5,1949,recordedinVol.
13,p.285,whenyoutestifiedasfollows:
"Weweretoldthatthiswasnecessaryinorderthat.
ifneedbe,wemaybeablequicklytoprepareamedium
withwhichwecouldquicklycultivatebacteriaandstore
272
themforalongtime"?
(ThistestimonyisreadinJapanese.)
Answer:Yes,Ido.
Question:Inthebranchinwhichyouserved,wasworkorganizedforthemassbreedingof
rodents?
Answer:Yes,suchworkwasdone.
Question:Werefleasbredinthisbranch?
Answer:Yes,fleaswerebredinthebasementunderthepremisesofthe1stSection.
Question:Whoengagedintheworkofbreedingfleasonamassscale?
Answer:AsfarasIremember,thiswasdonebySeniorSergeantSuda,Aito,PrivateFirst
ClassNishiyama,SergeantOkiyama,andSuzuki.
Question: More briefly, the five members of the detachment you have mentioned were
especiallyengagedinthissection,isthatright?
Answer:Yes.
Question:WheredidBranch643sendtheparasitesandrodentsitbred?
Answer:ToDetachment731.
Question: For what purpose did the branch send these rodents and fleas to Detachment
731?Whatdoyouknowaboutthis,accused?
Answer:AtfirstIdidnotknowforwhatpurposethefleasthatwerebredandtherodents
thatwerecaughtweresentthere,butgraduallythisquestionastowhythiswasbeingdone
roseinmymindandlaterIlearnedthatthesemiceandratsweresenttoDetachment731for
thepurposeofbacteriologicalresearch»
Question:Withwhatultimateobject?
Answer:Inpreparationtoconductbacteriologicalwarfare.
Question:Whileyouwereatthemedicalorderlycoursesconductedbythe3rdDivisionof
Detachment731,didyouhearanythingfromthemenofthatdivisionabouttheactivitiesof
Detachment731?
273
Answer:Yes.IheardthatDetachment731wasbreedinggermsforwarpurposes.
Question:WasitsaidinyourbranchthatDetachment731neededrats,miceandfleasfor
thepurposeofpreparingtoconductbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Yes.
Question: Will it be correct to say that Branch 643, being a section of Detachment 731,
helpedthatdetachmenttopreparetoconductbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Yes.
Question:DoyouknowagainstwhomtheKwantungArmywaspreparingforwar?
Answer:Yes,Ido.
Question:Againstwhom,againstwhichcountry?
Answer:AgainsttheSovietUnion.
Question:Howdoyouknowthis,accusedKikuchi?
Answer:AlthoughwewerenevertolddirectlythatweweretoattacktheSovietUnion,this
wasevidentfromallthepreparations,andduringtacticalexercisestherewastalkaboutwar
againsttheSovietUnion.
Question: Thus, during tactical exercises you were told that the Kwantung Army was
preparingforwaragainsttheSovietUnion.Isthatso?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Thelastquestiontoyou,accusedKikuchi".YouworkedinBranch643,which
activelyassistedDetachment731topreparetoconductbacteriologicalwarfare.Doyouadmit
thatyouareanswerableforthis?
Answer:Yes,Ido.
Counsel Prokopenko: Accused Kikuchi, please tell us, how many bacteriological
"researchers"likeyourselfworkedwithyou?
AccusedKikuchi:Fiveorsixprivatesandfourcivilianemployees..-_......•Question: How do you now, in -1949, appraise the activities you conducted in the
detachment?
274
Answer:IhaverealizedthatIcommittedacrimeagainsthumanity.
EXAMINATIONOFACCUSEDKURUSHIMA
State Prosecutor: Accused Kurushima, when did you commence service in Detachment
731oftheKwantungArmy?
AccusedKurushima:InOctober1944.
Question:Inwhatcapacity?
Answer:FromOctobertoNovember1944Iservedasaguardduringmanoeuvres.
Question:DuringthemanoeuvresofDetachment731?|Answer:Yes.
Question:BeforearrivinginDetachment731,hadyougonethroughanytraining?
Answer:Yes,Ihadasix-monthmedicalorderlycourseinBranch162.
Question:Whatdidyoustudyatthissix-monthcourse?
Answer:Methodsofbreedinggerms.
Question:Tothecultivationofwhatgermswasmostattentiondevoted?
Answer:Typhoid,recurrenttyphoid,choleraandtuberculosis.
Question:Wereyoutaughtmethodsofbayonetfightingatthiscourse?
Answer: We were taught methods of bayonet fighting in the 97th Regiment, which was
locatednearHarbin.
Question:Tellusbrieflyhowyouweretaughtmethodsofbayonetfighting.
Answer:Idonotrememberthenameofthemanwhoconductedthebayonetexercises,but
hewasajuniorlieutenant,andhesaidthatSovietmenaretalland,therefore,itisnecessary
tostabhigher.
Question:Wasitcleartoyou,evenfromthesebayonetfightingexercises,thatyouwere
beingtrainedforwaragainstRussiansoldiers?
Answer:Yes,ofcourse.
Question: On your arrival in Detachment 731, were ycu warned about anything by your
275
superiorofficers?
Answer:MajorNishitoldusthatwemustguardagainstspies.
Question:Wherewereyousentwhenyouhadfinishedthecourseoftraining?
Answer:ToDetachment731.
Question:WhatdidyoudoinDetachment731afteryouhadfinishedthetrainingcourse?
Answer:Iwasaguardduringmanoeuvres.
Question:Tellusaboutthesemanoeuvres.
Answer: These manoeuvres consisted of dropping bombs containing fleas from aircraft.
Thatwasallthemanoeuvresconsistedof.
Question:Wherewerethesemanoeuvresconducted?
Answer: I cannot say what the exact distance was, but about three kilometres from the
headquartersofDetachment731,inthevillageofWutung.
Question: During these manoeuvres was the dispersion of fleas over the area of the
manoeuvresverified?
Answer:Yes,itwas.
Question:Tellus,whatspecialtechnicalmethodswereemployedforthis?
Answer: Boxes were placed in the area of the manoeuvres about two metres from each
other,Idonotremembertheexactnumberofboxes,butapproximatelyabout1,000.
Question:Overapproximatelywhatarea?
Answer: I cannot say exactly, but I believe it was about two square kilometres. In these
boxes there was sticky paper and the fleas dispersed by the explosion of the bomb were
caughtonthepaperintheseboxesandafterwardstheywerecounted.
Question:Didyouyourselfcountthefleasatthebottomoftheseboxes?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Question:Doyouknowforwhatpurposethesetestsweremade?
276
Answer:Yes,Ido.
Question:Tellusaboutit.
Answer: Although these fleas were not infected with germs, I knew that this was being
doneforthepurposeof preparing to conduct bacteriological warfare, in which event, these
fleas,infectedwithplague,wouldbedroppedfromaircraft.
Question: At approximately what distance from the ground did the bacteria bombs
containingfleasexplode?
Answer:Ataheightofabout100metres.
Question:WhileworkinginBranch162,didyoutakepartincultivatingbacteria?
Answer:Yes,Itookpartincultivatingbacteria.
Question: Tell us, did you with a group of members of your branch go out to catch
rodents?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Question:Once,ormoretimes?
Answer:Twice.
Question:Howmanydaysoneachoccasiondidyouspendincatchingrodents?
Answer:Aweek.
Question:Howmanyrodentsdidyouyourselfcatch?
Answer:InallIcaught200-300.
Question:WeretheserodentskeptinBranch162,orweretheysentsomewhere?
Answer:TherodentswecaughtweresenttoDetachment731.
Question:Doyouknowinwhatconsignmentstheyweresentfromyourbranch?
Answer: I do not know exactly, but they were sent to Detachment 731 in large
consignments.
Question: Tell us, accused Kurushima, when you were catching rodents, cultivating
277
bacteriaandcountingthefleasonthestickypaperontheprovingground,didyouunderstand
thatyouweretherebyhelpinginthepreparationstoconductbacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Idid.
CounselProkopenko:AccusedKurushima.Pleasetellus,towhat,concretely,doyouplead
guilty?
Accused Kurushima: Firstly—to having belonged to Branch 162 of Detachment 731.
Secondly—to having taken part in manoeuvres, the ultimate object of which was the mass
exterminationofhumanbeings.Thatisal.,
EXAMINATIONOFWITNESSTAMURA
President of the Court: Witness Tamura, I warn you of your liability to prosecution for
giving false testimony, you must tell the Court all the facts you know about the case, and
speaknothing but the truth.Tell us, witness Tamura, when wereyou taken prisoner by the
SovietArmy?
WitnessTamura:OnSeptember1,1945.
Question:Wherewereyouatthetime,andwhatdutieswereyouperforming?
Answer: At that time I was in the city of Changchun (Manchuria) and was Chief of the
PersonnelDivisionoftheKwantungArmyHeadquarters.
Question:Whatwasyourmilitaryrank?
Answer:Colonel.
State Prosecutor: Witness Tamura, what information did you receive from the Chief of
StaffoftheKwantungArmy,Hata,concerningtheaimsandobjectsofDetachment731?
Witness Tamura: Lieutenant General Hata informed me that Detachment 731 of the
KwantungArmywasofficiallycalledtheProphylaxisandWaterSupplyAdministration,but
was engaged mainly in preparations to conduct bacteriological warfare against the Soviet
Union. He gave me instructions to pay special attention to this detachment in matters of
personnel.
Question: When, under what circumstances and on whose orders did you inspect
Detachment731?
Answer: I received the order to inspect Detachment 731 in June 1945 at the Harbin
AerodromefromformerCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,GeneralYamada.
278
Question:InwhatconnectiondidGeneralYamadagiveyouthisorder,andwhatwasthe
reasonforinspectingDetachment731?
Answer:InMay1945,theKwantungArmyHeadquartersreceivedadocument,addressed
totheCommander-in-Chief,fromtheChiefofDetachment731Ishii,inwhichIshiirequested
thatconditionsbecreatedforactivizingtheworkofDetachment731.Ishiialsorequestedthat
armysurgeonsbesenttoDetachment731andthatitsstaffbeenlarged.AfterthisIwaitedfor
theopportunitytomeetIshiiandtoinvestigatethismatteringreaterdetail.Thisopportunity
occurred when the Commander-in-Chief went to the town of Tsitsihar to attend the
graduation ceremony at the training courses. We arrived in Harbin and there met General
Ishii.
Question: Tell us, how did you inspect Detachment 731 and what did you yourself see
there?
Answer:AfterarrivingattheIshiiDetachmentIinspectedalltheproductionpremises—
thedetachment'slaboratoriesandtheprisoninwhichthedetachment'sprisonerswerekept.
When inspecting the production premises of the Production Division I saw equipment
intended for the mass production of bacteriological means of warfare. Furthermore, I saw
rodentsthatwerebredforthepurposeofbreedingfleas.Inthedetachment'spremisesIsaw
specimens of artillery bacteria shells and aerial bombs. Furthermore, in Ishii's office I
acquaintedmyselfwithanumberofdiagramsanddrawingsillustratingtheeffectivenessof
theactionofbacteriologicalweapons.Ialsoinspectedtheinnerprisonandsawsomeofthe
prison cells. There I saw 40-50 prisoners of Russian and Chinese nationality. Among the
RussiansIsawawoman.
Quest'on:Inwhatconditionweretheseprisonersandhowweretheydistributedamongthe
cells, how many were kept in each cell, what were the conditions in these cells, if you
remember?
Answer:Fromthecorridor,throughsmallwindowsinthecelldoors,Isawthatsomeofthe
prisonerswerefetteredbythelegs".Somemovedabout,butmostofthemwerelyingonthe
floor.HowmanytherewereineachcellIdon'texactlyremember.
Question: What did General Ishii tell you about the objects for which these people were
collectedinthecellsoftheinnerprisoninDetachment731?
Answer:GeneralIshiitoldmethattheseprisonerswereusedasexperimenteestotestthe
action of bacteria. I saw that among the prisoners who had been experimented on, two or
threewereinaverybadcondition.
Question: Tell us, witness, who supplied Detachment 731 with people upon whom
experimentsweretobemade?
Answer: From what Ishii told me I know that these people were supplied by the
gendarmerie and Japanese Military Missions from among people in custody and classed as
criminalstobesentencedtodeath.
279
Question:Iaskyou,witness,torelatewhatIshiitoldyouwheninspectingDetachment731
aboutthedetachment'sobjects,ontheonehand,andaboutthedetachment'spreparednessto
carryoutcombatassignments,ontheother.
Answer:Ishiitoldmethattheeffectivenessofthebacteriahadbeentestedbyexperiments
on living people under laboratory as well as field conditions and that the bacteriological
weapon is the most powerful weapon possessed by the Kwantung Army. He informed me
thatDetachment731wasquitereadyforactionandthat,intheeventofnecessity,whenwar
broke out, the detachment would be able to hurl directly upon the enemy troops enormous
massesoflethalbacteria,thatthedetachmentwasalsoable,withtheaidofaircraft,tocarry
outbacteriologicalwarfareoperationsintheenemy'srear,overhistowns.-~
Question:Tellus,witness,whatimpressiondidyouyourselfhave,afteryourinspectionof
thedetachment,concerningthescaleofactivitiesofDetachment731andofitsreadinessfor
activebacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer: After I had inspected all the premises of Detachment 731, after I had inspected
thisdetachment'sequipment,Iwasextremelyamazedatthescaleofthisdetachment'swork;
thisscaleexceededallmyexpectations.BoththestatetheworkwasinandtheequipmentI
sawinthisdetachmentconvincedmeofthetruthofwhatIshiihadsaid,thatthedetachment
wasquitereadyforaction.
Question:TowhomdidyoureporttheresultsofyourinspectionofDetachment731?
Answer:IreportedtoCommander-in-ChiefYamada.
Question:IaskyoutoreconstructthecontentofthereportyoumadetoYamada.
Answer: I reported to Yamada that there was equipment in the production premises and
thatworkwascarriedonforthemassproductionofbacteria,thatworkwascarriedonforthe
breeding of rodents to be used for breeding fleas, and also for the production of bacteria
shellsandaerialbombs.IreportedtoCommander-in-ChiefYamadawhatIhadseeninthe
prison,thatinthepartoftheprisonIsawtherewere40-50prisonersofChineseandRussian
nationality,andthatamongthemtherewasaRussianwoman.1informedGeneralYamada
thattheseprisoners,asfarasIsawthem,werefetteredbythelegsandthataccordingtowhat
theChief of the detachment, GeneralIshii, said, they were usedto test the effectiveness of
lethalbacteriaasbacteriologicalweapons.
Question:DidyoureporttoGeneralYamadathatDetachment731wasreadytoconduct
bacteriologicalwarfare?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Question:Whatdidyoureporttohim?
Answer:IreportedtoCommander-in-ChiefYamadathatIknewfromwhatGeneralIshii
280
had told me that Detachment 731 was ready to conduct bacteriological warfare. I also
reportedtoGeneralYamadathataftermyinspectionoftheproductionpremisesandprisonof
Detachment 731 I was convinced of the truth of what General Ishii had said about the
detachmentbeingquitereadyforaction.
EVENINGSITTING,DECEMBER28
EXAMINATIONOFWITNESSFURUICHI
President of the Court: Witness Furuichi, I warn you of your liability to criminal
prosecutionforgivingfalsetestimony.Incourtyoumustspeaknothingbutthetruth.
WitnessFuruichi:Iunderstandthat.
Question:Tellus,witnessFuruichi,whenwereyoutakenprisonerbytheSovietArmy?
Answer:OnAugust17,1945.
Question:Wherewereyouatthetime?
Answer:AtHantaohetzuStation.
Question:Whatpostdidyouoccupy?
Answer: At that time I was a medical orderly in Branch 643 and worked in a group in
researchonpathogenicgerms.
State Prosecutor: Witness Furuichi, tell us, under what circumstances, and when, you
begantoserveinDetachment731?
WitnessFuruichi:IjoinedDetachment731inJuly1941.IwasborninthePrefectureof
Tottori,inJapan.BeforejoiningthisdetachmentIlookedforajobthroughanemployment
agencyandIgotaplaceasacivilianemployeeintheKwantungArmy.Weweresenttothe
town of Shimonoseki, and in Shimonoseki I was put into a group that was being sent to
Detachment731.
Question:IntowhichdivisionofDetachment731,andhowlongdidyouworkthere?
Answer:FromJuly1941toFebruary1945IworkedinthelstSectionofthe1stDivision.
Question:WhathaveyoutosayabouttheworkDetachment731asawholewasengaged
in?
Answer: Although outwardly Detachment 731 was the Prophylaxis and Water Supply
Administration,actually,itpreparedfortheconductofbacteriologicalsabotage.
281
Question:Whatwereyouwarnedaboutwhenyoustartedworkinthedetachment?
Answer: Captain of the Medical Service Yamashita warned me that everything I got to
know while at work in Detachment 731 I must keep absolutely secret in view of military
secrecyandthatnomatterwhereorwhenIwasengagedinotherwork,Imustnottalkabout
thesecretworkofDetachment731.
Question:DidyoutakepartinanyexpeditioncarriedoutbyDetachment731?
Answer:Yes,in1942,ItookpartinanexpeditionintoCentralChina.
Question:Tellus,whatweretheobjectsofthisexpeditionandwhatdidyouyourselfdo
duringthisexpedition?
Answer: The chief object of the expedition into Central China was to carry on sabotage
againsttheChinesetroopsandthecivilianpopulationintheregionofthetownofYiishan.
In July 1942, a group from Detachment 731, consisting of 120 officers and civilian
employees left Harbin by train. We arrived in Central China, in the city of Nanking, the
headquarters of the Water Supply and Prophylaxis Administration of the Japanese
ExpeditionaryArmyinCentralChina,andfromthisadministrationagroupofprivatesand
officersjoinedus.Thefinalnumberofmeninourexpeditionwas150-160.
Question:YousaidthatyouarrivedinNanking?
Answer:Yes,inNanking.
Question:ThereyouwerejoinedbyagroupofservicemenfromtheNankingDetachment
Ei1644?
Answer:Yes.
Question: Thus, the Nanking Detachment Ei 1644 assisted Ishii's detachment in its
expeditioninChina?
Answer:Yes.
Question:SWhoheadedtheexpeditionofDetachment731?
Answer:TheexpeditionofDetachment731washeadedbyMajorGeneralIshii.
Question:WhatdidtheexpeditiondoinCentralChina?
Answer:TheworkoftheexpeditioninwhichItookpartconsistedinthefollowing:this
was a bacteriological attack by contaminating water sources, wells and buildings with the
282
germsoftyphoidandparatyphoid.Detachment731senttheexpeditionthesegerms,which
had been produced in large quantities by the 4th Division of this detachment. The bacteria
wereputintopeptonebottlesandthesebottleswereplacedinboxesmarked"WaterSupply."
TheseboxesweresenttoNankingbyaeroplane.
Question:Well,whatdidyoudowiththecontentsoftheseboxes?•.]
Answer: On their arrival in the Nanking Detachment, we transferred part of the bacteria
fromthebottlestometalflasksofthekindthatareordinarilyusedfordrinkingwater.The
restremainedirjthebottles.Alltheseflaskstogetherwiththebottleswereplacedinboxes
and then sent by. aeroplane to the place where it was proposed to make the attacks. The
attackswerecarriedoutinthefollowingway:the.flasksandbottleswerethrown-intowells,
marshesandinvillagers'homes.Someofthepeptonebottleswereusedtobreedbacteriaina
specialbouillon.ThecompositionofthisbouillonIdon'tremember.
Question:Whatdidyouyourselfdoduringtheseactsofsabotage?,VV'
Answer:Ihelpedtothrowtheflaskscontainingbacteriaintowells,marshesandthehomes
ofcivilians.
At that time there were at this place two camps for Chi: nese war prisoners, numbering
aboutthreethousand.Threethousandrollswereespeciallymade;membersofthe.expedition
took part in making these rolls. A little later., these rolls were contaminated with bacteria
withtheaidofasyringe..,V
Question:Whocontaminatedtheserollswiththeaidofasyringe?
Answer: All the members of the 1st Section of the 1st Division taking part in the
expedition.,:..;
Question:Didyou,inparticular,takepart,inthis?
Answer:Yes,Idid.\,.,
Question:Withwhatbacteriawerethesethree...thousandrollscontaminated?V
Answer:Thebacteriaoftyphoidandparatyphoidwereused.
Question:Whatwasdonewiththethreethousandrollsafterthat?
Answer:Aftertherollshadbeencontaminated.withbacteriatheyweresenttothecamp
andhandedouttotheChinesewarprisonersbyinterpreterKasuga,whocouldspeakChinese.
I know that these rolls were given to the Chinese, if only from the fact that I saw a
photographofaChineseholdingoneoftheserolls.
283
Question: Thus, when the Chinese war prisoners were given these paratyphoid rolls, the
scenewasphotographedasifitwereacharitableact?Answer:Yes.
Question:WhatwasdonewiththeChinesewarprisonersaftertheyhadeatenthesegermcontaminatedrolls?
Answer:Theywerereleasedfromthecampinordertocauseanepidemicoftyphoidand
paratyphoid.
Question:TellusaboutthecakesthatweremadebyIshii'sorder.
Answer:Thereweretwokindsofcakes—egg.shapedandoval.Theyweremadefromflour
andcontaminatedwithbacteria,liketherolls.Thenthesecakesweredistributedamongthe
Japanesesoldierswhowerewarnedofthekindofcakestheywere,andtheJapanesesoldiers
leftthem—300to400inall—nearfences,atthefootoftreesandatbivouacplacesasifthey
hadforgottenthemthere.
Question:Wasthisalsoamethodofbacteriologicalsabotage?
Answer:Yes.?
Question:WhatdoyouknowabouttheresultsoftheIshiiDetachment'sexpedition?
Answer:WhentheoperationwasfinishedIlearnedatthebase,inDetachment731,from
scientific researcher Kagi that typhoid and paratyphoid germs had been used and that
paratyphoidhadprovedtobethemosteffective.
Question: It follows, then, that as a result of the expedition epidemics broke out and
centresofepidemicswereformed?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Didyoutakepartinexperimentsonlivingpeople?
Answer:Yes,thiswasattheendof1943.Totesttheeffectivenessofvaccines50Chinese
and Manchurians were used as experimental material. First these 50 men were given
preventive inoculations, but these were differentiated inoculations—some prisoners were
givenone,othersweregiventwo.Furthermore,differentmenwereinoculatedwithdifferent
quantitiesofvaccine,andsomeofthese50menwerenotinoculatedatall.
Thus,these50menweredividedintofivedifferentgroups.Allthesemenwereforcedto
drink water contaminated with typhoid germs and then observation was kept to see what
effect these pathogenic germs had in the different cases, depending on whether preventive
inoculationshadbeenperformedonthemanornot,howmanytimes,andinwhatquantities.
284
Question:Well,whatwastheresultofthisexperiment?
Answer: Most of these men contracted typhoid. Exactly what percentage I do not
remember,atallevents12or13ofthemendied.
Question:Werewickedexperimentsofthiskindonhumanbeingstotesttheeffectiveness
ofinfectionperformedmanytimes?
Answer:Imyselfknowofoneothercaseofsuchinfection,thiswasattheendof1944or
beginningof1945,wheninfectionwascausedbysimilarmethods.
Question:Didyoutakepartinexperimentsincontaminatingfruitwithtyphoidgerms?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Question:Tellusabouttheseexperiments.
Answer:Idonotrememberexactlyinwhatyearitwas,1943or1944,whenexperiments
weremadeincontaminatingfruit;theseweremelonsandcantaloups;thiswasjusttheperiod
of their ripening. Some melons and cantaloups were inoculated with bacteria and
contaminated,somewereleftuncontaminated.
Afterthisfruitwascontaminatedwithtyphoidwiththeaidofasyringe,thedensityofthe
bacteriawastested;forthispurposethefruitwastakentothelaboratoryandthereanalyzed
toseehowmuchthesebacteriahadmultipliedinthefruit.Afterthistest,whenthepresence
ofalargequantityofbacteriawasestablished,thefruitwasgiventoeattofiveorsixChinese
andManchurians.
Question:Whathappenedtotheunfortunatepeoplewhoatethisfruit?
Answer:Allwereinfected.
Question:Thus,allthosewhoatethetyphoid-infectedfruitfellsick?
Answer:Yes.
Question: Tell us, do you know anything about the experiments performed on the
detachment'sprovinggroundnearAntaStation?
Answer:Yes.
Question:TelltheCourtwhatyouknow.
Answer: Experiments on the proving ground at Anta Station were performed in 1944, in
the autumn and winter. In these experiments the germs of typhoid and plague, and also of
285
anthraxwereused.
Question:Whichdivisionofthedetachmentwasinchargeoftheprison?
Answer:The1stDivision.
Question:Wereonlymenconfinedinthatprison,orwomentoo?
Answer:Womentoo.
Question: Were any specific experiments performed on the women confined in the Ishii
Detachment'sprison?
Answer:Ididnottakepartintheseexperiments,buttheywereinfectedwithsyphiliswith
theobjectofinvestigatingpreventivemeansagainstthisdisease.
Question: Thus, women confined in the prison of Detachment 731 were infected with
venerealdiseases?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Tellus,werefreezingexperimentsperformedinDetachment731?
Answer:Yes,Isawsuchexperimentsperformed.
Question:Whichoftheresearchersdirectedtheseexperiments?
Answer:ResearcherYoshimura.
Question:Tellusabouttheexperimentsinfreezinghumanbeings.•
Answer: Experiments in freezing human beings were performed every year in the
detachment,inthecoldestmonthsoftheyear:November,December,JanuaryandFebruary.
Thetechniqueoftheseexperimentswasasfollows:theexperimenteesweretakenoutintothe
frostatnight,atabout11o'clock,andcompelledtodiptheirhandsintoabarrelofcoldwater.
Thentheywerecompelledtotaketheirhandsoutandstandwithwethandsinthefrostfora
longtime.Orelsethefollowingwasdone:thepeopleweretakenoutdressed,butwithbare
feetandcompelledtostandatnightinthefrostinthecoldestperiodoftheyear.
Whenthesepeoplehadgottenfrostbite,theyweretakentoaroomandforcedtoputtheir
feetinwaterof5°C.temperature,andthenthetemperaturewasgraduallyincreased.Inthis
way means for healing frostbite were investigated. I myself did not see the subsequent
experiments when the people were taken into the room; I only saw, when I uas on duty,
peoplebeingtakenoutintothefrostandtheregettingfrostbitten,butabouttheexperiments
intheroomswherethepeoplekepttheirhandsinwater,Iheardfromeyewitnesses.
286
Question:Whatotherexperimentsandtestsweremadeonhumanbeings?
Answer:IknowthatresearcherYoshimuraperformedexperimentsinapplyingulcerating
gastopeople.Isawpeopleintheprisononwhomtheactionofthisulceratinggashadbeen
tested,butwhatthetechniqueoftheseexperimentswasIdonotknow.
Question:Inwhatconditionwerethesepeople?Whatsymptomsofillnessdidtheyshow?
Answer:Isawpeoplewithbigulcersontheirhandsandfeet;Iknownothingmore.
PresidentoftheCourt:InconformitywiththeorderofprocedureadoptedbytheCourt,the
Courtwillproceedtodiscusswhatquestionsshouldbeputinconnectionwiththiscasetothe
medicolegalexperts.
StateProsecutor,whatquestionshaveyoutoputtothemedicolegalexperts?
State Prosecutor: In conformity with Art. 63 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the
R.S.F.S.R.,theStateProsecutionrequeststhatthefollowingquestionsbeputtotheexperts:
1.Whatwastheobjectoftheexperimentalandproductionactivitiesofdetachments731
and 100 of the Japanese Kwantung Army and of Detachment Ei 1644 of the Japanese
ExpeditionaryArmyinChina?
2. What was the production potential of these detachments for supplying the Japanese
Armywithbacteriologicalweapons?
3. What might have been the consequences of the employment of the bacteriological
weaponsproducedbydetachments731,100andEi1644?
IplacethesequestionsinwritingatthedisposaloftheCourt.
PresidentoftheCourt:Interpreter,pleasetranslateintoJapaneseallthequestionstheState
Prosecutorissubmittingtotheexperts.
(Theinterpretertranslates.)
Hasthedefenceanyquestionstoputtothemedicolegalexperts?
Counsel Belov: Our clients, having acquainted themselves during the preliminary
investigation with the findings of the medicolegal experts, fully agree with them. No
unclarity or questions have arisen in their minds, consequently, at the present moment the
defencehasnosupplementaryquestionstoputtothemedicolegalexperts.
PresidentoftheCourt:Havetheaccusedanyquestionstoputtothemedicolegalexperts?
287
Theinterpreter:Theaccusedhavenoquestions.
PresidentoftheCourt:Inadditiontothequestionsput,theCourtputsafourthquestionto
the experts: what degree of danger was there in the bacteriological attacks carried out by
Detachment731indistrictsofCentralChinain1940,1941and1942.
TheMilitaryTribunalrulesthatthefourquestionsreadbesubmittedtotheexperts.
Interpreter,pleasetranslatethefourthquestionintoJapanese.
(Theinterpretertranslatesthefourthquestion
intoJapanese.)
Medicolegal experts, the Court submits for your consideration four questions. Please
preparetogiveyourfindingsonthesequestions.
EXAMINATIONOFWITNESSTACHIBANA
PresidentoftheCourt:WitnessTachibana,Iwarnyouofyourliabilitytoprosecutionfor
givingfalseevidence.YoumusttelltheCourtnothingbutthetruth.Whenwereyoutaken
prisonerbytheSovietUnion?
WitnessTachibana:OnAugust15,1945.
Question:Whatpestdidyouoccupyatthattime?
Answer:AdvisertothegovernmentofManchukuo.
Question:Whatwasyourmilitaryrank?
Answer:ColonelofGendarmerie.
(Astirinccurtroom.)
StateProsecutor:TellusinwhatperiodyouservedasChiefoftheKiamuszeGendarmerie
Administration.
WitnessTachibara:From1939to1941.
Question:WhatdoyouknowaboutthesendingofprisonerstoDetachment731?
Answer: In 1940 I occupied the post of Chief of the Gendarmerie Administration in the
town of Kiamusze. It was then that I first learned of the existence and the character of the
work of Detachment 731. I learned that Detachment 731 was called the Prophylaxis and
Water Supply Administration of the Kwantung Army, but actually engaged in preparations
for conducting bacteriological warfare, in particular, by performing experiments on living
people. I learned that this detachment was preparing for the mass extermination of the
enemy'smanpowerandwaspreparingtoconductbacteriologicalwarfare.
288
AtthetimeIwasservingintheKiamuszeGendarmerieAdministration,adefinitecategory
ofpersonsfromamongpeopletakenincustodyandarrestedbythegendarmerieonsuspicion
ofhavingcommittedcrimes,wesenttoDetachment731tobeusedasexperimentalmaterial.
WesentthesepeopletoDetachment731afterpreliminary,partialinvestigation,withouttrial,
withoutsendingtheircasestocourt,inconformitywithinstructionsreceivedfromthehigher
gendarme authorities. This was a measure of a special character and therefore this
arrangementwascalled"specialconsignments"(inJapanese—"Tokui-Atsukai."—Trans.).
The people sent in such "special consignments," so-called "Tokui-Atsukai," were of the
followingcategories:personsaccusedofespionageonbehalfofforeignstates,orsuspected
of being implicated in foreign espionage, and also so-called hunghutzu, that is, Chinese
partisans;thencamethecategoryofanti-Japaneseelements,incorrigiblecriminalelements—
recidivists.PersonsinthesecategorieswesenttoDetachment731as"specialconsignments."
During the period I served as Chief of the Kiamusze Gendarmerie Administration, my
administrationsenttoDetachment731nolessthansixpeople,whoneverreturnedfromthere
andperishedthereasaresultofexperiments.
Question:Didyoualreadyknowatthetimeofdespatchthatthepeopleyouweresending
toDetachment731wouldbesubjectedtotorturousexperimentsininfectionwithepidemic
diseases?
Answer: I knew that these people were being sent to Detachment 731 to be used as
experimentalmaterialfortestingbacteria.
State Prosecutor: I request the permission of the Court to show witness Tachibana a
documentthathasalreadybeenreadinCourt.Irequestthatwitnessbeshownthefirstpage
of the Japanese text of the document—the notice of the Headquarters of the Kwantung
Gendarmerie of March 12,1943, concerning "special consignments." Furthermore, I request
thatwitnessTachibanabeshowntheinclosurewiththatnotice,namely,thesecondcolumn
headed "Ideological Criminals (criminals connected with the National and Communist
movements)."
(TheinterpretershowswitnessTachibanaapho-
tostaticcopyofthedocument.)
WitnessTachibana,haveyouseenthisdocument?
WitnessTachibana:Yes,Ihaveseenthisdocumentbefore.
Question:Thisdocumentregulatedtheorderofdespatching"specialconsignments,"isn't
thatso?
Answer:Yes.
Question: And defined the category of persons liable to be despatched, in "special
consignments"?
289
Answer:Yes.
Question:Inotherwords,thisdocumentdefinedtheorderofsendingtoDetachment731
thosepeoplewhoweretobeexterminated,isn'tthatso?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Inthisdocument,onpage92,wecanreadthefollowing:"Ideologicalcriminals
(criminals connected with the National and Communist movements)," and further: "If,
notwithstandingtheminorcharacterofthecrime,theirreleaseisundesirable."
(ThepassagesarereadinJapanese.)
State Prosecutor: Do you recognize the document I have shown you as the official
documentthatregulatedtheorderofdespatching"specialconsignments"?
WitnessTachibana:Yes,Ido.
Question: Do you know the members of the gendarmerie who took part in defining the
categoriesofpersonsliabletobedespatchedin"specialconsignments"?
Answer:Yes,Icannamethem.
Question:Do,please.
Answer:Thedocumentshownmewasdrawnupin1943.AtthattimeIwasservingatthe
ChiefAdministrationoftheKwantungGendarmerieasanofficeroftheAdministration.At
thattimeIwasservingintheCriminalDivisionoftheChiefAdministrationoftheKwantung
Gendarmerie,andanorderwasreceivedfromtheKwantungArmyHeadquarterstodrawup
such a document. In March 1943, I was sent to Mukden to inspect the gendarmerie
administration.Duringmyabsence,MajorTsujimoto,whoservedinmydivision,editedthe
document.WhenIreturnedIsawthedocumentandnowaffirmthatitisgenuine.
Question: What formalities were connected with the despatch of "Tokui-Atsukai"? What
documentsweredrawnupbythegendarmerieinthisconnection?
Answer: Copies of the document just shown me were sent to the gendarmerie
administrations in different towns in Manchuria. The people who were to be despatched in
"special consignments" were kept in the places of detention at the gendarmerie
administrations. Then excerpts from the records of their interrogation, and certificates with
applicationsforpermissiontodespatchthemin"specialconsignments"weresenttotheChief
GendarmerieAdministration.There,thecasewasexamined,thequestionwassettled,andthe
gendarmerieadministrationthathadmadetheapplicationwassentanordertodespatchthese
people to Detachment 731 as "special consignments." When the Chief Gendarmerie
Administrationreceivedsuchdocumentsfromalocaladministration,theyweresentthrough
thesecretariat
290
totheCriminalDivisionandfromtheretotheIntelligenceSection,ofwhichIwastheChief.
An assistant in my section, Tsujimoto, examined these documents, took a decision and
submitted the decision to me. I endorsed it and sent it on Jo the Chief of the Criminal
Division.TheChiefoftheCriminalDivision,afterreceivingthesanctionoftheCommander
of the Kwantung Gendarmerie, sent an order in the name of the Commander of the
Gendarmerietothegendarmerieadministrationfromwhichthedocumenthadbeenreceived.
Question:DuringtheperiodthatyouservedintheKwantungGendarmerieHeadquarters,
didyousanctionthedespatchofpeopletoDetachment731as"specialconsignments"?
Answer:Iexaminedthesecases,discussedthem.IrememberthatduringtheperiodIwas
thereoverahundredpeopleweresent.
Question: Were people sent by the gendarmerie to Detachment 731 to be exterminated
withthesanctionoftheCommanderoftheKwantungArmy?
Answer:Ofcourse,theKwantungGendarmeriedidthisinconformitywiththeordersof
the Commander of the Kwantung Army. As a rule, the gendarmerie sent criminal cases to
court, to the Military Tribunal, but in these cases a special order overrid the law and the
peopleweredespatchedwithouttrial.
Question:Youconfirmthefactthat,inconformitywiththeinstructionsdrawnupbyyour
subordinateTsujimoto,peopleConnectedwiththenational-liberationmovementweresentin
"specialconsignments"toDetachment731tobeexterminated.
Answer: The people who were sent in these consignments were criminals of various
categories. Among these categories were also participants in the national-liberation
movement,butallwereCommunistsornationalists.
(Murmurofindignationincourtroom.)
Question:Tellus,witnessTachibana,howthepeopleweresenttoDetachment731,what
wastheorderofdespatching,convoying,guarding,secrecy,etc.
Answer: As I have said already, a gendarmerie administration sent to the Chief
GendarmerieAdministrationanapplicationforpermissiontosenda"specialconsignment."
Forthispurposeanapplicationwasdrawnupinthreecopies,oneofwhichremainedinthe
local gendarmerie administration, and two were sent to the Chief Gendarmerie
Administration.Afterofficialsanctionforthe"specialconsignment"hadbeenreceivedfrom
theChiefGendarmerieAdministration,oneofthecopiesoftheapplicationwasreturnedfrom
thereandtheprisonerwaskeptinthegendarmerieadministration.Then,whenarequestwas
received from Detachment 731 for experimental material, that is, for people doomed to be
sent in "special consignments," the prisoner, with a copy of the application, was sent to
Harbinwhere,ontheHarbinrailwaystation,theprisonerwashandedovertomembersofthe
gendarmerie.Thesepeoplewereconvoyedbygendarmes.
Question:Werethepeopleunderconvoychained,orbound?
291
Answer:Chainswerenotputon.
StateProsecutor:InviewofthisanswerbywitnessTachibana,IrequestthattheCourtread
thesecondpartofthealreadyreadOperationsOrderoftheKwantungGendarmerieNo.224,
ofAugust8,1939.ThatdocumentisdirectlyrelatedtothequestionIhaveputtothewitness,
andthereforeIrequestthatthisdocumentberead.
President of the Court: The Military Tribunal rules that this document be read. The
documentwillsimultaneouslybereadinJapanese.
(Theaccusedputontheirearphones.ThePresident
readstheRussiantranslationoftheafore-mentioned
document.Simultaneously,thedocumentisreadin
JapaneseandshowntowitnessTachibana.*)
StateProsecutor: Well, witness Tachibana,perhaps, having seen the authentic document,
youwillnowconfirmthatwhen"specialconsignments"weresent,manaclesandchainsand
cordwereused?
WitnessTachibana:Thisdocumentistotallyunknowntome.Itispossiblethatmanacles
wereusedinthiscaseforspecialreasons.WhileIwasthere,nomanacleswereused.
*Seepp.185.86.
Question: You want to say that you sent people to certain death under torment, and,
whereasother gendarmerie administrations usedmanacles,the administration of which you
wereinchargeneverusedthesemanacles.Isthatwhatyouwanttosay?
(Soundsofindignationincourtroom.)
(WitnessTachibanaissilent.)
StateProsecutor:Whatwillyousayinanswertothis?
Witness Tachibana: When I was Chief of the Kiamusze Gendarmerie Administration
manacleswereused,butchainswerenotputonthelegs.
(Commotionincourtroom.)
292
EXAMINATIONOFWITNESSKURAKAZU
PresidentoftheCourt:WitnessKurakazu,haveyousignedawarningthatyoumustspeak
nothingbutthetruthandthatyouareliabletoprosecutionifyougivefalseevidence?
WitnessKurakazu:Yes.
Question:WitnessKurakazu,howdidyoucometobeintheSovietUnion?
Answer:InAugust1945IwastakenprisonerbytheSoviettroopsandonSeptember12,
1945,IwassenttotheSovietUnionviaPogranichnayaStation.
Question:Wherewereyouservingatthetimeyouweretakenprisoner?
Answer:IntheHarbinGendarmerieAdministration.
Question:Whatpostdidyouoccupy?
Answer: I was Chief of a section of the Special Division of the Gendarmerie
Administration.
Question:Whatwasyourmilitaryrank?
Answer:SergeantMajorofGendarmerie.
StateProsecutor:Tellus,witnessKurakazu,whenwereyousenttoDetachment731,how
longandinwhatcapacitydidyouserveinthatdetachment?
WitnessKurakazu:InDetachment731Iservedasagendarmeinthegendarmegroupof
the detachment from March 1940, for one year. My functions were to perform operative
servicefortheofficersofthedetachment.
Question: What other functions did you have? Answer: In addition, it was my duty to
convoy prisoners sent from Harbin to Detachment 731. In the detachment, these prisoners
werecalled"logs"andtheywereusedforexperiments.
Question:Thatistosay,youconvoyedfromHarbintoDetachment731,peoplewhowere
to be used for experiments, and who were sent to the detachment in "special consignments
"—"Tokui-Atsukai"?Answer:Yes.
Question:TellusabouttheorderinwhichthesepeopleweretakentoDetachment731.
Answer:FirstofalltheGendarmerieAdministrationtelephonedusandorderedustocome
totakethepeople.TheseorderswerecommunicatedtoSergeantMajorTasaka.
293
BesidesmethereweretwoothermeninthegendarmegroupinDetachment731,.wewere
threeinall.
Sergeant Major Tasaka gave us instructions and we, in a special convoy car, drove to
Harbin railway station and there went to the gendarme picket in the station, where, in the
presence of the senior gendarme of the station, we took over from gendarmes from other
townssuchasLinkow,Kjamuszeandothers,peoplewhoweretobesenttoDetachment731.
Question:Whenwereprisonerssenttothedetachment,inthedaytimeoratnight?
Answer:Mainlyatnight.Aftertakingovertheprisoners,weputthemintotheconvoycar
anddrovetoPingfariStationtotheheadquartersofDetachment731.Therewepulledupat
themaingates,oneofuswent1otheguardroomandreportedtotheguard,andhetelephoned
to the man on duty in the inner prison, then that man sent somebody to convoy these
prisonerstotheprison.
Question:Whowasthewardenoftheprison?
Answer:CivilianemployeeIshii,'theelderbrotheroftheChiefofthedetachment,General
IshiiShiro.
Question:Didyouyourselfvisittheprison?
Answer:Yes,Ivisitedtheprisontwice.
Question:Describethisprison.
Answer: I visited the prison for the first time in March 1940. This was soon after my
arrivalinDetachment731.OnarrivinginthedetachmentIlearnedthatthedetachmenthad
aninnerprison,thenthisprisoninterestedmeandIaskedSergeantMajorTasaka,whowas
theseniorinourgroup,toallowmetogointotheprisontoseeit.Heaskedforpermission
from the war.den of the prison, civilian employee Ishii; he consented and the three of us;
Tasaka,IshiiandI,wentovertheprison.Wewentto-themainbuildingofDetachment731,
whichwasofrectangularshape,inthemiddleofwhichwastheprisonbuildinghiddenfrom
the view of strangers. The prison was divided into two wings—left and right. On my first
visitIinspectedtheleftwing.Weenteredthebuildingandpassedthroughacorridor;onthe
leftwastheguardroom,totherighttherewasastaircase,thenanotherroomandbeyondthat
thecells.
Question:Didyoulookintothecellswhenyouinspectedtheprisonbuilding?
Answer:Ididnotgointothecells,butIlookedthroughthepeepholes.
Question:Ofwhatnationalitywerethepeopleconfinedintheprison?
Answer: Mainly Chinese, but there were also Russians among them, and among the
294
Chinesetherewerefivewomen.Question:Consequently,womenwerealsoconfinedinthe
IshiiDetachmentprison?
Answer: Yes. I forgot to say that on one occasion I convoyed a woman from Harbin
Station.Ialsoforgottosaythattheprisonwasatwo-storeybuilding.
Question:Didyouyourselfseeexperimentsperformedonhumanbeings?
Answer:Yes,Idid.Isawexperimentsperformedonliv
•ingpeopleforthefirsttimeinDecember1940.Iwasshown
theseexperimentsbyresearcherYoshimura,amemberof
the1stDivision.Theseexperimentswereperformedinthe
prisonlaboratory.
When I walked into the prison laboratory, five Chinese experimentees were sitting on a
longform;twooftheseChinesehadnofingersatall,theirhandswereblack;inthoseofthree
others the bones were visible. They had fingers, but they were only bones. Yoshimura told
methatthiswastheresultoffreezingexperiments.
Question:Whatdoyouknowaboutthefateofthepeoplewhogotintothedetachment's
prison?
Answer:Thepeoplewhogotintothisprisonnevercameout.
Question: Do you know of even a single case, during the period you served in the
detachment,ofamanbeingreleasedfromtheIshiiDetachment'sprison?
Answer:Idon'tknowofanysuchcases.
Question:Thus,thosewhogotintothatprison—menandwomen—wereboundtoperish?
Answer:Yes.
MORNINGSITTING,DECEMBER29
EXAMINATIONOFWITNESSHOTTA
PresidentoftheCourt:WitnessHotta,haveyousignedthewarningthatyoumustspeak
thetruthandthatyouareliabletocriminalprosecutionifyougivefalseevidence?
WitnessHotta:Yes.
295
Question:WhenwereyoutakenprisonerbytheSovietArmy?
Answer:OnAugust20,1945.
Question:Wherewereyouatthetime?
Answer:AtthattimeIwasinHailar,workinginthebranchoftheProphylaxisandWater
SupplyAdministration.
Question:Whatpostdidyouoccupythere?
Answer:Quartermaster.
Question:Wereyouinmilitaryservice?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Whatwasyourmilitaryrank?
Answer:AtthattimeIwasprobationerofficerintheQuartermasterService.
State Prosecutor: Tell us, witness Hotta, did you serve in the Quartermaster's Section of
Detachment731?
WitnessHotta:Yes.
Question:WhendidyouarrivetoserveinDetachment731?
Answer: I arrived in Detachment 731 on November 29, 1944, and began to take up my
dutiesaweeklater;IwasinDetachment731untilAugust1945.
Question:TowhomdidyoupresentyourselfonarrivalinDetachment731?
Answer:FirstofallIpresentedmyselftotheChiefofDetachment731,MajorGeneralof
theMedicalServiceKitano.ThiswasonNovember30,1944.
Question: Did you have any conversation with anyone after your arrival in Detachment
731?
Answer: Yes. With the Chief of the Training Division of the detachment, Lieutenant
ColonelNishi.
Question:WhatdidNishitalktoyouabout?Answer:OnNovember30,1944,Ipresented
myself to the Chief of the detachment, after which I went to the Chief of the Training
296
Divisionofthedetachment,LieutenantColoneloftheMedicalServiceNishi.Iwasordered
to go through a seven-day course in the detachment's Training Division. During that week,
underLieutenantColonelNishi'sdirection,Istudiedtheinternalserviceregulations,andthe
internalserviceregulationsconcerningDetachment731.
Question:DidNishiwarnyouaboutthecharacterofthedetachment'swork?
Answer:Yes,hesaidthatresearchworkonbacteriawasbeingcarriedoninDetachment
731 and that exceptional secrecy had to be maintained in relation to everything that
concernedtheworkofDetachment731.
Question: Tell us precisely what premises and what branches you had occasion to visit
duringyourserviceintheQuartermaster'sSectionofthisdetachment.
Answer: During my service in the Quartermaster's Section of Detachment 731 I had
occasiontovisitthedetachment'slstDivision,3rdDivisionandtheprovinggroundatAnta
Station.Asregardsbranches,inFebruaryandMarch1945IvisitedtheSunyu,Linkowand
Mutankiangbranches.Atthattime,togetherwiththeQuartermaster,MajorSato,Iinspected
the stores, but in August 1945, I was promoted to Quartermaster of the Hailar Branch. In
addition,IhadoccasiontovisittheClinicalDivision,andthe3rdDivisioninHarbin,inthe
Nantung district. Furthermore, when receiving stores, I, on two occasions, visited the
TransportSectionofDetachment731.
Question: Do you know what purpose was served by Detachment 731's proving ground
nearAntaStation?
Answer: That proving ground wis intended for experiments in connection with
preparationstoconductbacteriologicalwarfare.
Question:Onwhomwerethesebacteriologicalexperimentsperformed?
Answer:IknowthatfortheseexperimentsprisonersconfinedinDetachment731'sinner
prisonwereused.
Question:Wherewasthisprison?
Answer: This prison was situated inside the quadrangle of the detachment's three-storey
mainbuilding.Theseweretwo-storeybuildings,numbered7and8.
Question:Fromwherewerepeopleuponwhomexperimentsweretobemadesuppliedto
Detachment731?
Answer:IknowthatthesepeopleweresuppliedbytheJapaneseMilitaryMissionsandby
theGendarmerie;inaddition,peopleweresuppliedfortheprisonfromamongChinesewar
prisoners.
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Question:Didyouhaveoccasiontoinspectthedetachment'sstores?
Answer:Iwouldaskyoutosaymorepreciselywhatstoresyouhaveinmind?
Question:Thedetachment'sstoresintheprovinggroundnearAntaStation.
Answer: I do not remember the exact date, it was in the summer of 1945; together with
QuartermasterTomizukaIwenttotheprovinggroundnearVntaStationwherewewereto
inspectthestores.
Wetookstockofallthematerias,goodsandequipmentinthestores.
WhileinspectingoneofthestoresIfoundjsomeironshieldsandIaskedcivilianemployee
Tomizuka what these shields were used for. He answered that although they were not
supplied by the Quartermaster's Section, they were kept in the stores and were used in
experiments on living people, that they were fastened to the chests and backs of
experimenteestoprotectthemfrombeinginjured.
Then civilian employee Tomizuka showed me a pile of blankets and requested to be
allowed, whenever possible, to strike them off the list as unfit for use. There were about
eighty of these blankets. Dried blood was visible on them. These blankets were extremely
tattered.Inreplytomyenquiryastowhytheywereinthatcondition,hesaidthatthey,too,
wereusedtoprotectthebodiesofexperimenteeswhileexperimentswerebeingperformedon
them.
Question: And on these padded blankets you yourself saw the dried blood of the
experimentees?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Tellus,whendidtheChiefofthedetachment,IshiiShiro,arriveatDetachment
731?
Answer:InMarch1945.
Question:WhatchangesintheworkofthedetachmenttookplaceafterIshii'sarrival?
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Answer:Iwillnotbeabletodescribeexactlyallthechangesintheworkofthedetachment
thattookplaceafterGeneralIshii'sreturntothepostofChiefofDetachment731.•However,
after his arrival in the detachment he spoke to us often about the important tasks that
confrontedDetachment731.HesaidthatbetweenJuneandSeptember1945therewouldbe
waragainsttheSovietUnionandthatitwasnecessarytomakeintensepreparationsforthis
war, for this decisive war, as he put it. I also know that the work of breeding rodents was
activized.
Question: Did you have to make any kind of calculations connected with the possible
increaseinthenumberofrodents?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Question:Bywhoseorderswerethesecalculationsmade?
Answer:ByorderoftheChfefofthedetachment,Ishii.TheChiefoftheQuartermaster's
Section,MajorSato,orderedmetocalculatethequantityoffeedandnutritivesubstancesthat
wouldberequiredfor3,000,000rodentsthatweretobebredbySeptember.
Question: Thus, General Ishii counted on raising the number of rats and mice in the
possessionofthedetachmentto3,000,000bySeptember1945.Isthatright?
Answer:Yes,thatwashisplan.
Question:WhatdoyouknowaboutthefinancialexpenditureconnectedwithDetachment
731'sworkandwiththemaintenanceofitsapparatus?
Answer: From what the Chief of the Quartermaster's Section, Major Sato, and
QuartermasterNakamura,toldme,Iknowthatthebudgetfor1945fixedDetachment731's
expenditureat10,000,000yen.Furthermore,Iknowthatoutofthis10,000,000—3,000,000
wasassignedforprovisionsforDetachment731'spersonnelandtherest,7,000,000,forthe
production of bacteria and research work. Furthermore, out of this sum—200,000-300,000
yenwereassignedforthebranches.
Question: Thus, the predominant place in the detachment's budget was occupied by
expenditure connected with preparations to conduct bacteriological warfare, that is,
expenditureconnectedwithexperimentsandthebreedingofbacteriaonamassscale.Isthat
correct?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Tellus,wereexperimentsonhumanbeingsconductedinDetachment731that
werenotconnectedwithbacteriology?
Answer: One of my fellow trainees in the detachment's Training Division was officer of
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theMedicalServiceMegura,wesharedaroomtogether.Onedayhecameintotheroomwith
some kind of a document. This was a report on freezing experiments. He also showed me
some photographs depicting 2-3 prisoners being exposed to frost; one of the photographs
showedamanwearingafurcoatandhatsittingnexttowhatlookedlikeabucket.Another
photographshowedaChineselyingonabedwithhisfeetuncovered.Onefootwassound,
the other was frostbitten. It looked as though the feet were being compared to show the
effectivenessofthefreezingexperiment.
Question:Thus,youknowthatinadditiontobacteriologicalexperimentsonlivingpeople,
Detachment731alsoconductedfreezingexperiments?
Answer:Yes,thatisso.
Question:Tellus,didthepeopleintheprisonwhoweretobeexperimentedonimplicitly
submittotheseexperiments,orweretherecasesofresistanceonthepartofprisoners?
Answer:Inthesummerof1945,Megurainvitedmetovisithiminthelaboratory.Icame
somewhat late, but when I came in I saw that he was extremely agitated and angry about
something. I asked him what he was angry about and he told me that the prisoners had
offeredresistanceintheprison.BywayofthethirdfloorIwenttotheprison.Thiswasmy
firstvisittotheprison.
Froma roof two men armedwith rifles were watching theprison. Near the prison doors
there were 4-5 men, also armed with rifles. The first two and the group of 4-5, were all
membersoftheSpecialGroup.Bythistime,however,allwasquietintheprison.
Twoorthreedayslater,Meguratoldmethatoneoftheexperimenteeshadshownviolence
andhadstrucktheexperimenterwithadoorhandle.
Question:Whathappenedtothisprisoner?
Answer:Afterstrikingtheexperimenterwithadoorhandle,thisprisonerjumpedoutofthe
cell and ran down the corridor, seized the keys and opened some of the cells. Some of the
prisoners managed to jump out, but these were only the bold ones. These bold ones were
shot.
Question:Thus,peoplewhoresistedtheexperimentswereshot?Isthatcorrect?
Answer:Yes,thatiscorrect.
EXAMINATIONOFWITNESSSEGOSHI
PresidentoftheCourt:WitnessSegoshi,haveyousignedawarningthatyoumusttellthe
Courtnothingbutthetruthandthatyouareliabletoprosecutionifyougivefalseevidence?
WitnessSegoshi:Yes.
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Question:WhenwereyoutakenprisonerbytheSovietArmy?
Answer:OnAugust22,1945.
Question:Wherewereyouservingatthetime?
Answer:AtthattimeIwasservingintheHailarBranchofDetachment731.
Question:Howdidyoucometobeinthatbranch?
Answer:Iwasappointedtoservetherebyorder.
Question:Whatwasyourmilitaryrank?
Answer:Sub-Lieutenant.
State Prosecutor: Tell us, witness Segoshi, did you, for some time, serve as a laboratory
assistantinthe4thSectionoftheMaterialsDivisionofDetachment731?
WitnessSegoshi:Yes,Iservedasalaboratoryassistantinthe4thSectionoftheMaterials
Division.
Question:Whatdidthissectionengagein?
Answer:The4thSectionengagedinthemanufactureoffilters,ceramicbodiesforbacteria
bombsandporcelainbulbs.
Question:Didyouseehowtheceramicbodiesofbacteriabombsweremade?
Answer: Yes, I had occasion to see it. I tested the composition of the clay used for the
manufactureofthesebodies.
Question:Describethebombsandthetechniqueoftheirmanufacture.
Answer: To manufacture these bombs, clay was taken, ground to a powder, mixed with
waterandthenbroughttotherequiredconsistency.Thestuffwasthenpouredintoaspecial
plaster mould. This mould was shaped like a shell. In view of the fact that plaster absorbs
moisture, the upper surface of this stuff dried. Later, the plaster mould was removed, the
liquid stuff that had remained was poured away and ceramic vessels were obtained in the
shape of shells. The finished bodies of the bombs were then dried in special kilns. These
bombswere from 70 to80centimeters long and 20 centimetersin diameter. At the bottom
therewasascrewthreadedaperture.Theinteriorsofthebombswerehollow.Atimefusetube
wasinsertedintothescrew-threadedaperture.Zigzaggrooveswerecutontheoutersurface
of these bodies. On the upper part of the bombs there were attachments for stabilizers.
Explosiveswerefastenedintothegroovesforthepurposeofexplodingthebombs.Dropped
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fromaircraft,thesebombsweresupposedtoexplodeabovetheground.
Question:Withwhatwerethebombsfilled?
Answer: From what Major Suzuki, the Chief of the section, told me, I know that small
bulbscontainingplague-infectedfleaswereplacedintothesebodies.
Question: In what way did the construction of the bombs ensure the preservation of the
fleaswhenthebombsexplodedandprotectthemfromtheeffectofhightemperatures?
Answer:MajorSuzukitoldmethatsincethebodiesofthesebombswereceramicandthinwalled, a very small quantity of explosive was needed to explode them, consequently the
explosion was of low power, and this saved the fleas from destruction, as the force of the
explosion,theresistanceoftheairandthetemperaturehadpracticallynoeffectuponthem.
EXAMINATIONOFWITNESSSASAKI
Presidentof the Court: WitnessSasaki, have you signed a warningthat you are liable to
prosecutionifyougivefalseevidence?
WitnessSasaki:Yes.
Question:YoumusttelltheCourtnothingbutthetruth.Whenwereyoutakenprisonerby
theSovietArmy?
Answer:OnAugust15,1945.
Question:Wherewereyouservingatthetime?
Answer:OntheKurilIslands,UrupIsland.
Question:DidyouserveinDetachment731?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Whatworkdidyoudothere?
Answer:IworkedinKarasawa'ssub-section,inthe4thDivision,asastorekeeper.
Question:Whatwasyourmilitaryrank?
Answer:Ihadnomilitaryrank.
Question:WereyouinmilitaryserviceatthetimeyouservedinDetachment731,ornot?
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Answer: In 1942 I finished my term of military service and went to work as a civilian
employeeinDetachment731.
State Prosecutor: Tell us, witness Sasaki, what was the sub-section headed by Major
KarasawaTomioengagedin?
WitnessSasaki:Thatsub-sectionengagedinthemassproductionofbacteria.
Question:Whatwereyourfunctions?
Answer:IwasastorekeeperinMajorKarasawa'ssubsectionandgaveoutthematerialsfor
themassproductionofbacteria.
Question:Didyougiveoutagar-agar,peptone?
Answer:Yes,Igaveitout,butunderthesupervisionofthestoresmanager.
Question:DidyoureceivefromKarasawa'ssub-sectionfinishedbacteriasubstance?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Question: Do you know anything about the practical employment of bacteria by
Detachment731?
Answer: One day, during morning inspection, Major Karasawa announced that he had
receivedordersfromtheChiefconcerningthemassproductionofbacteriaandsaidthatwe
mustcarryoutthistasksuccessfully.
Furthermore,hesaid,that15menofoursub-section,headedbytheChiefofthesection,
weretogotoChina.
Question:DidyousendbacteriatoChina?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Wheredidyougetthesebacteriafrom,howweretheypacked,andwherewere
theysentto?
Answer: I do not remember exactly when this was. Matsushima, the stores manager,
announced that the infection bottles that were in the store had to be packed in boxes. We
packedthemandsentthemtotheaerodrome.
Question:Whichbottles?
Answer:Thesewerebottlesfilledwithbacteria.
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Question:Howdidyoupackthesebottlesintheboxes?
Answer: We covered the mouths of these bottles with paraffin wax and then with
cellophane, the cellophane was tied with special strings. Then we packed them all in zinc
boxes.
Question:Howmanybottlescontainingbacteriawentintoabox?
Answer:15or16.
Question:Wheredidyoutaketheseboxescontainingbacteriasubstance?
Answer: We took these boxes on a motor truck to the aerodrome that was about a
kilometreawayfromthedetachment'smainbuilding.
Question:Howmanyjourneysdidyoumaketotheaerodrome?
Answer:Idonotrememberexactly,Ithinkwedrovetherethreetimes.
Question: What was the load capacity of the trucks on which you took the boxes to the
aerodrome?
Answer:Idonotrememberexactly.
Question:Perhapsyouremembersomethingelse—approximately,howmanyboxeswere
takentotheaerodrome?
Answer:Idonotrememberthisexactly,either.
Question:Atallevents,youmadethreejourneystotheaerodrome,isthatright?
Answer:Yes,that'sright.Irememberthatwedrovetotheaerodromethreetimes.
EXAMINATIONOFWITNESSOZEKl
PresidentoftheCourt:WitnessOzeki,youhavesignedtheCourt'swarningthatyouare
liabletoprosecutionifyougivefalseevidence.YoumusttelltheCourtnothingbutthetruth.
WitnessOzeki:Iunderstand.
Question:HowlongdidyouserveinDetachment731?
Answer:IservedinDetachment731fromMay1939toApril1942.
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Question:Whatpostdidyouoccupyinthedetachmentandwhatworkdidyoudothere?
Answer:InMay1939Ijoinedtheyouths'trainingcourseatDetachment731andwhenI
finishedthecourseIworkedinthe4thDivision.
State Prosecutor: Witness Ozeki, hence you worked mainly in the 4th Division of
Detachment731?
WitnessOzeki:That'sright.
Question:Whatwasthe4thDivisionofDetachment731engagedin?
Answer:Thatdivisionengagedinthemassproductionofbacteria.
Question:Areyou,memberofthedetachment's4thDivision,familiarwiththeprocessof
production?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Describetheprocessofproductioninthecultivationofbacteria.
Answer: For cultivating bacteria we took agar-agar, or peptone, and also meat bouillon,
and in special boilers we made the culture medium for cultivating the bacteria, then this
culturemediumwaspouredintoIshiicultivatorsthatwerekeptinspecialautoclavesunder
highpressure.
Then this culture medium was cooled in special refrigerators, after which the cultivators
werecarriedtoaspecialroomwherethebacteriawereplanted.Later,thebacteriaweresent
on a conveyor into special incubators in which a definite temperature was maintained, for
plaguegerms,forexample,+35°.
Question:Whatweretheseincubatorslike?
Answer:Theywerechambersthatwereprotectedbymetalwalls,andinthemtherewas
apparatusformaintainingaconstanttemperatureandhumidity.
Question:Howwasthefinishedbacteriasubstancetakenout?
Answer:Fromtheincubators,thecultivatorsweresentbyconveyortoanotherchamber.
Therewerespecialinstrumentsfortakingoutthebacteria—spoons,withtheaidofwhichthe
bacteriaweretakenoutandputintobottles.
Question:Whatdoyouknowaboutmemberofthe4thDivisionofDetachment731,Major
KarasawaTomio?
305
Answer:IfirstmadetheacquaintanceofMajorKarasawainJanuary1940,whenhewas
aninstructorattheyouths'trainingcoursesinDetachment731.
Question:WhatworkdidMajorKarasawadoinDetachment731?
Answer: In May 1940, when I was transferred to the Production Section, this section
consistedoftwogroupswhichengagedinthemassproductionofbacteria.Thechiefofone
ofthesegroupswasMajorKarasawa.From1942onwards,MajorKarasawaservedasChief
ofoneofthesectionsofthisdivision,andlaterhetookMajorSuzuki'splaceasChiefofthe
section.
Question: That is, latterly, he was Chief of the very section of the 4th Division which
engagedinthemassbreedingofbacteria,isthatright?
Answer:That'sright.
Question:WhatpostdidGeneralKawashimaoccupy?
Answer:Chiefofthe4thDivision.
EXAMINATIONOFWITNESSSA1TO
President of the Court: Witness Saito, you have signed a warning that you are liable to
prosecutionifyougivefalseevidence.YoumusttelltheCourtnothingbutthetruth.
WitnessSaito:Iunderstand.
Question:DidyouserveintheJapaneseArmy?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Question:Whatwasthelastpostyouoccupied?
Answer:IoccupiedthepostofclerkintheofficeofBranch643ofDetachment731.
Question:Didyouhavemilitaryrank?
Answer:No,Ididnothavemilitaryrank,Iwasacivilianemployee.
Question:Howlongdidyouserveinthisdetachment?
Answer:FromMarch1942.
Question:Untilwhatdate?
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Answer:UntilJapan'ssurrender.
Question:Howdidyoucometoworkinthedetachment?
Answer:AtfirstIjoinedthedetachmentasatruckdriver,laterIwasofferedajobasan
employeeofthedetachmentinthecapacityofofficeclerk.
StateProsecutor:Tellus,witnessSaito,whenwasaspecialsectionforthemassbreeding
offleasorganizedattheMutankiangBranch?
WitnessSaito:ThesectionthatbegantobreedfleaswasorganizedonJune13,1945.
Question:Howisitthatyousowellrememberthedatewhenthissectionwasorganized?
Answer: Because, from May 31, 1945 to June 13, I was absent, I was not in the
detachment, I was away on matters of the service. When I returned on June 13, I read the
ordertoformthissection,sothatIrememberthatdatewithoutmistake.
Question:Bywhoseorderwasthesectionforthemassbreedingoffleasorganized?
Answer:ThissectionwasorganizedbyorderoftheChiefofBranch643,MajorOnoue.
Question:Lookatthedefendants'box,isthattheMajorOnouewhoisseatedinthebox?
Answer:Yes,that'stheone.
Question:Whatnumberwasthissectiongiven?
Answer:Numberthree.
Question:WhowastheChiefofthe3rdSection?
Answer:SergeantMajorYamadaTadashi.
Question:Whodirectlyengagedinthebreedingoffleas?
Answer:Twomembersengagedinthis:OnizakiandSuzuki,whowentthroughaspecial
trainingcourseinDetachment731.
Question:Howlongdidtheygothroughthisspecialcourse?
Answer:Idonotrememberexactly,tendaysortwoweeks.
Question: Thus, in Detachment 731, special training courses were organized for the
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personnelofthedetachment'sbranchestoteachthemthemethodsofbreedingfleasonamass
scale?
Answer:Yes,that'sright.
Question: What were your functions at the time you served in the 3rd Section of the
MutankiangBranch?
Answer:Iservedinthe3rdSectionasofficeclerk,andmyfunctionwastocalculatethe
number of rodents required for breeding fleas, and also to keep account of the quantity of
fleasbred.
Question:Tellus,witness,doyouknowhowthefleaswerebred?
Answer:Yes,Ioftenhadoccasiontobeinthebasementwherethesefleaswerebred,andI
myselfsawtheequipmentwithwhichthefleaswerebred.Forthispurposetheyused18-litre
cansinwhichtheratswerekept.
Question:Wheredidthe3rdSectionsendthefleasthatwerebred?
Answer:Thefirsttime,July24-25,1945",thesefleasweresenttotheHarbinDetachment
731, and the second time, on August 4 or 5 of the same year, they were also taken to
Detachment731bycivilianemployeeSuzuki.
Question: This, the fleas bred by your branch were sent to Detachment 731 at Pingfan
Station,isthatright?
Answer:That'sright.
Question:Pleasetellusnowhowmanycanswereusedatonetimetobreedfleas?
Answer:Inthe3rdSection200benzinecanswerepreparedforuseascultivators.Thefirst
time 60 cans were used, but this was an unsuccessful attempt. The second time 120
cultivatorswereused,andthethirdtime30.
Question:FromwheredidBranch643obtaintherodents?
Answer:InJuneandJuly1945,nearlyalltheprivatesofDetachment643weremobilized
forcatching.rats.
Question:Howwasthecatchingofrodentsorganizedbythebranch?
Answer:RatcatchingwasmostsuccessfulinthetownofMutankiangitself.Althoughthe
branch was situated outside the town, soldiers were sent to Mutankiang with the special
assignmenttocatchrats.ImyselfsawsoldierswhoengagedincatchingratsinMutankiang.
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Question:Werethesoldierssenttocatchratsinmilitaryuniform?
Answer:Theywerealldressedincivilianclothestohidethefactthattheywereinmilitary
service.
Question:WerealltheratsthatwerecaughtkeptinBranch643,orweresomeofthemsent
toanotherplace?
Answer:Someoftherodentswereusedinthe3rdSectionofBranch643,butmostofthem
weresenttoDetachment731.
Question:DidyouyourselfseetheseratsbeingsenttoDetachment731,orareyousaying
thisfromwhatsomebodytoldyou?
Answer:Imyselfsawit.IsawspecialtrucksleavingthepremisesofBranch643forthe
Hailarrailwaystationforthispurpose.
Question: When and by whose orders was the Mutankiang Branch of Detachment 731
destroyed?
Answer:The branch was destroyedon August 13, 1945, in themorning, by order of the
Chiefofthebranch,MajorOnoue.
EXAMINATIONOFWITNESSKUWABARA
PresidentoftheCourt:Youhavesignedawarningthatyouareliabletoprosecutionifyou
givefalseevidence.YoumusttelltheCourtthetruth.
WitnessKuwabara:Iunderstand.
Question:DidyouserveintheJapaneseArmy?
Answer:Idid.
Question:Inwhatcapacity?
Answer: In the capacity of a civilian employee in the detachment for the antiepizootic
protectionofhorses.
Question:Howlongdidyouserveinthisdetachment?
Answer:IworkedfromJanuary19,1944totheendofthewar.
Question:Inwhatcapacitydidyouwork?
309
Answer:Inthecapacityofatechnicalworker.
Question:Whatworkdidyouperform?
Answer:Iperformedtheworkofanalyzingbloodandengagedinpathologicalresearch.
StateProsecutor:Wheredidyouserve?
WitnessKuwabara:InBranch2630ofDetachment100.
Question:TelltheCourtwhatyouknowabouttheinfectionofhorseswithglanders.
Answer:ThiswasonAugust20,1945.Iwasthenonthewaytothestablesofourbranch
and near the stables I saw six members from our branch. These were detachment members
Kubota,Ikeda,Yada,Kimura,IshiiandHasegawa.Inthosestablestherewere60horsesthat
were kept in the detachment. Before I could reach this group I was warned that they were
engagedininfectingthehorseswithglandersbycontaminatingtheoatswithglandersgerms.
I went back to the branch's laboratory. When I got back to the laboratory I saw empty test
tubes that had contained cultures of glanders; then I asked researcher Kimura whether the
horses had been infected with these germs. He confirmed this and said that the horses had
beeninfectedwithglanders.
Question:Whatwasdonewiththosehorseslater?
Answer: The group that had caused the infection broke down the fences and drove the
horses in different directions. All the horses scattered to the near-by villages and along
differentroads.
Question: Were the horses which had been infected with glanders to have served as the
causefortheoutbreakofaglandersepidemic?
Answer:Yes.
Question:ThistookplaceonAugust20,1945?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Thatis,aftertheorderforthesurrenderoftheJapaneseArmy?
Answer:Yes.
Question: Where were the glanders germs with which the animals were infected
cultivated?
Answer: For this purpose, glanders germs cultivated in the Bacteriological Section of
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Detachment2630wereused.
EXAMINATIONOFWITNESSHATAKI
President of the Court: Witness Hataki, you have given the Court your signature to the
warningthatyouareliabletoprosecutionifyougivefalseevidence.YoumusttelltheCourt
nothingbutthetruth.
InwhatcapacitydidyouserveintheJapaneseArmy?
Witness Hataki: At one time I worked in Detachment 100 in Changchun, and later in a
militaryunitinthetownofKunchuling.
Question:Areyouaprivate?
Answer:Yes,aprivate.
Question:Whatdutiesdidyouperforminthelatterperiod?
Answer:Iwasarifleman.Question:AndinDetachment100?Answer:InDetachment100
Iwasacivilianemployeeofthedetachment.
StateProsecutor:Whatworkdidyoudointhedetachment?
WitnessHataki:Iworkedonbacteriologicalresearch.
Question:Inwhatcapacity?
Answer:Asatechnicalworker.
Question: Tell us, do you know anything about experiments having been performed on
livingpeople?
Answer:Yes,Ido.
Question:Wherewerethepeoplekeptuponwhomexperimentsweretobemade?
Answer:InanisolationcellintheguardroomofDetachment100.
Question:Didyouyourselfseethesepeople?
Answer:ImyselfsawthemwhenItookthemfood.
Question:Howmanypeoplewereintheisolationcellwhenyouwentthere?
311
Answer:Four.
Question:Ofwhatnationality?
Answer:TwoChineseandtwoRussians.
Question:Doyouknowwhatkindofexperimentswereperformed?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Tellusaboutthem.
Answer:WhenItookfoodfromthelaboratoryfortheprisoners,researcherMatsuigave
meawhiteliquidforthem.Thatwaspoison.
Question:Whatdidyoudowiththatwhiteliquid?
Answer:Ionlybroughtit.
Question:Yougaveittotheprisoners?
Answer:No,Imyselfdidnotgiveittothem,itwasgivenbygendarmeMizuno.
Question: Do you know what the fate was of those people to whom gendarme Mizuno
gavepoisonedfood?
Answer:Iknowthattwoorthreedayslatertheydied.
Question:Wheredidyouburytheirbodies?
Answer: We buried these bodies in the cattle cemetery at the back of the detachment's
premises.
Question:Doyouknowwhatthefateofotherexperimenteeswas?
Answer:Yes,Ido.
Question:Tellusaboutit.
Answer:IknowthatgendarmeMizunoshotoneoftheRussianswithapistol.
Question:Tellusaboutitingreaterdetail.
Answer:Iwasinthelaboratorywhenthetelephonerang.Iwasorderedtotakeaspadeand
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gotothecattlecemetery.There,atahundredmetresfromtheroad,wasaRussian,hewas
kneelingontheground,andgendarmeMizunokilledhimbyshootinghiminthebackofthe
head.
Question: Where did you bury the body of this Russian whom gendarme Mizuno had
murdered?
Answer:There,inthecattlecemetery,apithadalreadybeendug,andhewasshotonthe
edgeofthispit.
Question:Andyouyourselfburiedhisbody?
Answer:ItwasthrownintothepitandIcovereditwithearth.
Question: Did you take part in the manoeuvres in infecting cattle on Detachment 731's
provinggroundatAntaStation?
Answer:Yes,Idid.
Question:Telluswhatyousawatthesemanoeuvres.
Answer:Iwasinthebarrackstakingmeteorologicalobservationswhenanaeroplaneflew
over the camp. The aeroplane dropped something of a yellow colour and at once flew off
again.Iwasnotontheprovinggroundmyself,soIdon'tknowthedetails.
Question: The infection of cattle was conducted during the manoeuvres with the aid of
aircraft?
Answer:Yes,that'scorrect.
Question:And,finally,thelastquestiontoyou,witnessHataki.Yousaidthatyouworked
inDetachment100underthedirectionofacertainMitomo.Isthatright?
Answer:Yes.
Question:Nowlookatthedefendants'boxandtelltheCourtwhetheramongtheaccusedis
Mitomo,underwhomyouworkedinthedetachment.
Answer:Yes,thatsameMitomoisthere.
EXAMINATIONOFWITNESSMISHINA
President of the Court: Witness Mishina, you have given the Court your signature to the
warningthatyouareliabletoprosecutionifyougivefalsetestimony.YoumusttelltheCourt
thetruth.
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WitnessMishina:Iunderstand.
Question:Tellus,witness,howlongdidyouserveintheJapaneseArmyinManchuria?
Answer:IservedinManchuriafourtimes.
Question: What posts did you occupy during your service in the Japanese Army in
Manchuria?
Answer: The first time I served in the Special Security Detachment in the capacity of
companyofficer.ThiswasduringtheManchurianevents.ThesecondtimeIservedin193435asanofficerintheOperationsDivisionoftheKwantungArmyHeadquarters.Thethird
time I served from 1937 to 1941 as an officer in the Kwantung Army Headquarters. And
finally,thelasttimeIservedinManchuriaintheperiodofthesecondworldwar.IwasChief
ofStaffofthe39thDivision.IwasappointedtothispostonApril25,1945.
Question:Whatwasyourlastmilitaryrank?
Answer:Colonel.
StateProsecutor:HowlongandinwhatcapacitydidyouserveintheHeadquartersofthe
13thArmy?
WitnessMishina:Iservedinthe13thArmyfrom1941to1943asChiefoftheIntelligence
DivisionoftheHeadquartersofthe13thArmy.
Question:Wherewasthe13thArmylocated?
Answer:TheHeadquartersoftheArmywaslocatedinShanghai.
Question: What, in essence, was the so-called Chekang operation conducted by the 13th
Army?Whenwastheorderreceivedtocommencethisoperation?
Answer:TheChekangoperationwasconductedin1942;thisoperationwasconductedby
order of the Commander-inChief of the Japanese Expeditionary Force in China, General
Hata.TheorderwasdatedMarch1942.
Question:WhatwasthenatureoftheChekangoperation?
Answer:Theobjectofthisoperation,accordingtotheCommander-in-Chief'sorder,wasto
exterminateChina'sarmedforces,namely,theChungkingcampandotherforceslocatedin
the region of Chekang along the main railway line that connected the towns of Kinhwa,
Lungyu,ChuhsienandYushan(Iamnotsurethatthisisexact).
Question:WhichJapanesearmiestookpartintheChekangoperation?
314
Answer:Nearlythewholeofthe13thArmy,andalsoseparateunitsofthellthArmy,the
HeadquartersofwhichwaslocatedinHankow.Inaddition,specialunitswereattached.
Question:Whatdoyouknowaboutthespecialbacteriologicalunitsthatwereattachedto
unitsofthe13thArmy?
Answer: To the 13th Army was attached a special bacteriological unit consisting of the
personneloftheNankingDetachmentEi.
Question:Whendidtheretreatofthellthand13tharmiescommence?
Answer:The13thArmybegantoretreatinAugust1942.Thellth—alsoatthattime.These
armiesbegantoretreattotheirformerpositions.
Question:Tellus,whendidMajorGeneralIshiiShiroarriveintheareaofhostilities?
Answer:MajorGeneralIshiiShiroarrivedintheareaofhostilitiesonAugust24or25.
Question: Was a conference called at the Headquarters of the 13th Army in connection
withthearrivalofMajorGeneralIshiiShiro?
Answer:AfterthearrivalofMajorGeneralIshiiShiro,asecretconferencewasheldatthe
Headquartersofthe13thArmy,atwhich,besidesIshiiShiro,werepresenttheCommander
ofthe13thArmy,theChiefofStaffofthatarmy,andtheChiefoftheOperationsDivisionof
theHeadquartersofthatarmy.
Question:DidMajorGeneralIshiiShiroarriveintheareaofthe13thArmyalone,orwith
agroupofaccompanyingofficers?
Answer:IrememberthatMajorGeneralIshiiShirowasaccompaniedbytwoorthreearmy
surgeons.
Question: After this conference, did Major General Ishii Shiro remain at the 13th Army
Headquarters,ordidheleave?
Answer: Major General Ishii Shiro left that very day after dinner in an aeroplane for
Nanking, but the two, or three officers who had arrived with him at Army Headquarters,
remained.
Question: Tell us all you know about the employment of plague germs by the Japanese
troopsduringtheChekangoperation.
Answer: As I have already said, the 13th Army began to retreat, in conformity with the
ordersoftheCommanderin-ChiefoftheJapaneseExpeditionaryForcesinChina,onAugust
20. The Headquarters of the Army retreated from Chuhsien on August 31, but the officers
315
whohadarrivedwithGeneralIshii,twoorthree,remainedinChuhsien.I,asanofficerofthe
13th Army Headquarters, know that these officers who remained behind, together with the
antiepidemicunitsoftheforwarddetachments,sprayedplaguegermsatthefront.LaterIwill
say how I know this. Army Headquarters retreated from Chuhsien and arrived in Kinhwa,
whereitstayedforabouttwoweeks,andthen,September18-19,setoutforShanghai.
Iwasgivenadocumentthathadbeencapturedbytheunitsoperatingatthefront.Thiswas
a document of the Chinese Army, which I received in September. The document had been
captured by one of our units when it occupied the place where the headquarters of an
unknownChinesedivisionwaslocated.Thisdocumentspeaksofthefollowing.
AsfarasIrememberitwasdatedbeginningofSeptember.Itwasaradiogramcontaining
anorderbytheHeadquartersoftheChineseArmytoadivisionalcommander.Itwasstatedin
theorderthattheJapaneseArmy,onretreatingduringtheChekangoperation,hadinfected
thelocalitiesintheregionofChuhsienwithplague,thatspecialattentionhadtobepaidto
thisandmeasuresofprecautiontaken.Thisorderwascopiedonahectograph.Initspecial
emphasiswaslaidonthebrutalcharacteroftheJapaneseactions.
Question:DidyoureporttotheCommanderofthe13thArmyabouttheChinesedocument
in your possession reporting the employment by the Japanese troops of means of
bacteriologicalwarfareintheChekangoperations?
Answer:Yes,IreportedtotheArmyCommanderandtotheChiefofStaff.
Question:Howdidtheyreacttoyourreport?
Answer:Theyreceivedmyinformation,signedthattheyhadreadthedocumentanddidnot
reactinanyway.
Question: Who, concretely, contaminated* with plague germs the locality that was
mentionedintheChinesedocument?
Answer:Ididnotwitnessthisoperation,buttheconferenceconvenedbyGeneralIshiiand
theCommanderofthe13thArmyonAugust24or25,thefactthatIshiileftthreeofficersof
Detachment731withthe13thArmy,andlastly,thefactthataspecialantiepidemicservice
group from the Nanking Detachment Ei was attached to the 13th Army—all this gives me
groundfordrawingtheconclusionthatthisoperationwasconductedbythemembersofthe
Nanking Detachment, under the general direction of Major General Ishii and under the
immediatedirectionoftheofficersheleftbehind.
StateProsecutor:Ihavenomorequestionstoputtothewitness.
PresidentoftheCourt:Inadditiontothewitnesseswhohavebeenexamined,thewitnesses
Kanazawa,Mineoi,SakurashitaandFukuzumihavebeensummonedtotheCourtsession.In
view~of the fact that the circumstances concerning which these witnesses were summoned
have been sufficiently cleared up and that the examination of these witnesses would be
superfluous, the Military Tribunal, in conformity with Art. 394 of the Code of Criminal
316
ProcedureoftheR.S.F.S.R.,rules:nottoexaminetheaforesaidwitnesses.
TheCourtwillnowhearthefindingsoftheexperts.Theexperts'writtenfindingswillat
the same time be translated through the transmitter into Japanese for the benefit of the
accused.
Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the U.S.S.R. Zhukov-Verezhnikov is
calledupontoreadthewrittenfindingsoftheexperts.
(ExpertZhukov-Verezhnikovreadstheexperts'
findings,whichareplacedintherecordofthe
Courtsession.*)
*Seepp.395-404.
President of the Court: Comrade State Prosecutor, have you any questions to put to the
experts?
StateProsecutor:TheStateProsecutionhasnoquestionstoputtotheexperts.
PresidentoftheCourt:Defence,haveyouanyquestionstoputtotheexperts?
CounselBorovik:Thedefencehasnoquestionstoputtotheexperts.
PresidentoftheCourt:Interpreter,explaintotheaccusedthattheparties,thatis,theState
Prosecutionandthedefence,havenotputsupplementaryquestionstotheexperts.
(Theinterpretertranslatestheexplanationofthe
PresidentoftheTribunalintoJapanese.)
Accused,haveanyofyousupplementaryquestionstoputtotheexperts?
Interpreter:Yes.
PresidentoftheCourt:Whichoftheaccusedhasquestionstoput?
Interpreter:AccusedSatoShunji.
President of the Court: Accused Sato, step up to the microphone. Tell theCourt what
supplementaryquestionsyouhavetoputtotheexperts.
AccusedSato:IbegtoamendthestatementconcerningtheoutputcapacityofDetachment
317
Ei 1644. I must say that it produced not plague germs 10 kilograms—plague germs perish
quickly—butofthosegermsthatcaneasilybestored—typhoid,paratyphoidandothers.
PresidentoftheCourt:ExpertZhukov-Verezhnikov.Whatisyouropinionconcerningthe
statementofaccusedSato?
ExpertZhukov-Verezhnikov:Theexpertswilldiscussthematterandsubmittheiropinion
later.
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedSato,yourstatementwillbeexaminedbytheexpertsand
you will be informed of the results. Sit down, accused Sato. Have the other accused any
questionstoput?
Interpreter:AccusedKarasawahasaquestion.
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedKarasawa,stepuptothemicrophone.TelltheCourtwhat
supplementaryquestionyouhavetoputtotheexperts.
AccusedKarasawa:Itoobegtoamendthefindingsofthecommitteeofexpertsconcerning
the output capacity of Detachment 731. There is a passage which says that the detachment
usuallyproducedupto300kilogramsofbacteriaamonth.Butthatwasnotusual.Thiswas
possibleonlyunderoptimalconditions,ifthedetachment'sequipmentwereusedtoitsutmost
capacity. Usually, however, only a third of this quantity was produced, 300 kilograms of
bacteriawasnotproduced.
PresidentoftheCourt:Experts,pleasetakethisstatementintoconsideration.
Expert Zhukov-Verezhnikov: Accused Karasawa did not sufficiently well understand the
translation. In our findings it says: "Accused Karasawa stated during the investigation that
thiscapacitycouldberaisedtoanoutputof300kilogramsofgermsamonth."
Accused Karasawa: If that means that it was possible to raise it to that quantity, then I
agree,Isimplymisheardthen.
PresidentoftheCourt:Thatispreciselythemeaningofthatstatementinthefindings.
AccusedKarasawa:Inthatcase,Ihavenoquestions.
PresidentoftheCourt:Sitdown,accusedKarasawa.Arethereanyotherquestions?
Interpreter:Therearenomorequestions.
PresidentoftheCourt:TheCourtasksthepartieswhethertheywishtoaddanythingtothe
Courtinvestigation.
318
State Prosecutor: In conformity with Art. 303 of the Code of Criminal Jrocedure of the
R.S.F.S.R.,theStateProsecutionrequeststhattheTribunalreadanumberofdocumentsin
the case. In particular, the State Prosecution requests the Court to read the depositions of
witnessYamagishi(Vol.2,p.174)andofwitnesslijima(Vol.6,p.242).
Furthermore, I request that the Court read Operations Order of the Kwantung Army No.
659-Hei, filed in Vol. 15, p. 35. I also request that the Order of the Field Railway
AdministrationoftheKwantungArmyNo.176,filedinVol.15,p.37,beread.
Furthermore,IrequestthattheCourtreadtheexcerptsfromthestenographicrecordofthe
meetingoftheCentralDefenceCommitteeofso-calledManchukuo(Vol.22,p.3).
The State Prosecution requests that the Tribunal also read an excerpt, of material
importanceasproof,fromchapterthreeofthemanualonsabotageraidwarfaretacticsissued
by the 2nd Land Forces Division of the Japanese Imperial Headquarters, dated January 20,
1944(Vol.22,p.24).Lastly,IrequestthattheCourtcertifythattheinstructiontoemploy
sabotage detachments, on pages 28-29, Vol. 22, issued by the Japanese Imperial
Headquarters,containsareferencetobacteria"pistolsprayers"ofthefountain-pentype.
ThisisallthatIapplyfortotheTribunalasregardssupplementaryCourtinvestigation.
(TheProsecutor'sapplicationistranslatedinto
Japanese.)
PresidentoftheCourt:TheMilitaryTribunalrulesthatthedepositionsoflijima,whowas
examinedasawitnessonOctober20,1949,beread.Theaccusedmaysimultaneouslyhear
thewitness'depositionsinJapanese.
(Witness*depositionsaresimultaneouslyreadin
Japanese.*)
The depositions of Yamagishi Kenji of October 21,1949, will be read. The accused may
alsohearthesedepositionsinJapanesethroughthetransmitter.
(ThedepositionsarereadinJapanese.**)
TheOperationsOrderoftheKwantungArmyNo.659Heiwillberead.
(TheorderisalsoreadinJapanese.***)
TheorderoftheFieldRailwayAdministrationoftheKwantungArmyofJuly26,1940,
willberead.
StateProsecutor:Irequestthatinthisorderthenotetoitbereadstatingthatthewaybill
shows the following route: Pingfan-Harbin-Hsinching-Mukden-Shanhaikwan-TientsinShanghai.
319
*Seepp.143-46.
**Seepp.147-50.
***Seepp.203-04.
PresidentoftheCourt:TheorderandthenotewillbereadinJapanese.*
Thefollowingdocumentisread:"SabotageRaidWarfareTactics."
ThisdocumentisalsoreadinJapanese.**
OntheapplicationoftheStateProsecution,theCourtcertifiesthatVolume22,pages2829,containsaninstructiontoemploysabotagedetachmentsdrawnupbythe2ndLandForces
DivisionofImperialHeadquartersonJanuary20,1944.Initthereisareferenceto"pistolsprayersofthefountain-pentype."
ComradeStateProsecutor,haveyouanymoreapplicationstomake?
StateProsecutor:No.
President of the Court: Defence, what applications have you as regards supplementary
Courtinvestigation?
CounselBorovik:ThedefencehasnothingtoaddtotheCourtinvestigation.
President of the Court: Accused, have you any applications to make as regards
supplementingtheCourtinvestigation?
Interpreter:Theaccusedask,howisthistobeunderstood,whatapplicationsaremeant?
President of the Court: Do they wish to read any documents, supplement their
explanations, read the depositions of witnesses whom the Court has not examined, but
depositionsknowntotheaccused?
(TheinterpretertranslatesthePresident'sexplanationintoJapanese.)
AccusedYamada:Ihaveonesupplementarystatementtomake.
President of the Court: Accused Yamada, step up to the microphone. What application
haveyoutomake?
320
AccusedYamada:IwanttomakeageneralsummaryofallthatIhaveheardhere,atthe
Courtsession,andatthepreliminaryinvestigation.
*Seepp.211-13.**Seep.191.
Presidentof the Court: Interpreter,explain to accused Yamada that hecan do that in his
finalplea,whichhewillbeabletomakelater.Atpresentwewishtoknowwhetherthereare
anyapplicationsforsupplementaryinvestigation,thereadingofdepositions,andsoforth.
(TheinterpretertellsaccusedYamadawhatthe
PresidentoftheCourthadsaid.)
AccusedYamada:Iunderstand.
PresidentoftheCourt:Sitdown,accusedYamada.
Medicolegalexperts,pleasegiveusyouropiniononaccusedSato'sapplication.
ExpertZhukov-Verezhnikov:.WehaveexaminedaccusedSato'sapplication.Thefindings
inthispartshouldread:"judgingfromthetestimonyofaccusedSato,"andnot"accordingto
thetestimonyofaccusedSato."
PresidentoftheCourt:Translatetheexplanationofthemedicolegalexperts.
(Theexperts'explanationistranslatedintoJapanese.)
AccusedSato,doyouunderstandtheexplanationgivenbytheexperts?
Accused Sato: If you delete from the text of your findings the words "plague germs" 10
kilograms,Iwillthenhavenoobjection.Itmustbeunderstoodas10kilogramsofbacteria,
butnotofplaguebacteria.
PresidentoftheCourt:AccusedSato,theCourtwilltakeyourstatementintoconsideration
andwilldiscussit.Pleasesitdown.
FindingsoftheExperts
FINDINGS
OF THE MEDICOLEOAL EXPERTS ON THE QUESTIONS DEFINED BY THE
MILITARY TRIBUNAL AT THE TRIAL OF THE CRIMINAL CASE OF FORMER
321
SERVICEMENOFTHEJAPANESEARMYYAMADAOTOZOO,KAJITSUKARYUJI,
TAKAHASHI TAKAATSU, KAWASHIMA KIYOSHI, SATO SHUNJI, KARASAWA
TOMIO, NISHI TOSHIHIDE, ONOUE MASAO, HIRAZAKURA ZENSAKU AND
OTHERS,
CHARGED
WITH
MANUFACTURING
AND
EMPLOYING
BACTERIOLOGICALWEAPONS
We, the undersigned: Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the U.S.S.R.
Zhukov-Verezhnikov,N.N.;ColoneloftheMedicalServiceKrasnov,V.D.;Directorof
theDepartmentofMicrobiologyoftheKhabarovskMedicalInstitute,ProfessorKosarye
v,N.N.;decentintheDepartmentofMicrobiologyoftheKhabarovskMedicalInstitute,Li
vkina,E.G.;LieutenantColoneloftheVeterinaryServiceA1exandrov,N.A.;and
parasitologist Kozlovskaya, O. L., on the basis of the ruling of the Military Tribunal of
December28,1949,havingbeenpresentatthetrialandhavingacquaintedourselveswiththe
materialsofthepreliminaryinvestigationoftheafore-mentionedcase,findasfollowsonthe
questionsformulatedintheafore-mentionedruling:
I. Question: What was the object of the experimental and production activities of
detachments731and100oftheJapaneseKwantungArmyandofDetachmentEi1644ofthe
JapaneseExpeditionaryArmyinChina?
Answer:Theobjectoftheexperimentalandproductionworkcarried on by detachments
731,100and1644,byitsspecificcharacterandspecialcontent,wastodeviseandproduce
bacteriologicalweapons,andalsotostudymethodsofemployingthem.
Thisfindingisbasedonthefollowingdata:
1.Theworkconductedbydetachments731,100and1644wasbasedontheutilizationfor
aggressivewarpurposestheabilityofdiseasegermstobreedquicklyandtospreadamong
human beings, animals and vegetation. The entire trend of the research work of these
detachments was of a special character incompatible with the aims of humane science and
diametricallyoppositetothoseaims.
Whereas the efforts of medicinal microbiology are directed towards the creation of
immunity,towardslesseningthevirulenceandtoxicalnatureofmicrobes,theaforementioned
detachmentsoftheJapaneseArmyintensivelyengagedinincreasingthepathologicalaction
ofmicroorganisms.
Whereas epidemiologists have been for centuries studying and devising methods to stop
and prevent epidemics, these detachments devised methods artificially to cause and spread
epidemics.
Whereas the object of sanitation is to remove factors that facilitate the development of
diseases, these detachments studied, bred and dispersed tens of millions of plaguecarrying
fleas.
Whereastheagriculturalandveterinarysciences,asaresultofimmenselabour,ensurean
increaseincropsofusefulplantsandofherdsofusefulanimals,thesedetachmentsdevised
322
methods of destroying rye and wheat crops and also cows, horses and sheep, and even set
themselvestheaimofpermanentlycontaminatingthesoilwithanthraxintheendeavourto
maketheveryearthalmostunusablebyman.
2.Thedetachmentsstudiedthepathologicalactionofdifferentkindsofmicrobesforthe
purposeofchoosingthekindsthatwouldbemosteffectiveforbacteriologicalwarfare.
In the course of this study, extensive, inhuman experiments were performed on living
peoplewhowerekeptinaprisonespeciallybuiltforthispurposeandthewardenofwhich
wasa"scientificresearcher."
3.Thedetachmentsstudiedanddevisedmethodsofintensivelybreedinglargequantitiesof
disease microbes. These methods were later employed in the cultivation of microbes on a
massscaleinthepracticalprocessofmanufacturingbacteriologicalweapons.
The possibility that these bacteria substances were intended for the purpose of
manufacturingvaccinesisabsolutelyprecluded.Itischaracteristicthatinutilizingthespecial
IshiiShirocultivators,itwasdifficult,astheaccusedhavetestified,toensurethesterilitythat
was absolutely necessary if that apparatus were intended for producing vaccines. Other
specificfeaturesoftheproductionofbacteriasubstancesbythedetachmentsincontrovertibly
prove that it was intended for the purpose of conducting bacteriological warfare. A most
importantfeaturewastheculminatingphaseofproduction.Theproductioncycleendedwith
the output of virulent microbes, which were not killed, as would have been done in the
productionofvaccines,forexample,butweregivenoutaliveandwereusedforartificially
infectingpeopleonamassscale.
4. The research and production work conducted by Detachment 731 in the breeding of
fleasandtheirsubsequentinfectionwithplague,consideringtheenormousscaleonwhichit
wasconductedanditsverycharacter,cannotbeconnectedwithanykindofscientificmedical
work, and could have the sole object of manufacturing bacteriological weapons for the
purposeoftheinhumanexterminationofpeopleonamassscale.
Scienceisawareofthebiologicalphenomenonofthenaturaladaptabilityofplaguegerms
to lengthy existence and even to breeding in the organisms of fleas. The detachments used
thisphenomenonforaggressivewarpurposes.FromthematerialsoftheCourtinvestigation
itisevidentthatdetachments731and1644utilizedfleasonthebasisofthe"theory"ofthe
ideologistofbacteriologicalwarfare,IshiiShiro,fromwhichitfollowsthatinthiscasethe
fleas served to protect the plague germs from the action of external environment factors.
According to this "theory," the germs, being within the organisms of the fleas, thereby
acquired,asitwere,aliving,protectiveintegument.Attackinghumanbeingswheninsearch
of food, the plague-infected fleas bit them and thereby infected them. Thus, the fleas were
intendedforthepurposeofpreservingthegerms,ofcarryingthem,andofdirectlyinfecting
humanbeings.
The experts affirm that Detachment 731, under the direction of Ishii Shiro, devised
methods for the mass breeding of fleas, for their subsequent infection with plague and
utilizationforwarpurposes.
323
5. The object of the experimental work conducted by detachments 731 and 100 is also
sufficientlyclearlyindicatedbysuchworkasthedevisingofbacteriaaerialbombs,artillery
shellsandcontrivancesforsprayingbacteriaandfleasfromaircraft,andthestudyofmethods
ofcontaminatingwatersources,food,fodderandthesoil.
6. Detachment 100 conducted research for the purpose of devising the most effective
methodsofinfectingcattleandagriculturalplants.Forthispurposethedetachmentusedthe
germs of anthrax, glanders and of other diseases that affect animals and vegetation. This
detachmentalsoperformedexperimentsincontaminatingthesoilwithanthraxgermsforthe
purposeofmakingthissoilunfitforagriculturalusebyman.
7.Alltheresearchworkindicatedintheaforegoingpointsculminatedintheperformance
ofexperimentsonaprovinggroundwiththeobjectoftestingtheeffectivenessofthegiven
typeofbacteriologicalweapon,ormethodofemployingit.Intheprocessofperformingthese
experiments, as well as under laboratory conditions, living people were used as "objects of
experiment."Abacteriologicalweaponwasdeemedfitfortestingunderwarconditionsifthe
employment of this weapon on the proving ground already led to the achievement of the
criminalaim,namely,theforcibleinfectionanddeathofhumanbeings.Inthiswaybombs
containingplagueandanthraxgermsweretested,andtheeffectivenessofbombscontaining
plague-infectedfleaswasstudied.Typesofbacteriologicalweaponsapprovedafterprovinggroundtestsweretriedunderwarconditions.
Thus,theobjectofthedetachments''productionandexperimentalworkwastostudyand
producebacteriologicalweaponsandtostudymethodsofemployingthemforthepurposeof
conductingaggressivebacteriologicalwarfare.
II. Question: What was the production potential of these detachments for supplying the
JapaneseArmywithbacteriologicalweapons?
Answer:ForsupplyingtheJapaneseArmywithbacteriologicalweapons,thedetachments'
productionpotentialwaslarge.
Thisfindingisbasedonthefollowingdata:
1. For the mass breeding of disease germs, Detachment 731 possessed special
bacteriologicalapparatusoflargeoutputcapacitythatenableditinshortperiodsoftimeto
breed enormous quantities of microbes, such as the germs of plague, cholera, typhoid,
anthraxandothers.
Judging from the testimony of accused Karasawa concerning the output capacity of the
chief link in Detachment 731 's equipment for breeding microbes, namely, the boilers for
preparingculturemedia,theexpertscalculatethatinoneordinaryproductioncycle,lasting
onlyafewdays,theseandotherequipmentinthepossessionofthedetachmentcouldensure
theoutputofnolessthan30,000,000billionsofmicrobesofaveragebreedingintensity.The
expertsemphasizethatsuchaquantityofmicrobes,consideringtheshortperiodrequiredfor
itsproductionandtheultimatepurposeofthe"product,"mustberegardedasexceptionally
large. By using the boilers for preparing culture media to full capacity and by speeding up
324
production the detachment could, in one production cycle, produce 40,000,000 billions of
microbesandmore,dependinguponthekindofmicrobe.
Obtainingenormousquantitiesofbacteriaforthemanufactureofbacteriologicalweapons,
themembersofthedetachmentsmeasuredthesequantitiesinkilograms,andthisreferstothe
weight of the thick creamy bacteria substance taken directly from the surface of the hard
culturemedium.Thus,indefiningtheoutputcapacityofDetachment731,accusedKarasawa
statedduringthepreliminaryinvestigationthatthiscapacitycouldberaisedtoanoutputof
300kilogramsofplaguegermsamonth.Anotheraccused,Kawashima,alsodeposedthatthe
detachment". . . could manufacture as much as 300 kilograms of plague bacteria monthly."
Both these accused confirmed these figures during the Court investigation, and it was also
affirmedthatthedetachmentcouldproduceeverymonthanthraxgerms800-900kilograms,
andcholeragerms1,000kilograms.Ananalysisofthedetachment'smonthlyoutputcapacity
revealedthatthesystemofarrangingtheequipmentmadeitpossiblegreatlytoincreasethe
tempo of production in a given period of time. This feature of the production system was
undoubtedly connected with the specifically war character of Detachment 731's work. In
conformity with this, the arrangement of the equipment and its quantity could enable
Detachment 731 to carry out several production cycles simultaneously, which brought the
detachment's monthly output capacity to many hundred million billions of bacteria of even
averagebreedingrapidity.
TheoutputcapacityofDetachmentEi1644wasslightlyless.Judgingfromtheevidence
given by accused Sato, it can be taken that this detachmertt could produce no less than 10
kilogramsofplaguegermsinaproductioncycle.Detachment100alsopossessedequipment
ofsufficientoutputcapacityforbreedinggermsofanimalandplantdiseases.
2.Detachment731'sproductionpotentialforthebreedingoffleaswasdeterminedbyits
possessionof4,500"fleanurseries"(incubators)whichservedthepurposeofbreedingfleas.
Theseincubators made it possiblein short periods of time toobtain scores of kilograms of
fleas,whichisequaltomanytensofmillionsoffleas,whichwereinfectedwithplaguewith
theobjectofusingthemasbacteriologicalweapons.
Theactual"output"ofDetachment731equalled45kilogramsoffleasinthecourseof3-4
months. It must be noted that, on the average, 45 kilograms of fleas could contain about
145,000,000 specimens of these parasites. The detach ment's potential in this respect was
larger, however, for in 1945, its Chief, Ishii Shiro, planned to raise the output of plagueinfectedfleasto60,andlater,to200kilogramsinthesameperiodoftime.Detachment1644
also possessed a large flea-breeding potential. Both these detachments had a network of
branches with hundreds of members who were employed in catching wild rodents, which
servedforthemaintenanceoffleasandforbreedingtheseparasites.
3. For the purpose of testing the effectiveness of the bacteriological weapons they
manufactured,thedetachmentswereabletouseaprovingground,anaerodrome,andaircraft,
andtospendlargesumsofmoneyonexperimentalwork.
TheCommandoftheKwantungArmyallowedthedetachmentswidescopeforconducting
withincrediblecruelty"experiments"onhundredsandthousandsof"humanexperimentees"
whowerekeptinDetachment731'sprison.Inthisprison,andalsoontheprovingground,
325
about3,000peoplewerekilledbyforcibleinfectionandothermethods.
Thus, the potential of detachments 731, 100 and 1644 for producing and testing
bacteriological weapons was exceptionally large, and was placed at the disposal of the
detachmentsforthepurposeofmostfullysupplyingtheJapanesetroopswithbacteriological
weapons.
III.Question:Whatdegreeofdangerwasthereinthebacteriologicalattackscarriedoutby
Detachment731indistrictsofCentralChinain1940,1941and1942?
Answer:ThedegreeofdangerintheattackscarriedoutbyDetachment731indistrictsof
CentralChinain1940,1941and1942wasverygreat,duebothto the choice of microbes
employed— the germs of dangerous infections, and to the method of spreading these
microbesinthebacteriologicalattacks.
Thisfindingisbasedonthefollowingdata:
ThemanyyearsofpreparationforbacteriologicalwarfareconductedbyDetachment731
headed by Ishii Shiro, went beyond the limits of purely experimental work and led to the
possibility of employing bacteriological weapons in practice. In conformity with this,
Detachment731sentoutmilitaryexpeditionstoemploybacteriologicalweaponsinanumber
ofdistrictsinChina.
Inl940, a military expedition of Detachment 731, under the personal direction of Ishii
Shiro, was sent into China, in the region of Nimpo, supplied with bacteria substances, the
germs of typhoid and cholera, and also with a large quantity of plagueinfected fleas. As a
resultoftheemploymentofinfectedfleasbyscatteringthemfromanaeroplane,anepidemic
ofplague broke out intheregion of Nimpo. Thetechnicalfeatures of the organization and
actionsofthisexpeditionpointtotheextensivescaleonwhichthemassinfectionofpeople
wascarriedout.Bearinginmindthewartimeconditionsandthemigrationofinhabitantsdue
tothem,theactivitiesofthisexpedition,especiallythespreadingofplague,mustbedeemed
tohavebeenextremelydangerousforthepopulationnotonlyintheregionofNimpobutof
manyoftheadjacentdistrictsofChina.
A similar expedition was sent out in 1941 to the region of Changteh, where the locality
was infected with plagueinfected fleas scattered from an aeroplane. The danger created by
thisexpeditionwasnolessthanthatcreatedbytheprecedingone.
In1942,Detachment731,assistedbyDetachment1644,sentanothermilitaryexpedition,
alsoheadedbyIshiiShiro,intoCentralChina.Inthiscase,themainobjectwasinfectionon
land for the purpose of creating an infected zone for the advancing Chinese troops. Here,
watersourcesandfoodwerecontaminatedwithtyphoidandparatyphoidgerms,andplagueinfected fleas were also spread. Analyzing the specific features of the actions of this
expedition,theexpertsemphasizethatinthiscasetoo,thedangerwasverygreat,particularly
fortheChinesecivilianpopulation.OntheretreatoftheJapanesetroopspublicwatersources
and the homes of the local inhabitants were contaminated, and food products infected with
typhoid and paratyphoid germs were distributed. Consequently, with this method of
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employingbacteriologicalweapons,thefirsttobeaffectedwerethecivilianpopulation,and
thentheadvancingChinesetroopswhocameintocontactwiththispopulation.
Thus,thedegreeofdangerintheattackscarriedoutbyDetachment731wasvery great
owingtothe mass dissemination of the germs of exceptionally dangerous diseases during
movementsofinhabitantsandtroops,andalsotothediversityinthemethodsofemploying
thisweapon.
IV. Question: What might have been the consequences of the employment of the
bacteriologicalweaponsproducedbydetachments731,100andEi1644?
Answer: The employment of the bacteriological weapons produced by detachments
731,100andEi1644mighthavecausedepidemicsthreateningtroopsaswellasthecivilian
population,particularlywomen,childrenandtheaged. The dimensions of these epidemics
would have been determined by, apart from other factors, the standard of sanitation and
medicalserviceoftheobjectsofattack.
Thisfindingisbasedonthefollowingdata:
Thespecificepidemiologicalfeaturesofinfectiousdiseasesofmansuchas,forexample,
plagueandcholera,aretheirrapidspreadoverawidearea,theirseverityandhighmortality
amongtheinhabitantsofthetownsandvillagesaffected.Dangerousanimaldiseasessuchas
cattle plague and, under certain circumstances, anthrax, are analogous for their tendency to
spreadrapidly.Forthepurposeofcausingeconomicdamage,thedetachments,inadditionto
bacteriologicalweaponsfordestroyingdomesticatedanimals,devisedmethodsfordestroying
agricultural crops. The history of natural outbreaks of epidemics in the past contains
numerous cases of devastating epidemics caused by the very same germs of infectious
diseases that were chosen by these detachments of the Japanese Army as bacteriological
weapons.
It must be emphasized that under natural conditions, some of the germs used by the
detachmentspossesstheabilitytocreate,underdefiniteconditions,moreorlesspermanent
seatsofinfectiousdiseases,whichhavenowbeenliquidatedorrestrictedbytheprogressof
science,andwhichtheaccusedtriedtocreateanew.
Thus, the Japanese bacteriological detachments 731, 100 and 1644, when devising
bacteriologicalweapons,countedontheemploymentoftheseweaponscausingtheextensive
spreadofdevastatingepidemicsandthedeathofmassesofpeople.Therealizationofthese
intentionswouldhavecreatedamenacealsoforneutralcountries, which follows from the
verynatureofepidemicdiseasesandthemannerinwhichtheyspread.
MemberoftheAcademy
ofMedicalSciencesoftheUSSR
(ZHUKOV-VEREZHNIKOV,N.N.)
327
ColoneloftheMedicalService
(KRASNOV,V.D.)
DirectoroftheDepartmentofMicrobiology
oftheKhabarovskMedicalInstitute
Professor(KOSARYEV,N.N.)
DocentintheDepartmentofMicrobiology
oftheKhabarovskMedicalInstitute
(LIVKINA,E.G.)
LieutenantColoneloftheVeterinaryService
(ALEXANDROV,N.A.)
Parasitologist
(KOZLOVSKAYA,0.L.)
December29,1949
SpeechbytheStateProsecutor
EVENINGSITTINGOFDECEMBER29
President of the Court: I pronounce the Court investigation in the case concluded. The
Courtwillnowhearthesides.
The speech of the State Prosecutor and the speeches of the defence counsels will be
transmittedinJapanesefortheaccused.
TheaccusedmaylistentothesespeechesinJapanese.
The State Prosecutor, State Counsellor of Jurisprudence of the Third Class Comrade
Smirnov,willnowspeak.
TheStateProsecutordeliversaspeech,whichisappendedtotherecord.
SimultaneouslythespeechistransmittedinJapanese.
SPEECHBYTHESTATEPROSECUTOR,
328
STATECOUNSELLOROFJURISPRUDENCE
OFTHETHIRDCLASSL.N.SMIRNOV
1.SignificanceoftheTrial
ComradesJudges,MembersoftheMilitaryTribunal,
Thesignificanceofthecasewhichyouhaveinvestigated
socarefullyduringthepastfewdaysextendsfarbeyondthe
limitsofestablishingthepersonalguiltandofdefiningthe
degreeofresponsibilityofthecriminalsinthedefendants'box.
It is indisputable that a single chain of most heinous crimes against peace and humanity
binds General Yamada, the former Commander of the Japanese Kwantung Army, with the
executors of the vile plans of the Japanese militarists—the bacteriologists of the special,
secretunitsoftheKwantungArmy.
But,ashasbeenestablishedduringtheCourtinvestigation,thischaindoesnotbreakoffin
the defendants' box. The bacteriological warfare that was planned and prepared for by
criminal Japanese imperialism was part of a general conspiracy of aggression against the
peacefulnations.FormanyyearsimperialistJapanwastheprincipalseatofaggressioninthe
FarEast.
AttheinternationaltrialofthemajorJapanesewarcriminalsthatendedinTokyoin1948,
itwasmostclearlyestablishedthatformanyyearsJapanhadengagedinpreparationsforan
attack upon the Soviet Union. In the verdict of the International Military Tribunal it is
written: "The Tribunal is of the opinion that a war of aggression against the U.S.S.R. was
contemplatedandplannedthroughouttheperiodunderconsideration(i.e.,from1928),thatit
wasoneoftheprincipalelementsofJapan'snationalpolicyandthatitsobjectwastheseizure
of territories of the U.S.S.R. in the Far East." Instigated by the huge Japanese monopolist
combines,theso-calledzaibatsu,whichhadmergedwiththemilitaryfeudalupperclassofthe
country,theJapaneseimperialists,inanticipation,"included"theSovietFarEast,andeven
"SiberiauptotheUrals,"intheso-called"GreaterEastAsiaCo-ProsperitySphere."
But it is one thing to "plan" aggression against theU.S.S.R. in the offices of the General
Staff,inthelaboratoriesoftheImperialInstituteofTotalWar,orinthespecialcommitteesof
the notorious "research society" of the Japanese imperialists, the so-called "Koku-sakukenkyu-kai";tocarryoutsuchaggressionisanotherthing.
TheJapaneseGeneralStaffdraftedandredraftedaggressiveplansofwaragainsttheSoviet
Unionmanytimes,and,ofcourse,itwasnotduetotheJapanesegenerals'loveofpeace,orto
thehumanityoftheJapanese"zaibatsu"whowerereadytocommitanycrimeforthesakeof
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anextrapercentofprofit,thattheexecutionoftheseplanswaspostponed.
PeaceintheSovietFarEastwasmaintainedonlyasaresultofthegeniusofStalin'spolicy,
as a result of the victorious consummation of the Stalin five-year plans, as a result of the
vigilant concern displayed by the Bolshevik Party and the Soviet Government for the
strengtheningoftheSovietArmedForces.
ImperialistJapandidnotceasetoprepareforanaggressivewaragainsttheU.S.S.R.
TheinvasionandoccupationofManchuriain1931markedanewstageinthedevelopment
ofJapaneseaggression.FortheJapaneseimperialists,militaryoccupationwasnotanendin
itself; it was a step in preparation for the seizure of new territories and for new acts of
aggression. Manchuria was for them a most important base for an attack upon the Soviet
UnionandfortheinvasionofChina.
Thatiswhy,afterseizingManchuria,fromtheveryfirstdaysoftheirruleinthatcountry,
theybegantoprepareitasthebaseofattackuponourMotherland.
In Manchuria they concentrated the major striking force of Japanese imperialism—the
KwantungArmy.ToManchuriatheysentthemostup-to-dateweaponsproducedbyJapanese
industry. The occupied country was covered with a dense network of aerodromes and
strategicalroads.And,astheCourtknows,itwasinManchuriathattheydisplayedthesecret
units of the Japanese Army that were preparing for bacteriological warfare—Japanese
imperialism'ssecretweapon.
In 1936 there definitely took shape the criminal conspiracy against peace, into which
imperialist Japan entered with Hitler Germany by concluding with her a militarypolitical
treatyofalliance,theso-calledAnti-CominternPact.
Sometimelater,fascistItalyjoinedit.
Thistreaty,aswasestablishedbytheTokyoInternationalTribunal,wasdirectedprimarily
againsttheU.S.S.R."Theanti-Cominternpact,"saystheverdictin
thecaseofthemajorJapanesewarcriminals,"servedas
abasisofJapan'spolicyvis-a-vistheU.S.S.R.in
subsequent years. This military alliance with Germany played an important part in Japan's
policyandpreparationsagainsttheU.S.S.R...."
It seemed to the Japanese ruling clique that its criminal designs to sever the Soviet
Primoryeregion,toseizetheSovietFarEast,andtoenslavethegreatChinesepeoplewere
nearingaccomplishment.
The Japanese Kwantung Army rapidly grew in numbers and was equipped with new
330
weapons.ManchuriawasconvertedintoanarsenalforwaragainsttheSovietUnion.
In1937,theJapanesemilitaristsprovokedtheso-called"MarcoPoloBridgeincident"and
invadedChina.
Like the preceding acts of aggression this act of aggression was performed without a
declaration of war. Right up to 1942, the sanguinary war in China, which carried away
millions of victims, was referred to in official Japanese sources as the "China incident," in
just the same way as the military occupation of Manchuria was called the "Manchuria
incident."
In 1938, the Japanese militarists attacked the Soviet Union in the area of Lake Hasan.
HostilitiesintheregionofZaozernayaHilllastedtendays.Duringthesetendaysofshort,
sharpfighting,thepickedJapaneseforcesthatwerethrownintoactionwereutterlyroutedby
the Soviet Army. This trial of strength turned out to be obviously unfavourable for the
Japanese militarists; they hastened to retreat and called this aggressive war which they had
launchedandlostthe"Changkufengincident."
In 1939, the Kwantung Army, on the orders of the Japanese General Staff, started war
against the Mongolian People's Republic and the Soviet Union in the area of river
KhalkhinGol.HostilitiescommencedinMay1939andcontinueduntilSeptember.Theywere
conducted by the best units of the Kwantung Army, backed by large masses of aircraft,
artillery and tanks. As a result of this fight, the Soviet and Mongolian armed forces
annihilatedalargepartoftheJapanesetroops.ImperialistJapanlostthewarintheareaof
Khalkhin-Gol,justasshehadlostthewarintheareaofLakeHasan.
Twice the Japanese imperialists launched aggressive war against the Soviet Union, and
twicetheyweredefeatedinopenbattleandfeltthecrushingweightoftheblowsstruckby
theSovietArmy.
NordidthisputastoptothecriminalpreparationsforaggressivewaragainsttheSoviet
Unionandotherpeacefulnationswiththeobjectofcreating"GreaterEastAsia,"aJapanese
colonial state in which the vanquished peoples were assigned the role of slaves doomed to
povertyandextinction.
Together with the Hitlerite cannibals, the Japanese imperialists dreamed of establishing
their rule over the world. To achieve this aim they made preparations to employ the most
painfulandinhumanmeansfortheexterminationofpeopleonamassscale.Theywantedto
establish their rule on the ruins of human civilization. In this criminal conspiracy against
peaceandhumanity,suchasthealliancebetweenHitlerGermanyandimperialistJapanwas,
bacteriologicalwarfarewasoneofthemeans,plannedbeforehand,fortheexterminationof
onepartofthepopulationoftheworldforthepurposeofcompletelyenslavingtheotherpart.
ThemastersofimperialistJapanfoundexecutorsoftheirvileplansinthepersonsofthe
corruptrepresentativesofreactionarybourgeoisscience.
Itiscommonknowledgethat,likechemicalandatomicweapons,bacteriologicalweapons
331
are means of aggressive war, and, moreover, exceptionally cruel and inhuman means,
principallybecausethevictimsofthesetypesofweaponsarecivilians—women,childrenand
theaged.
Thisisexactlywhy,incondemningaggressivewaringeneral,thewhole•ofprogressive
mankind particularly condemns bacteriological, chemical and atomic warfare, and demands
the prohibition of these means of warfare as being contrary to the elementary principles of
humanity.
This is exactly why the Soviet Union and the majority of other civilized states have
pledged themselves not to employ chemical and bacteriological weapons in war, and have
signed and ratified the Geneva Protocol of June 17, 1925, prohibiting the use in war of
asphyxiating,poisonandothergasesofthesamenature,andofbacteriologicalweapons.
Sincethefirstdaysofitsexistence,theSovietUnionhasbeenfightingundeviatinglyand
consistently for lasting, democratic peace. Being a genuine bulwark of peace and herald of
the ideas of socialist humanism, the Soviet Union, marching at the head of the democratic
forces of the world, emphatically repudiates the employment of inhuman means of mass
extermination.Thisisexactlywhy,despitealltheeffortsoftheinstigatorsofanewwarin
the Anglo-American bloc, the Soviet Union has been for a number of years striving in the
UnitedNationsorganizationtosecuretheabsoluteprohibitionofatomicweapons.
ThistrialhasshownthattheJapanesemilitaristswereengagedinmostactivepreparations
forbacteriologicalwarfare,thattheysoughtthemosteffectiveweaponsforsuchwarfareand
themethodsofemployingthem.
In preparing to conduct bacteriological warfare, Japanese imperialism created highcapacitybacteriologicalequipment.LiketheHitlerites,theJapanesemilitaristsutilizedmost
up-to-datetechnology,whichshouldhaveservedtopromotetheprogressofmankind,forthe
purposeofpainfullyexterminatinghumanbeings.
Inthereportofthemedicolegalexpertsitisespeciallystated:"Itisnecessarytoemphasize
that some of the germs utilized by the detachments possess the power, under natural
conditions,toformmoreorlessstableseatsofinfectiousdiseaseswhichhavebeenliquidated
orrestrictedbytheprogressofscience,andwhichtheaccusedtriedartificiallytorevive."
Thus, these miscreants, some of whom are in this defendants' box, tried to turn mankind
backtothetimesofthepestilence,tothefatalepidemicsofcholeraandplague,tothedarkest
periodsoftheMiddleAges.
One's attention cannot help being drawn to the similarity in the methods of destroying
humanbeingsonamassscaleemployedbytheHitleritewarcriminalsandbytheJapanese
imperialists. Nor can one's attention help being drawn to the blasphemous desecration of
science,tothemockingofitshumaneprinciples,whichiscommontotheviledeedsofthe
HitleriteandoftheJapanesewarcriminals.
When,insinglecombatwithHitleriteGermany,thetroopsoftheSovietArmy,smashing
332
the enemy's resistance, marched westward, they met on their road the smoking ruins of
Tremblinka,thegaschambersatMajdanek,andtheincineratorsatOswiecim—theviledeath
industrythatwascalledintobeingbycriminalGermanfascism.
Inthespecial"medical"quartersattheseextermina
tioncamps,fascistphysician-experimenterstestedontheirhelplessvictimslethal,infectious
andpoisonoussubstances,theysubjectedlivingpeopletoslowfreezinginicebaths,andput
people to a painful death in pressure chambers. In the laboratories of the Poznan
Bacteriological Institute, the Hitlerite bacteriologists cultivated the bacteria of plague and
madepreparationsforemployingthebacteriologicalweaponagainstmillionsofcivilians;for
it is for the purpose of murdering the civilian population and causing them the direst
suffering, for the purpose of causing epidemics in the enemy's rear, that bacteriological
warfareisprimarilywaged.
ItwasonlythecrushingblowoftheSovietArmedForcesthatthensavedmankindfrom
the horrors of bacteriological warfare into which the Hitlerite miscreants were preparing to
plungetheworld.
And when, after the Hitler war machine was smashed, the Soviet Army, faithfully
performingitsdutyasanally,withaswiftblowshatteredthemajorstrikingforceofcriminal
Japanese imperialism—the Kwantung Army—it again saved mankind from the horrors of
bacteriologicalwarfare.
TwentykilometresfromHarbinaresituatedtheruinsoftheblown-upandguttedbuildings
ofalargemilitarycantonment.Ashasbeenestablishedbythepreliminaryinvestigationand
atthepresenttrial,thatcantonmentservedasthequartersofthespecialbacteriologicalunit
oftheKwantungArmy—Detachment731,or"theIshiiDetachment"—whichforanumber
of years had been systematically preparing for bacteriological warfare—beginning with the
selection of lethal infectious substances, testing them on thousands of helpless victims and
workingoutmethodsofcultivatingbacteria,andendingwiththemassproductionofallthat
isneededforwagingaggressivebacteriologicalwarfareonanimmensescale.
Weknowthat'GeneralYamada,theformerCommanderoftheKwantungArmyandnow
oneoftheaccusedatthistrial,wasoftheopinionthattheIshiiDetachmentwasinastateof
militarypreparednessandcapableofcarryingoutanyassignment.Weknowwhatthis"state
ofmilitarypreparedness"oftheIshiiDetachmentmeant.
From Yamada's testimony it is evident that the Japanese General Staff sanctioned three
chief methods of utilizing bacteria for war purposes: the spraying of bacteria from combat
aircraft, the dropping of special bacteria bombs from aircraft, and the infection of land of
inhabitedlocalities,watersources,pastures,etc.,onthelinesofbacteriologicalsabotage.
Bytheverynatureofthebacteriologicalweapon,itsareaofoperationisnotlimitedtothe
lines of the enemy's armed forces, or even to the territory of the country attacked. The
bacteriologicalwarfarestartedbytheJapaneseimperialistswouldhavecauseduntolddisaster
notonlytotheinhabitantsofthecountryattacked,butalsotothepeoplesofneutralcountries.
333
This was part of the wicked plan of the Japanese war criminals, for whom the neutral
countriesweretohavebeenobjectsofnewactsofaggression.
Thus, dreaming of world domination, of a "Greater East Asia" under Japan's hegemony,
therulingcliqueofimperialistJapanpreparedtoturnagainstmankinditsworstenemies—the
invisible world of the most dangerous bacteria. For the sake of these criminal expansionist
aims, hundreds of millions of fleas were bred in special chambers, and these fleas were to
havebeeninfectedwithplagueand,enclosedinspecialbombs,orsprayedfromaircraft,were
tohaveservedascarriersofinfection.Forthesakeofthiscriminalaim,high-capacityspecial
equipment was installed and in the course of one "production " cycle the 4th Division of
Detachment731producedscoresofkilogramsofbacteria—millionsofbillionsofmicrobes,
whichweretohavecontaminatedwatersourcesandpastures,weretohavebeenthrownonto
townsandvillagesandtohavecausedthedeathofthousandsandthousandsofcivilians.
For the sake of this criminal aim, Chinese patriots and Soviet people, manacled and
helpless in the hands of villainous experimenters, were doomed to a painful death, were
brutallymurderedintheinnerprisonoftheIshiiDetachment.
Forthesakeofthiscriminalaim,Chinesewomenandchildrenweredonetodeath,were
infectedwithcholeraandplague,duringtheIshiiDetachment'sexpeditioninChina.II.The
SpecialUnitsOrganizedbytheJapanese
ImperialiststoPrepareforandConduct
BacteriologicalWarfare
During this Court investigation the course of formation of special, secret bacteriological
units of the Japanese Army in Manchuria has been traced in the minutest detail and their
structure,purposeandpracticalpotentialitieshavebeenfullyestablished.
TheJapaneseArmybegantoprepareforthepurposeofconductingbacteriologicalwarfare
soonafteritseizedManchuria.
Atfirst,theJapanesemilitaristssetupasmallbacteriologicallaboratory,theheadofwhich
wastheJapanesearmybacteriologistIshiiShiro,whoalreadybeforethathadbeenengagedat
the Army Medical Academy in research on bacteriological weapons and was known in
militarycirclesasanardentadvocateofbacteriologicalwarfare.Fromthetestimonygivenby
the accused Kajitsuka, it is evident that from the very outset of his criminal activities Ishii
received the backing of the Strategical Division of the Japanese General Staff. All Ishii's
researcheswerewrappedinprofoundsecrecy.Sincehisverynamemighthaverevealedthe
purposeoftheworkconductedinthelaboratory,hechangedittoTogo,andhisinstitution
begantobecalledtheTogoDetachment.
FromthetestimonygivenbytheaccusedKarasawaitisevidentthatalreadyatthattime
Ishii was performing criminal experiments on living people, testing the effect of bacteria
uponChinesepartisanswhohadbeentakenprisonerbytheJapanese.
334
In 1936, at the request of the Japanese General Staff and by command of Emperor
Hirohito, high-capacity bases were organized for the purpose of carrying out the wicked
designs and criminal experiments which Ishii had hitherto conducted in his laboratory. In
Manchuria,twolargebacteriologicalunitswereformedandattachedtotheKwantungArmy
for the purpose of ensuring the mass production of bacteriological weapons to an amount
sufficienttoenabletheJapaneseArmytoconductbacteriologicalwarfareonabigscale.
During the course of a number of years the names of these bacteriological units were
changed. It goes without saying that the Japanese High Command could not call them by
theirrealnames,forthatwouldhaverousedindignationnotonlyamongpeoplethroughout
theworld,butalsoamongtheirownpeople.Thatiswhythebacteriologicaldeathfactories
were always masked as ordinary medical or veterinary institutions. Thus, Ishii's laboratory,
known as the Togo Detachment, grew into an enormous bacteriological warfare institute
bearing the innocent name of "The Water Supply and Prophylaxis Administration of the
KwantungArmy."
Sometimes this unit was called the Kamo Detachment. Later, it was given an ordinary
armyunitnumberandwascalledtheManchuriaDetachment731.Thesecondbacteriological
unit was at first called "The Hippo-Epizootic Administration of the Kwantung Army," and
later,Detachment100.
Both detachments had numerous branches. The Japanese High Command located these
branches according to a definite plan in the most important strategical directions in
conformity with the directions of the main drives laid down in the Japanese plan of war
against the Soviet Union. Evidence of this is provided by the order of the CommanderinChiefoftheKwantungArmy,GeneralUmezu,ofDecember2,1940,No.398/1-KO,which
figuresinthiscase,concerningtheformationoffournewbranchesofDetachment•731in
Hailin,Linkow,SunyuandHailar.
But, in concentrating the principal branches of the secret bacteriological units in the
directionsofthemaindrivesagainsttheSovietUnionaslaiddownintheirplansofwar,the
Japanese militarists, as has been fully established by the Court investigation, made
preparationsforbacteriologicalwarfarenotonlyagainsttheSovietUnion.
In 1940, the Ishii Detachment began to make bacteriological attacks upon the Chinese
troops, and during these attacks all types of bacteriological weapons were tested, including
thedisseminationofplague-infectedfleasfromaircraft,bacteriarain,contaminationofwater
sources,foodandinhabitedlocalitiesonthelinesofsabotagemethods.
Systematic preparations were made for waging bacteriological warfare against the
MongolianPeople'sRepublic.
Accused Yamada confirmed during the Court investigation that the Japanese Army
intended to rain lethal bacteria upon the peoples of other countries, in particular, upon the
peoplesandarmieswhowereatwarwithJapan,namely,theUnitedStatesandGreatBritain.
This is also confirmed by other proof that was submitted to the Court. In April 1945,
335
GeneralIshii,havingreceivedsecretordersfromtheJapaneseGeneralStafftoactivizethe
preparation of bacteriological weapons, stated definitely at an operations conference of the
leadingofficersofDetachment731thatbacteriologicalwarfareagainsttheU.S.A.andGreat
Britainwasinevitable.
Analyzing the situation in the South Seas, Ishii mentioned the date on which
bacteriologicalwarfarewastostart—1945,andhesaid:
"Wewillhavetoturntothelastresort,including
bacteriologicalweapons,inordertobringaboutaturn
infavourofJapan."
Asearlyas1943,Minata,aresearcherbelongingtoDetachment731,wassenttoprisonerof-war camps to test the properties of the blood and immunity to contagious diseases of
Americansoldiers.
Inthespringof1945,allthepreparationsforbacteriologicalwarfareconductedbyIshii's
detachmentwereturnedtowardsthemassproductionofbacteriologicalweaponsonascale
that can be explained only by the shortness of time that remained before the date of
commencingbacteriologicalwarfare.
ItwasonlytheroutoftheKwantungArmybytheSovietArmedForcesthatdeprivedthe
JapaneseimperialistsoftheopportunitytoemploybacteriologicalweaponsagainsttheAllied
Nations.
ThecriminalcharacteroftheactivitiesofthesecretbacteriologicalunitsoftheKwantung
Armyisprovednotonlybythetestimonyoftheaccusedandwitnesseswhowereexamined
duringtheCourtinvestigation,butalsobytheverystructureofdetachments731and100,by
theirspecialtechnicalequipmentandthescaleoftheiroperations.
Inthisrespect,Detachment731isparticularlycharacteristic.
Thiswasahigh-capacitymilitarybacteriafactorywithastaffofabout3,000scientificand
technicalworkers.
Problems connected with water supply and prophylaxis were only a screen to mask the
actualcharacteroftheIshiiDetachment'sactivities.
OnlyonedivisionofIshii'sdetachmentdealtwithprophylaxisandwatersupply,viz.,the
3rdDivision,which,asablind,wasquarteredinaconspicuouspartofthecityofHarbin,but
twentykilometresfromHarbin,intheregionoftheout-of-the-wayPingfanStation,therewas
erected a big military cantonment equipped with high-capacity special machines and
improvedapparatus;andalltheactivitiesconductedinthiscantonmentweredivertedtowards
devisingandmanufacturingsecretbacteriologicalweapons.
336
TheCourthadsubmittedtoitthecircularoftheChiefofStaffoftheKwantungArmy(No.
1539, dated 30-VI-1938), concerning the establishment of a special military zone in the
regionofPingfanStation.
TheentireactivitiesofDetachment731werewrappedinthestrictestsecrecy.Evenaircraft
werenotallowedtoflyinthevicinityofPingfanStation,where,accordingtoPar.1ofthe
afore-mentioned circular, the Ishii Detachment premises "of special military importance"
weresituated.InaccordancewithPar.4ofthecircular,aspecialairtrackandaprohibitedair
zonewereestablishedforaircraft.
TheIshiiDetachmentwasseparatedfromtheoutsideworldbyahighearthworkwallanda
barbed wire fence. The detachment's principal building was built in the form of a closed
quadranglewithinwhichwassituatedaprisonwhereinfamousexperimentsonhumanbeings
wereperformed.Therewasanundergroundpassagethatconnectedthisprisonwiththeplace
towhichthepeopledoomedtoapainfuldeathwerebroughtincoveredpolicewagons.
The inhabitants of the villages in the vicinity were kept under close scrutiny by the
gendarmerie.
Only members of the detachment supplied with passes were allowed to enter the
detachment's premises. Outsiders— even top-rank officers of the Japanese Army—were
allowed to enter the detachment's premises only with special passes signed by the
Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army. To avoid rousing suspicion and conjectures
among the surrounding population about the true character of the activities of Detachment
731,itsofficersdidnotweartheinsigniaoftheMedicalServicetowhichtheywereentitled,
butworetheordinaryarmyuniform.
DuringtheCourtinvestigationtheactivitiesofDetachment731wereinvestigatedindetail.
Noneofthedivisionsofthisdetachmentthatwashiddenfromtheoutsideworldbehindthe
walls of the military cantonment in the region of Pingfan Station had anything to do with
watersupplyorprophylaxis.
Thelst,research,Divisionwasengagedindevisingmeansforbacteriologicalwarfare.For
thispurpose,inspeciallaboratories,allsortsofresearchandexperimentswereconductedand
'typesofbacteriawerecultivatedsuchasintheopinionoftheJapanesebacteriologistscould
bemosteffectivelyemployedinwar.
The lst Division had under its charge the secret prison in which the people to be
experimented on were kept and where frightful experiments, which I will deal with later,
wereperformed.
The2nd,experimental,Divisionmadepracticaltestsoftheresultsoftheresearchesofthe
Research Division. For this purpose, the Experimental Division had at its disposal an
experimentalprovinggroundintheregionofAntaStation,andalsoaspecialaircraftunit.
The Experimental Division conducted research for devising bacteria shells for sending
bacteria to the enemy's side. It invented and tested ceramic bombs and special bacteria
337
artillery shells, and also special parachutes for dropping death-dealing loads from aircraft.
The members of this detachment devised models of special pistol sprayers, designed in the
formoffountainpensandwalkingsticks,withtheaidofwhichbacteriaweretobeconveyed
orplagueinfectedfleasdisseminated.Evidently,theseresearchesweresuccessful,forasearly
as1944,adraftrosterofweaponsfortheuseofasabotagegroupdrawnupbythe2ndLand
ForcesDivisionofJapaneseImperialHeadquarterscontainedpistolsprayersofthefountainpentypetobeissuedattherateoffourperplatoonandthreepercompanyheadquarters.
For the purpose of sabotage the Ishii Detachment made chocolates infected with the
bacteriaofanthrax.
The2ndDivisionhadunderitschargeaspecialsectionwhichbredhugequantitiesoffleas
forthepurposeofcausingepidemicsofplague.Iwilldealwiththisingreaterdetaillater.
The 4th, "production," Division was an actual bacteria factory, the output capacity of
which was enough to breed bacteria in enormous quantities. This division put into practice
theresultsoftheworkofthe1stResearchand2ndExperimentaldivisions.Infectioncarriers
whichhadbeenchosenforbacteriologicalwarfare,whichhadbeenputtoexperimentaltests
andhadpassedthesetests,werethenproducedonamassscale.
When the accused Kawashima and Karasawa, the former chiefs of the 4th Division,
testified, you heard, Comrades Judges, that Detachment 731 possessed all the equipment
necessary for the manufacture in the course of several days of 30 kilograms of plague
microbesandacorrespondingquantityofotherdisease-causingmicrobes.
The4thDivisioncouldproducepermonthasmuchas300kilogramsofplaguebacteria,
600kilogramsofanthraxbacteriaandatonofcholerabacteria.
These frightful figures alone prove that Detachment 731 was intended for the mass
productionofbacteriologicalweaponsforawarofaggression.
This conclusion is fully confirmed by the report of the medicolegal experts. The
CommitteeofExpertsnotedthat"theequipmentofthe4thDivisionofDetachment731was
sufficientfortheproductionofanenormousquantityoflivedisease-causingmicrobes...in
oneproductioncyclethisequipmentensuredtheoutputofnolessthan30,000,000billionsof
microbes."
The construction of this equipment, and its amount, enabled the detachment to carry out
severalproductioncyclessimultaneously,whichbroughtthemonthlyoutputcapacityofthe
equipment at the disposal of Detachment 731 up to many hundred millions of billions of
microbesofevenmediumrateofmultiplication.
"Allthesevastmassesofdisease-causingmicrobes,"saysthereportoftheexpertsfurther,
"among which were the germs of plague, cholera, typhoid,etc., were intended for the
production of bacteriological weapons for the purpose of exterminating people on a mass
scale."
338
ThematerialsoftheCourtinvestigationhaveestablishedthatthebacteriologistsofIshii's
detachmentdevotedmostoftheirattentiontocriminalexperimentswithmicrobesthatcaused
infectionwithanthrax,choleraandparticularlywithplague.
As a result of a number of inhuman experiments on people and of the bacteriological
attacks upon the Chinese population during its expedition in China, Ishii, the Chief of the
detachment, chose as the principal methods of causing epidemics of plague, firstly, the
dropping from aircraft of ceramic bombs containing plague-infected fleas, secondly,
scatteringplague-infectedfleasfromaircraftwiththeaidofspecialappliances..
A method was devised for cultivating on a mass scale those species of fleas that could
serveasthecarriersofplague.Ishiiregardedthedevisingofthismethodasthespecialmerit
ofthedetachment.Theparasiteswerekeptinspecialincubatorswheretheymultipliedand
fedonthebloodofrodentsputintotheincubatorsforthepurpose.
The testimony given by Kawashima shows that after every so-called "production cycle,"
fromeachincubatorwastakenabouttengrams,i.e.,approximately,30,000fleas.
AswasestablishedbyaccusedKawashima'stestimonyandconfirmedbyothermaterialsin
the case, in one special section alone of the 2nd Division, headed by a certain engineer
Tanaka,therewere4,500suchincubators.ThismeantthatIshii'sdetachmentalone,without
itsbranches,couldataminimumcalculationproduceinone"productioncycle"45kilograms
ofparasites.
The report of the medicolegal experts shows that this quantity is equal to "many tens of
millions"offleas—disseminatorsoflethalinfectionofplague.
In testifying before the Court, accused Yamada said that after his inspection of Ishii's
detachment he particularly remembered the high-capacity equipment for producing bacteria
andthespecialboxescontaining,asYamadasaid,"enormousquantities"oflivefleaswhich,
afterbeinginfected,weretohavebeenusedforthepurposeofcausingepidemicsofplague.
Ascendingtoaturretontheroofofthebuildingtosurveythedetachment'sprovingground
and aerodrome, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army listened with
interest and pleasure to the report of the officers who accompanied him that the plagueinfected fleas were tested on another special proving ground by spraying them from an
aeroplane and, as experiments had proved, were an effective weapon in bacteriological
warfare.
"I was extremely amazed," said Yamada in concluding his testimony, "at the scale on
which the research work was conducted and at the detachment's colossal potentialities for
manufacturingbacteriologicalweapons."
It is scarcely possible, however, to believe Yamada's statement that the detachment's
"colossalpossibilities"forpreparingforbacteriologicalwarfarefirstbecameevidenttohim,
andsoastonishedhim,onlyafterhehadpersonallyinspectedIshii'sdetachment.
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Yamada's own testimony shows that immediately after his appointment to the post of
CommanderoftheKwantungArmy,hefoundamongothertop-secretdocumentskeptinthe
safe of his predecessor, General Umezu—the major Japanese war criminal who was
convictedbytheInternationalMilitaryTribunal—drawingsanddescriptionsofbacteria"Ishii
bombs"containingplague-infectedfleas.ThistypeofbombhadbeensanctionedbyGeneral
Umezu, and Yamada concurred in his predecessor's opinion. During his visit to Ishii's
detachment,Yamadahimselfsawsamplesofthesebombs.
TheIshiiDetachment's"colossalpossibilities"forthepainfuldestructionofhumanbeings
must have become quite evident to Yamada after he had received the report of the former
Chief of the Medical Administration of the Kwantung Army, accused Kajitsuka, who gave
himdetailedinformationconcerningthesecretoperationsofDetachment731indevisingand
manufacturingbacteriologicalweapons.Butithasbeenestablishedbeyonddisputethatafter
hisvisittoDetachment731,YamadasanctionedthecriminalplansthatIshiihadlongbeen
developing for waging bacteriological warfare with plague-carrying fleas. Yamada himself
doesnotdenythis.Hesaid:
"WhenIwasincommandthemethodofusingplagueinfectedfleasbysprayingthemfrom
aircraft with the aid of special appliances and by dropping special bombs was finally
perfected."
In August 1944, General Kitano, who replaced Ishii in the post of Chief of Detachment
731, submitted a special report to Yamada on the results of experiments in using
plagueinfectedfleasontheprovinggroundnearAntaStation.
Attheendof1944,asisseenfromthetestimonyofGeneralMatsumura,theformerChief
oftheOperationsDivisionoftheHeadquartersoftheKwantungArmy,Yamadaconvenedan
operationsconferenceofhighstaffofficersattheofficeoftheCommanderoftheKwantung
Army to discuss the question of plague-canrying fleas in the event of war. Present at this
conferencewereYamada;KasaharaYukio,ChiefofStaffoftheKwantungArmy;hisdeputy,
General Ikeda; Prince Takeda, an officer of the Strategical Division of Headquarters and a
cousin of Emperor Hirohito; and Matsumura, Chief of the Operations Division of the
Kwantung Army. A detailed report on methods of using plagueinfected fleas as a
bacteriologicalweaponwasmadebyGeneralKitano.
Yamada's testimony shows that the question of using plague-infected fleas for
bacteriologicalwarfarewasalsodiscussedbyaspecialcommissionoftheKwantungArmy
Headquarters.
InMarch1945,Ishii,reappointedChiefofDetachment731,andreceivingordersfromthe
JapaneseMinistryforWartospeeduppreparationsforbacteriologicalwarfare,returnedto
Manchuriaandatoncedevotedhismainattentiontothecultivationoffleasandthebreeding
ofrodentsonamassscale.
Attheveryfirstoperationsconferenceheconvenedinthedetachment,Ishiistatedthatthe
weaponthatcouldbeusedwiththemaximumofsuccessinbacteriologicalwarfarewasthe
"Tanaka section's weapon," i.e., plague-carrying fleas. Coded telegrams were sent to the
340
detachment'sbranchesorderingthemtospeedupthecultivationoffleastotheutmost.
InDetachmentT:731,speciallessonswerearranged^formembersofthebrancheswhowere
undergoing a course of training in the cultivation of fleas. After that, all the detachment's
branchesspeededupthecultivationofparasites,andtheseweresenttoIshii'sdetachment.
Inviewofthefactthatthefleaswerebredinincubatorsandfedonthebloodofrodents,
the detachment's branches received orders to catch larger numbers of mice and rats. The
CourtknowsfromtheevidencegivenbythewitnessMoritathatinthesummerof1945,the
HailarBranchofDetachment731alonekeptastockofabout13,000rats.
The witness Hotta, former quartermaster of the detachment, testified that in 1945 Ishii
countedonusingaboutthreemillionratsforthepurposeofbreedingfleas,andthatinthis
connectiontoo,Hottamadecalculationsastohowmuchfeedhewouldhavetopreparefor
them.
TherecannotbeanydoubtthatalltheseactivitiesofIshiiwereapprovedandsanctionedby
theJapaneseGeneralStaff.
Asearlyas1941,whentheKan-Toku-EnPlanwasputintooperationandpreparationsfor
war against the Soviet Union were begun, Ishii, referring to direct orders from the General
Staff, set the members of his detachment the task of immensely speeding up the work of
cultivatingparasites.OnthispointaccusedKawashimatestifiedasfollows:
"Ishii informed us that members of the General Staff had given a high appraisal of the
detachment'sworkandhadissuedinstructionstopayspecialattentiontotheperfectionand
further development of bacteriological means of warfare. After giving us this information,
GeneralIshiicalleduponustoworkstillmoreintensivelytoincreasethedetachment'sfleabreedingproductivitytoastilllargeramount.
"Ishii noted that the detachment had managed in the most successful cases to bring the
breedingoffleasupto60kg.inthreetofourmonths,butnowtheamounthadtobeincreased
to 200 kg. for the same period. General Ishii explained to us that all these measures for
expanding production of the bacteriological weapon was necessitated by the altered
internationalsituation,thatis,bythewarGermanyhadbegunontheSovietUnionandbythe
introductionintotheKwantungArmyoftheKan-Toku-EnPlan."
ThefeverishactivitiesinpreparingforbacteriologicalwarfarebegunbyDetachment731
and its branches in the beginning of 1945, activities to increase the output of bacteria
substance,toaccumulatehugequantitiesofliveplaguecarryingfleasandtobreedrodentsas
feedfortheparasitesandasthesourceoftheirinfection,werealsoconductedondirectorders
of the Japanese General Staff and Ministry for War. This has been fully established by the
testimonyoftheaccusedYamada,Kajitsuka,NishiandOnoue,bythewitnessMatsumura,
andothers.
IamdwellinginsuchdetailontheabominableactivitiesofDetachment731inthemass
cultivationofparasitesforthepurposeofcausingoutbreaksofplaguebecauseitisevident
341
fromthe proof that hasbeensubmitted to you thattothis particular type of bacteriological
weapon was assigned one of the principal places in bacteriological warfare for which the
Japaneseaggressorswerepreparing.
The entire activities of the Ishii Detachment and of other bacteriological units of the
Japanese Army are proof of the truly monstrous conspiracy against peace and humanity
hatched by the Japanese imperialists, a conspiracy to use the lethal weapons of
bacteriologicalwarfare.
The name of the so-called Training and Education Division, which trained cadres of
bandits to employ lethal weapons of bacteriological warfare for wiping out defenceless
peopleandlayingwastetoentiredistricts,maybequalifiedonlyasanevilmockery.
YouheardduringtheCourtinvestigationthetestimonyofoneofthemurdererswhohad
beentrainedinDetachment731,theformertraineeinthedetachment,FuruichiYoshio,who
personally,duringtheIshiiDetachment'sexpeditioninChina,handedouttostarvingChinese
prisonersofwar3,000rollswhichhehadpreviouslyinfectedwithtyphoidbacteria.
The Ishii Detachment trained the actual perpetrators of bacteriological sabotage and
participants in bacteriological attacks, men trained for calculated, cold-blooded and
unpunishablemurder.
Such was the chief secret bacteriological unit of the Japanese Army—General Ishii's
detachment.
ApproximatelysimilarwasthestructureofDetachment100.Thenumberofthedivisions
in this detachment was different, but this did not alter the nature of its activities. It too
conducted research for the purpose of devising the most effective types of bacteriological
weapons;ittooconductedexperimentstotestthesuitabilityofdifferentculturesofbacteria;
it too produced on a mass scale the specimens that had stood the tests; and lastly, it too
trainedcadrestohandlebacteriologicalweapons.
Unlike the Ishii Detachment, which devoted all its activities to devising means of
exterminatinghumanbeings,Detachment100alsoengagedinresearchtodevisemethodsof
infecting animals and vegetation, and it manufactured bacteriological warfare weapons for
this purpose. But in addition to this, as was proved during this Court investigation,
Detachment 100, like Detachment 731, conducted experiments on human beings. The
wholesale epizootics prepared for by Detachment 100, such as glanders and anthrax,
constitutedagravedangertothehumaninhabitantsoftheareassubjectedtobacteriological
attack.
ThethirdsecretbacteriologicalunitoftheJapaneseArmy,theactivitiesofwhichtheCourt
has investigated, was the Nanking Detachment Ei 1644. Like the other Japanese secret
bacteriologicaldetachments,DetachmentEi1644changeditsnameseveraltimesandatone
timewascalledtheTamaDetachment.
The proof submitted to the Court establishes the fact that the Nanking Detachment also
342
possessed high-capacity equipment for cultivating bacteria for bacteriological warfare
purposes.
ForsometimetheNankingDetachmentwasalsounderthecommandofIshii,andthisin
itselfdeterminedthenatureofitsactivities,for,asisevidentfromthematerialsinthiscase,
the object of all Ishii's activities was to prepare for bacteriological warfare. Later, the
NankingDetachmentwasputunderthecommandoftheaccusedSato.
AbouttheinhumanexperimentsuponhumanbeingsthatwereperformedintheNanking
DetachmentIwillspeaklateron.
IthasbeenfullyprovedthatDetachmentEi1644helpedtheIshiiDetachmenttoconduct
bacteriologicalattacksuponChinesetroops.
Thus, the Nanking Detachment was just such a secret bacteriological unit as the Ishii
Detachment,yieldingtothelatteronlyinoutputcapacity.
As regards Detachment 731, all the proof collected and investigated at this trial gives
grounds for characterizing it as the principal secret bacteriological centre created on the
continentbytheJapaneseimperialists,andwhichsystematicallyconductedresearchesinthe
fieldofbacteriologicalweaponsandpreparationsforbacteriologicalwarfare,andpossessed
immensetechnicalpossibilitiesforthispurpose.
A number of testimonies characterize Detachment 731 as the principal centre of
preparationforbacteriologicalwarfare.
In conformity with instructions received from the Japanese General Staff, the Kwantung
ArmyHeadquartersadoptedadecision,intheeventofwarwiththeSovietUnion,tobomb
SovietcitiesintheFarEastwithaerialbombscontainingplague-infectedfleasandtospread
infectionintheSovietrearareasbysprayingbacteriafromaircraft.
Theauthorofthiscriminalandinhumanplan,theformerChiefoftheOperationsDivision
oftheKwantungArmyHeadquarters,GeneralMatsumura,testified:
"IntheeventofwarwiththeSovietUnion,bacteriologicalweaponsshouldbeemployedin
theareaof
thecitiesofVoroshilov,Khabarovsk,Blagoveshchensk
andChita."
Propinquity to the frontiers of the Soviet Union was the first and most important reason
whyDetachment731wasdeployedinManchuria.
But accused Kawashima gave a second reason. This criminal research in the methods of
conductingbacteriologicalwarfarecalledfornumeroushumanvictims.Theutterlyimmoral
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andcruelexperimentsonhumanbeingsweretobekeptinprofoundsecrecy.
That is why accused Kawashima gave as the second reason for deploying the Ishii
DetachmentinManchuriathefollowing(Iamquotingfromhistestimony):
"Thepossibilityofobtainingalargeamountof
humanmaterialfromamongpersonsofnon-Japanese
nationalitiesforbacteriologicalexperiments,aswellas
Manchuria'slargeterritory."
III.CriminalExperimentsonHumanBeings
ComradesJudges.
It is with profound grief for the people who were put to a painful death by the Japanese
monstersthatIpasstotheinvestigationofthemonstrouscrimes,untilrecentlywrappedin
profound secrecy, that were committed by the Ishii Detachment in conducting inhuman
experimentsonhumanbeings.
DuringtheCourtinvestigationthisaspectofthecasewasinvestigatedtothefullestextent.
The slow and painful murder of thousands of people whom the Japanese gendarmes
deliveredfortormentintothehandsofthevileexperimentershasbeenfullyprovednotonly
by the evidence given by the accused and by witnesses, but also by authentic documents
takenfromthearchivesoftheJapaneseGendarmeriethatwerecapturedbytheSovietArmy.
WeknowthedetailsoftheexperimentsonpeopletheIshiiDetachmentperformed,andthe
manner in which they were performed, and also the fact, about which there cannot be the
slightestdoubt,thatnoneofthehaplessoneswhoweredeliveredtotheIshiiDetachmentin
theso-called"Tokui-Atsukai"—"specialconsignments"—evercameoutalive.
Fromthedetachment'sinnerprison,ofwhichthebrotherofIshiiShirowasthewarden,the
prisoners were taken, after they had been experimented on, only to the incinerators in the
crematorium.
TheJapaneseGendarmeriesenttotheIshiiDetachment'sprisonforexterminationpeople
of different nationality, sex and age; among them were aged people and young, men and
women,andevenchildren.
Thelivesofsomeofthemwerecutoffafewdaysaftertheirarrival.Thepainfulexistence
ofothersdraggedonformanymonths.
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Thesepeople,seizedbytheJapaneseGendarmerieanddeliveredintothecruelhandsofthe
experimenters, were subjected to incredible physical suffering and lived in constant fear of
death. From the documents of the Japanese Gendarmerie captured by the Soviet Army we
knowthenamesofsomeofthesevictims.WeknowabouttheoldrailwaymanSungChaosang from Mutankiang, about the carpenter Wu Tien-sing, about the repairman Chu
Chihmen,abouttheChinesepatriotWangYingfromMukden,whoseonlycrimeswerethat
theyrefusedtoresignthemselvestothefactthattheJapaneseinvaderswerelordingitintheir
nativeland.
We know about the Chinese Communist Chih Tieh-en from Huan County, Shantung
Province,whomtheIshiiDetachmentputtoapainfuldeathbecause,whileundergoingtorture
bytheJapaneseGendarmerie,heremainedloyaltohispeopletotheend,didnotbecomea
traitor.
WeknowaboutthehonestChinesecommercialclerkChunMing-chifromDairen,whom
the gendarmes suspected of having sent through the post an article to a newspaper
denouncingtheJapaneseoccupationalregime.
SacredisthememoryofPrivateDemchenko,oftheSovietArmy,whofellintothehands
oftheJapanesegendarmesandtotheendremainedloyaltohisdutyasaSovietcitizenand
loyaltohismilitaryoath.UnderfrightfultortureDemchenkorefusedtogivethegendarmes
whowereinterrogatinghimanyinformationabouttheSovietUnion."Ithendecided,"said
witness Yamagishi, former Deputy Chief of the Hogoin Camp, "to have him physically
exterminated,andsenthimtoDetachment731forthispurpose."
I could continue this mournful enumeration of the people, mostly Chinese and Russians,
whoweremurderedintheIshiiDetachment'sprison.
But we do not know the names of the majority of the victims. On arriving at the Ishii
Detachment'sprison,peoplelosttheirnamesandweregivenanumber,whichtheyretained
untiltheirdeath.Whenamandiedaftertheexperimentshehadbeensubjectedto,aclerkof
the 1st Division struck his number off the index card, his body was incinerated at the
crematorium,andthemanaclestakenfromitwereputonthenextvictim.
Accused Kawashima told the Court the truth when he said that in Japanese-occupied
Manchuria,theIshiiDetachmentsufferednoshortageofpeopleforexperiments.Weknow
thisfromtheauthenticreportsofthegendarmerie.
One cannot imagine a more cynical and more inhuman document than the top-secret
instructions of the Kwantung Gendarmerie Headquarters, dated March 12, 1943, which the
Court has at its disposal, concerning the categories of people liable to be sent as "special
consignments" to the Ishii Detachment. According to these instructions, not only could all
"pro-Soviet and anti-Japanese minded" persons be sent to destruction, but all persons
suspectedbytheJapaneseGendarmerieofactivitiesorsentimentshostiletothegovernment,
even in those cases, as is stated in the instructions, "when the nature of the offence gives
groundsfortheassumptionthat,ifsentfortrial,thepersonwillbeacquittedorgivenalight
sentence."
345
Notonlywerethosesuspectedofanti-Japaneseactivitiesliabletobesenttodestructionas
"special consignments," but so also, according to these instructions, were "persons who
shared the sentiments of those coming under the 'special consignment' ("Tokui-Atsukai")
category...if,notwithstandingtheinsignificanceoftheoffence,theirreleaseisundesirable.
..." According to these instructions, all the best, progressive people—designated in the
instructions under the special heading: "Ideological Criminals Connected with the National
andCommunistMovements"—whofellintothehandsofthegendarmerie,werealsoliableto
destruction.
Ina"note"totheinstructionsitwasemphasizedthatchiefsofgendarmeunitscouldquite
resolutelyapplytotheChiefoftheKwantungGendarmerieforpermissiontoputin"special
consignments" ("Tokui-Atsukai") all the categories of arrested persons enumerated in the
instructions.
ItcanbeseenfromtheinstructionsthattheIshiiDetachmentputtodeathnotonlypersons
who had actively fought against Japanese oppression, but even suspects who could not be
sentfortrialbecauseofthecompleteabsenceofanyproofofguilt.
ThewitnessTachibana, Japanese Adviser to the Gendarmerie in so-called Manchukuo, in
givingevidencebeforetheCourt,relatedindetailhowthe"specialconsignments"weresent
off, and he showed that the question of a man's life or death was settled at the arbitrary
discretionofachiefofgendarmerie,whosimplywrotehisdecisiononthegendarmeriecerti
ficate.
PeopleweresenttodeathintheIshiiDetachmentnotonlybytheGendarmerie,butalsoby
theso-calledJapaneseMilitaryMissions,theIntelligenceServiceoftheJapaneseArmy.
Inparticular,ithasbeenestablishedatthistrialthattheCentralJapaneseMilitaryMission
in Harbin had under its charge a special camp for Russians known as Hogoin, from which
manyscoresofRussiansweresenttoDetachment731tobeexterminated.Thesewerepeople
who refused to obey the demands of the Japanese Intelligence Service that they should
conduct hostile activities against the U.S.S.R. They were people with anti-Japanese
sentiments,buttheycouldnotbesentfortrialbecause,evenaccordingtoJapaneselaw,they
had committed no crime for which they were liable to punishment by a court. The fate of
these people was entirely in the hands of the Chief of the Hogoin Camp, lijima, and his
deputy,Yamagishi,amerenotefromwhomwasenoughtohavetheintendedvictimseized
andsenttoDetachment731,fromwhichtherewasnoreturn.
Ihavealreadysaidthatnotonlymen,butwomentooweresenttotheprisoncontrolledby
Detachment731.
Tamura, former Chief of the Personnel Division of the Kwantung Army, who in the
summer of 1945 was sent by Yamada to inspect the work of Detachment 731, testified as
follows:
"IngoingoverthepremisesIwastakentoaninnerbuildingwhere,inspecialcells,living
people were kept in chains, who, as Ishii himself told me, were used for experiments....
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Among these experimentees I saw Chinese, Europeans and a woman. As General Ishii
himself informed me, this woman and the Europeans were of Russian nationality who had
been sent to the detachment by the Japanese Gendarmerie and Military Missions in
Manchuriafromamongthosewho,intheopinionoftheJapanesepenalauthorities,wereto
be exterminated." Proof has been submitted to the Court that Russian and Chinese women
seized by the Japanese Military Missions and Gendarmerie were sent to their death in the
prisonofDetachment731inalltheyearstheprisonexisted.
CananyofusforgetthemournfulimageoftheunknownRussianwomanwithherinfantin
herarmswhodiedundertortureinIshii'sdetachment?AccusedKawashimaspokeaboutthis
unhappyRussianmotheratthistrial.Shewaspregnantwhenshewasbroughttotheprison
andgavebirthtoherchildthere.Fortwoyearsshewasinthehandsofwickedexperimenters
and,subjectedtofrightfultorture,forgettingherownpain,wasinconstantfearforthefateof
herchild.Bothmotherandchilddiedbecause,asKawashimasaidhere,nobodywhoentered
thatprisoncouldeverleaveitalive.
Thepeopledoomedtoexterminationas"specialconsignments"werebroughttoHarbinin
specialprisonvans,orinspecialmotorcars,witheverymeasureofprecautiontomaintainthe
utmostsecrecy.Thegendarmerieissuedspecialordersthatonthejourney,thepeopleinthe
"TokuiAtsukai"weretobehandcuffedandfettered,ortightlyboundhandandfootwithcord.
TheCourthashadsubmittedtoittheauthenticOperationsOrderoftheGendarmerieofthe
Kwantung Army, dated August 8, 1939, No. 224, which proves that at that time there had
beena"specialconsignment"ofthirtyprisonerstotheIshiiDetachment,andthatthemanner
ofsendingprisonerstoDetachment731wasexactlyasIhavejusttoldtheCourt.Youwere
able to convince yourselves of the tremendous precautions that were taken during this
operationoftransportingtheseprisoners,ofwhatcarewastakeninchoosingthemembersof
the escort that guarded the doomed people on the way to the place where they were to be
exterminated.
ThenumberofvictimsexterminatedbytheJapanesebacteriologistsinthecourseoftheir
criminal experiments is enormous. According to the testimony of the accused Kawashima,
whowasnotintheleastinterestedinexaggeratingthenumberthatwerekilled,Detachment
731aloneexterminated600peopleperannum,andfrom1940tothedaytheJapaneseArmy
surrendered no less than 3,000 people were deprived of life. The proof submitted to the
Court,inparticular,thefiguresofthenumberofexperimentsperformedbythedetachmentin
thisperiod,showthatthenumberofvictimsgivenbytheaccusedKawashimacanbetakenas
theveryminimum.
IthasbeendocumentarilyprovedthatprisonersweresenttothetshiiDetachmentbyallthe
Japanese gendarme units and Military Missions in Manchuria in parties of different sizes,
rangingfromseveralpersonstoseveralscoreofvictims.Ishiididallinhispowertoobtain
the largest possible number of victims for his detachment in the shape of "special
consignments."When high gendarme officialsvisitedthe detachment, Ishii himself showed
them round the place so that they could convince themselves that the people sent by the
gendarmerie were actually done away with, and that the same would be done with new
arrivals. Evidence about one such conversation between Ishii and the Chief of the Harbin
GendarmerieAdministration,Kasuga,wasgivenbythelatter'sadjutant,thewitnessKimura.
347
Thus,thewholesaleexterminationoflivingpeoplebytheIshiiDetachmentisfullyproved
bythematerialsinthecase,andIwillnowdealwiththeproofoftheinhumanmethodsof
experimentingonlivingpeoplethatwereemployedbythedetachment,andaboutwhichone
cannotspeakwithouthorroranddisgust.
IthasbeenprovedthatDetachment731performedcriminalexperimentsonlivingpeople
both under so-called laboratory conditions, i.e., in the inner prison and the adjacent
laboratories, and on the detachment's special bacteriological proving ground near Anta
Station.
Experiments under laboratory conditions were performed mainly by the men of the 1st
Division; the experiments on the proving ground were performed by the 1st, 2nd and 4th
divisions, but most of them were performed by the men of the 2nd Division, who tested
samplesofnewbacteriologicalweaponsupontheirdefencelessvictims.
In all cases, the experiments inflicted the most terrible torments upon the experimenters'
victims.
Inthe"laboratories,"theexperimenteeswereinoculatedwiththemostvirulentdiseases—
plague,anthrax,glanders,variouskindsoftyphoidandotherdiseases.
hi performing these experiments on living people, these miscreants, in a number of cases,
employed methods known to science but which are employed only on animals. Thus, to
ascertain the effectiveness of vaccines.the Japanese experimenters picked a large group of
prisoners,vaccinatedpartofthem,andtheninfectedthewholegroupwiththecorresponding
diseasesandwatchedfortheresults,i.e.,thedeathorsevereillnessofthepeoplewhohadnot
beenvaccinated.Inthemajorityofcases,whennewtypesofvaccinesweretested,theentire
groupsubjectedtoexperimentperished.Thebodiesofthedeadweresubjectedtopathologoanatomicalinspectionandthenincineratedinthecrematorium,andthecriminalexperiments
werecontinuedonafreshpartyofprisoners.
ThewitnessFuruichitoldusaboutoneoftheexperimentstotestanantityphoidvaccine.
ByorderofChiefofthe1stDivision,Tabei,hecontaminatedwaterwithtyphoidgermsand
gavethiswatertodrinkto50Chinese,someofwhomhadbeeninoculatedagainsttyphoid.
Asaresultofthisexperimentthemajorityofthevictimswereinfectedwithtyphoidanddied.
Carefulrecordswerekeptofallthecriminalexperiments.Inanumberofcasestheresults
oftheexperimentswerephotographedonplatesoroncinemafilms.Inallcases,therecords
ofexperimentsstatedtowhatracestheexperimenteesbelonged.
Iwouldliketodrawyourattention,ComradesJudges,toonecircumstancethathasbeen
establishedatthistrial.
It has been proved that Detachment 731 performed on living people not only inhuman
experimentsconnectedwithpreparationsforbacteriologicalwarfare,butalsoothers,noless
inhumanandpainful,notdirectlyconnectedwithpreparationsforbacteriologicalwarfare,but
nevertheless conducted on an extensive scale. The object of these experiments was to
348
ascertainthelimitsofenduranceofthehumanorganismunderdefiniteconditions,tostudy
variousproblemsofprophylaxisandtreatmentofnon-infectiousdiseaseswhichcouldhave
interestedonlythespecialdivisionsoftheMedicalAdministrationoftheHeadquarters'ofthe
JapaneseKwantungArmy.
Forthepurposeofperformingsuchexperimentsonlivingpeople,Detachment731hada
pressurechamberinwhichthelimitsofenduranceofthehumanorganismathighaltitudes
were ascertained. Thus, the experimenters in the Ishii Detachment performed the same
experiments as those performed by that sinister S.S. experimenter Dr. Rascher, which the
NurembergInternationalTribunalquitejustlyclassedamongthecruelestandmostinhuman
oftheexperimentsonhumanbeingsperformedbythevileHitlerites.
Inthispressurechamberamandiedaslowandincrediblypainfuldeath.
The evidence given by the witness Nishi shows that the extermination of people in the
pressurechamberwascarefullyrecordedoncinemafilms.
Consideringtheirnature,thesepressurechamberexperimentscouldhavebeenperformed
bythedetachmentonlyattherequestoftheCommandoftheJapaneseAirForce.
Detachment 731 performed other painful experiments on human beings similar to those
performedbyRascheratthedeathcampatDachau,namely,freezingexperiments,performed
at the request of the Medical Administration. The Ishii Detachment performed freezing
experimentsonamassscaleinthecourseofmanyyears.
Theseinhumanexperimentshavebeendescribedindetailbyanumberoftheaccusedand
bywitnesses.TheywereperformedonRussiansandonChinese.
Theexperimenteesweretakenoutintothefrostandsometimeswerecompelledtodiptheir
hands and feet in water. Some of the victims were compelled to move about, others were
compelledtoremainstill.Bytappingthebarelimbswithastick,theexperimenter(weknow
his name—it was the detachment's so-called "scientific researcher" Dr. Yoshimura)
ascertainedwhethertheywerecompletelyfrozen.
When the victims were frozen they were taken back to the cell; some of them were left
withoutanymedicaltreatmentanddiedofgangrene.Inthecaseoftherestofthesevictims,
their frozen limbs were amputated: they were given medical treatment in order to perform
freshexperimentsonthem,ortokillthem,aftertheyhadrecovered.
Photographsofthefreezingexperimentsweretaken.Reportsoftheexperimentsweresent
totheMedicalAdministrationoftheKwantungArmy.
The former Chief of the Training and Education Division, Nishi, told the Court about a
cinema film, that was taken by the detachment, demonstrating freezing experiments. It
showedhowpeople,takenouttoafieldinthefrostandwind,stretchedtheirbarearmstothe
wind. Yoshimura ascertained whether they were completely frozen by tapping them with a
stick.
349
PreparingforwaragainsttheSovietUnionunderwinterconditions,theJapanesemedical
menconductedthesecruelfreezingexperimentsona'verywidescale.Specialpremiseswere
builtforthem,inwhichlowtemperaturesandblastsoficywindhadtobecreatedartificially.
Noneoftheseexperimentshadanydirectconnectionwithbacteriologicalattacks,butthey
mustbeclassedamongthecruelestandmostcriminalexperimentsmadeonhumanbeings.
In the laboratories of the 1st Division of the detachment, no less than 30 bacteriologists
wereengagedinthestudyofdifferentbacteriaandviruses.Ithasbeenprovedthateachof
themperformedexperimentsonhumanbeings.
Iamnotabletodwellonalltheexperimentsonlivingpeoplethatwereperformedbythe
detachmentunderso-called"laboratoryconditions,"butIwanttoremindtheCourtthatthe
victimsofthesehorribleandinhumanexperimentswere200-300captivesthatwerealways
keptinthedetachment'sprisonatanygiventime,thatnoneofthevictimswasleftalive,and
thatnolessthan600doomedpeoplearrivedatthisinnerprisoninthecourseofayear.
As I have said already, the prison was under the charge of the 1st Division of the
detachment. Some of the prisoners who were to be used for experimental purposes were
handed over to the 2nd Division for criminal experiments on a mass scale; the division
performedtheseexperimentsonaspecialprovinggroundunderconditionsapproximatingas
closelyaspossibletobattlefieldconditions.
When these experiments were performed, the experimenters took cover in safe dugouts
situatedaboutakilometrefromthespotwheretheexperimentswereperformed.Thevictims
wereleftinanopenspaceboundhandandfoot;ortightlytiedtoironstakesdrivenintothe
ground.
Whenfragmentationbacteriashellswereused,itwasnottheintentionoftheexperimenters
tokilltheirvictimsoutright.Topreventthis*theheadsandmostvulnerablevitalpartsofthe
bodiesoftheexperimenteeswereprotectedwithspecialmetalshieldsorwiththickpadded
quilts.
Thesequiltsandmetalshields,impregnatedwithhumanblood,wereafterwardsdisinfected
andkeptinthedetachment'sstorehouseforfurtherexperiments.Youknowaboutthemfrom
theevidencegivenbythewitnessHottaRyoichiro.
At the Anta proving ground, several methods of experimenting on living people were
employed.
Thosemostfrequentlyemployedwerethedroppingofbacteriashellsandthesprayingof
plague-infectedbacteriaandparasitesfromlow-flyingaircraft.
Inothercases,thebacteriashellswereplacedonthegroundatameasureddistancefrom
thepeopletiedtothestakesandexplodedbymeansofanelectricswitchinthedugoutwhere
350
theexperimenterstookcover.
Thevictimsoftheseexperimentswerereleasedfromtheirbondsanhourandahalfortwo
hoursaftertheexperimentwasstarted.Theyweretakentothedetachment'sinnerprisonin
coveredpolicevansandkeptunderobservation.
Intheoverwhelmingmajorityofcases,thepeoplesubjectedtoexperimentsontheproving
groundweregivennomedicalassistancewhatever.Theprovinggroundwasusedtotestthe
effectivenessofweapons,andforthatreason,theexperimentersattachedmostvaluetothose
experimentswhichresultedinthepainfuldeathofallthevictimssubjectedtothem.
Theprovinggroundwasusedfortestingonlivingpeopletheeffectsofmostofthelethal
bacteriaonwhichthe1stDivisionwasconductingresearch.
Duringtheseproving-groundtests,however,mostattentionwaspaidtobacteriawhichthe
Japaneseregardedasthemostsuitableforconductingbacteriologicalwarfareonamassscale
—thegermsofplague,anthrax,cholera,etc.
InJanuary1945,theaccusedNishiwaspresentatoneoftheseexperiments,theobjectof
which was to ascertain whether it was possible to cause infection of gas gangrene at a
temperature lower than —20°C. The experiment was conducted under the direction of the
Chiefofthe2ndDivision,ColonelIkari,andresearchworkerFutaki.
Tenprisonersweretiedinasemicircletoironstakes.Theheadsandbacksofthevictims
wereprotectedwithironshieldsandpaddedquilts.Ashellcontainingbacteriawasexploded
byanelectriccurrent.
Thisexperimentcausedthedeathofallthevictims;theydiedindreadfultormentseveral
dayslater.
TheCourthasalsohearddetaileddescriptionsofalargenumberofexperimentsmadeto
causeinfectionwithplague—thekindofexperimentsmostoftenmadeonhumanbeingson
theprovingground.
Alltheseexperimentsledtothepainfuldeathofthevictims.
I will not stop to describe individual experiments performed on human beings on the
provingground.ThemembersoftheCourtrememberthesecriminalexperiments.
Inhuman and violent experiments on living people were also performed by Detachment
100.TheaccusedMitomoandthewitnessesFukuzumi,SakurashitaandHatakiadmittedthat
this detachment tested on prisoners the effects of various poisons. As the accused Mitomo
testified,whentheunfortunatevictimsofthesecriminalexperimentsbecamesofeeblethatit
wasnolongerpossibletocontinuetheexperimentsonthem,theywerekilledandtheirbodies
wereburiedinthecattlecemetery.MitomohimselfkilledaprisonerofRussiannationalityon
whomhehadexperimentedbygivinghimaninjectionofpotassiumcyanide.ThreeRussians
351
who had been reduced to utter exhaustion by these experiments were shot by Japanese
gendarmesinMitomo'spresence.
Theseunheard-ofatrocitiesonlivingpeoplewereperpetratedbymembersofdetachments
731 and 100 in close cooperation with the Japanese Gendarmerie and Military Missions.
ProofhasbeenpresentedtotheCourtthatthebacteriologicaldetachments,theGendarmerie
and the Military Missions in Manchuria were all directly subordinated to one person—the
Commander-in-ChiefoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy,theaccusedYamada,whothusbears
full responsibility for the villainies perpetrated upon the victims of the painful experiments
performedbythebacteriologicalunits,forthedeliberatemurderofhundredsandthousands
ofpeople.ThisresponsibilityissharedbytheaccusedKajitsukaandTakahashi,whodirected
theactivitiesofdetachments731and100respectively.
Theexperimentsonhumanbeingsconstituteoneofthemostfrightfulpagesofthiscase
concerning the heinous crimes committed by the Japanese ruling clique and its hired
assassins.
In the perpetration of these crimes, the achievements of modern science obtained by the
greatesteffortandsacrificebyhumanistscientists,thefightersagainstdeathforthebenefitof
mankind,wereusedforthepainfulexterminationofhumanbeings.
Onlymendevoidofhonour,menwhogrovelbeforeJapaneseimperialism,morallycorrupt
haters of mankind could have committed these crimes so abhorrent to human nature. The
peoplewhofellintothehandsoftheIshiiDetachmenttobeexterminatedwerenotregarded
as human. With blasphemous mockery a special conventional term was invented for them
—"logs."
IV.EmploymentofBacteriologicalWeapons
intheAttackontheMongolianPeople'sRepublic
andintheWaragainstChina
ComradesJudges,
InowpasstotheproofsubmittedtotheCourtthatby1939thebacteriologicalunitsofthe
Japanese Army had already passed the research stage in the production of bacteriological
weapons,hadpassedthestageoftestingthemonhumanbeingsinthelaboratoryandproving
ground, and had begun actually to employ* the weapons they had created in the military
operationswhichtheJapaneseArmywasconductingindifferenttheatresofwar.
The testimony of the accused Nishi shows that the sabotage groups of the Ishii
Detachment,theso-calledSuicideSquad,commandedbyoneofthecruelestexperimenters
on human beings and a participant in nearly all the bacteriological attacks, Lieutenant
Colonel Ikari, employed bacteriological warfare weapons under war conditions for the first
time against the Soviet and Mongolian troops. This was in 1939, at the time of Japan's
treacherousattackontheMongolianPeople'sRepublicintheareaoftheriverKhalkhin-Gol.
352
When the Japanese troops retreated, the Suicide Squad—which had given a special pledge
sealedwithitshieroglyphwritteninblood(Nishihimselfsawthispledgewhenhetookover
affairs)—beingthelasttoretreataftertheroutoftheJapaneseforces,contaminatedthewater
of the river Khalkhin-Gol with the germs of severe intestinal diseases. In reward for this
criminal "feat," General Ogisu Rippo, the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese forces at
Khalkhin-Gol which had been thoroughly beaten by the Soviet and Mongolian troops, and
whohimselfhadbarelyescaped,grantedtheIshiiDetachmentatestimonialofpraiseworthy
conductandrecommendedIkariforpromotiontoColonel.
But the bacteriological attack upon the Soviet and Mongolian troops by Ikari's so-called
Suicide Squad, which was accustomed with impunity to murder defenceless people in the
detachment's laboratories, was only a preliminary to the extensive employment of
bacteriological weapons under war conditions which the Ishii Detachment commenced in
1940.
During bacteriological attacks upon the Chinese civilian population; extensive use was
madeofthosetypesofbacteriologicalweaponswhichtheJapanesewarcriminalsregardedas
the major weapons of the bacteriological warfare they had planned. In particular,
exceptionallyextensiveusewasmadeduringthesebacteriologicalattacksofplague-infected
fleasdroppedfromaircraftwiththeaidofspecialappliances.
ThefirstexpeditionintoCentralChinawassentin1940.Thisexpeditionwasheadedby
Ishii himself. During the expedition a whole regioYi near the town of Nimpo was infected
with the aid of plague-carrying fleas and an epidemic of plague was caused among the
Chineseinhabitants.
ThatthisexpeditionwassenttoCentralChinaisfullyprovednotonlybytheconfessions
oftheaccusedandtheevidenceofwitnesses,butalsobyofficialdocumentscapturedbythe
SovietArmyintheJapanesearchives.
InthisconnectionItakethelibertytodrawtheCourt'sattentiontotwoofficialJapanese
documents.ThefirstisanorderissuedbytheCommanderoftheKwantungArmy,General
Umezu, dated July 25, 1940, No. 659-HEI, instructing the Chief of the Field Railway to
transporttheNaraDetachmentfromtheKamoarmyunit.GeneralUmezuorderedthatthis
detachment of 40 men, with its baggage, be transported to Central China. The second
document is an order issued by the Chief of the Field Railway Administration of the
Kwantung Army, Lieutenant General Kusaba, dated July 26, 1940, No. 178, in which the
route of this detachment is worked out from Pingfan Station to Shanghai via Harbin,
Changchun, Mukden, Shanhaikwan and Tientsin. A note to the order states (I am quoting)
"the freight consists of special material which calls for secrecy and for this reason is not
namedinthewaybill."
ThereferenceinthesedocumentstotheKamoDetachment(wealreadyknowthatthatwas
howtheIshiiDetachmentwascalledatthattime)andtothedespatchoftheNaraDetachment
from Pingfan Station indisputably establishes that in July 1940 a group of men from
Detachment 731 was sent into Central China with secret baggage, that this group was the
veryexpeditionaboutwhichtheaccusedKawashima,Karasawa,Nishi,Kajitsukaandothers
testified,andthatthis.expeditionwasdisguisedbythenameNaraDetachment.
353
We know also what baggage was disguised by the words "materials which call for
exceptionalsecrecy."
Before the detachment's departure for China, the accused Karasawa had received
instructionstopreparefortheexpedition70kilogramsoftyphoidgerms,and50kilogramsof
choleragerms.Furthermore,the2ndDivisionofthedetachmentsuppliedtheexpeditionwith
5kilogramsofplagueinfectedfleas,i.e.,approximately15,000,000plague-infectedparasites,
packedinspecialappliancesfixedinanaeroplaneforsprayingthemfromtheair.
Thisdeath-dealingloadwasthe"secretbaggage"whichtheIshiiexpeditiontooktoChina.
The expedition needed typhoid and cholera germs to infect water sources; plagueinfected
fleasweredroppedfromaircraftovertownsandinhabitedlocalities.
Aftertheirreturntothedetachment,themembersoftheexpeditiongavehighestapproval
tothelethaleffectofplaguegermsdisseminatedbymeansofinfectedparasites.
This view was shared by the criminal Chief of Detachment 731, who had personally
headedtheexpeditioninChina—IshiiShiro.
In1941,onenteringIshii'soffice,theaccusedKawashima,whowasthentheChiefofthe
detachment'sGeneralDivision,
354
foundIshilengrossedinreadingaChinesemedicaljournal.Someofthepassagesfromthe
articlethatinterestedhim,Ishiireadaloud.Chinesemedicalmendescribedsevereoutbreaks
of plague in the region of Nimpo, south of Shanghai. Special reference was made to the
unusual character of the outbreak of this epidemic of plague, in which human beings were
affected, but which was not accompanied by an epidemic among rodents as is usually the
case.
Commenting on this article by a Chinese author, Ishii observed with satisfaction that it
proved the success of the bacteriological attack on the Chinese population that he had
conductedin1940,andduringwhichplague-infectedfleashadbeensprayedfromaircraft.
Thus,alreadyin1940,Detachment731intheopinionofitscriminalchief,hadsettledthe
problemofthemajorweapontobeusedinbacteriologicalattacksandhadbeguntousethis
weapon in military operations with the object of disorganizing the enemy's rear and of
spreadingdeadlyepidemicsamongthecivilianpopulationofthecountryattacked.
Ishii attached such great importance to the 1940 expedition that he ordered a special
documentaryfilmtobemadeofit.
Evidence about this film was given in Court by accused Nishi. The film showed various
phasesofthepreparationsforthebacteriologicalattack,andoftheattackitself:thewaythe
special appliances for spraying plague-infected fleas was fixed to the aeroplane, and the
actualsprayingoftheplague-infectedfleasfromtheaeroplane.Thefilmendedwithaspecial
reelentitled"ResultsoftheWork,"andonthescreenwereprojectedarticlesfromChinese
magazines and newspapers describing outbreaks of plague in the region of the town of
Nimpo. This film was shown when "distinguished" visitors came to the detachment: the
Commanderin-Chief of the Kwantung Army Yamada; members of the Japanese imperial
family—Princes Takeda and Mikasa; high staff officers of the Kwantung Army, and
representativesoftheJapaneseGeneralStaff.
TheIshiiDetachmentmaderepeatedexpeditionsintoChinaforthepurposeofcarryingout
bacteriologicalattacksuponthecivilianpopulation.
In the summer of 1941, a second expedition set out for China under the command of
divisionalchiefofthedetachment,ColonelOota.Thisexpeditionwassentwiththespecial
objectofspreadingepidemicsofplague.ThechieftasktheJapaneseHighCommandsetthe
expeditionwastodislocatethecommunicationsoftheChineseforces;animportantpointin
thesecommunicationswasthecityofChangteh,amongtheinhabitantsofwhichanepidemic
of plague was to be caused. Thirty bacteriological specialists were assigned for the
expedition; the total number of men participating in it was 100. On returning from the
expedition, Colonel Oota, in the presence of accused Kawashima, Chief of the General
Division of the detachment, reported to Ishii. He reported to him that the expedition had
droppedonthecityofChangtehandotherinhabitedlocalitiesintheareaofLakeTungTing
Hualargequantityofplague-infectedfleas.
Both Oota and Ishii very highly appraised the results of this expedition, during which a
355
severeepidemicofplaguewascausedamongtheChinesepopulationoftheChangtehregion.
A third expedition was sent into Central China in 1942. The preparations for this
expeditionweremadewithexceptionalcare.
InMay1942,onreturningfromTokyo,GeneralIshiicalledasecretconferenceofallthe
chiefsatwhichheannouncedthatinconformitywithinstructionshehadreceivedfromthe
JapaneseGeneralStaff,thedetachmentwastosendabigexpeditionintoCentralChinafor
the purpose of carrying out bacteriological attacks upon the Chinese forces. These
bacteriological attacks were to be carried out near the railway lines during a so-called
"strategicalretreat"oftheJapaneseforces.
In preparing for this expedition, Ishii called several conferences of divisional chiefs to
discuss what bacteria should be chosen for causing epidemics. As a result of these
conferences it was decided to use the bacteria of plague, cholera, typhoid, paratyphoid and
anthrax.
AnactivepartinthebacteriologicalattackontheChinesepopulationin1942wastakenby
theNankingDetachmentEi1644.
On orders from Ishii, accused Kawashima prepared in the "Production" Division 130
kilograms of paratyphoid and anthrax germs for the expedition. The other types of lethal
germsthatwereusedduringtheexpeditionwerecultivatedbytheNankingDetachment.The
2ndDivisionofthedetachmentsuppliedtheexpeditionwithalargequantityoffleastobe
usedforcausingoutbreaksofplague.
During this third expedition the Ishii Detachment operated against the Chinese civilian
population and the Chinese Army mainly by means of the vile method called land
bacteriological sabotage. When the Japanese troops retreated, the members of the Ishii
Detachmentcontaminatedwatersources,rivers,pondsandfields.Theinfectionwithbacteria
ofvariouskindsoffoodostensiblyleftindwellinghousesbyaccident,waspractised.ona
largescale.
A participant in this expedition into China was Furuichi Yoshio, one of the witnesses at
this trial, who, in his evidence, gave a detailed description of the vile methods of
exterminatinghumanbeingsthatwereemployedbythemiscreantsoftheIshiiDetachment
duringthethirdexpeditionintoChina.FuruichitoldtheCourtthatinthesummerof1942,he
was assigned to the group commanded by General Ishii, which used against the Chinese
people the germs of typhoid, paratyphoid, cholera and plague in the region of Chekang. "I
myself," testified Furuichi, "in the region mentioned, infected water sources, houses and
wellswiththegermsoftyphoidandparatyphoidsuppliedbyaircraftofDetachment731....
ByorderofMajorGeneralIshii,3,000rollswerebaked.Theserollswereinfectedwiththe
germsoftyphoidandparatyphoidandhandedouttoChineseprisonersofwarwho,afterthey
wereinfected,wereletoutofthecampinordertospreadinfectiousdisease.Alsobyorderof
Ishii,300-400biscuitswerebakedandinfectedwithtyphoid.Iinjectedtyphoidgermsinto
thosebiscuits,afterwhichtheyweredistributedamongthemembersofthesabotagegroup
wholefttheminthehousesofthelocalinhabitantsasiftheyhadforgottenthem....Iknow
356
thatasaresultoftheinfectionwecausedinChekangProvince,anepidemicoftyphoidbroke
out."
AsIhavealreadystated,duringthe1942expedition,Detachment731wasactivelyassisted
bytheso-calledNankingEpidemicsDetachment,Ei1644.Thissecretbacteriologicalunitof
theJapaneseArmywaswellknowntotheinhabitantsofthecityofNankingunderthename
of the Tama Detachment, which conducted cruel experiments on human beings. We find
mentionof the Tama Detachmentin the materials of the Tokyotrial of the major Japanese
warcriminals.
TheInternationalMilitaryTribunalinTokyohadsubmittedtoitthereportofthePublic
Prosecutor of the Nanking City Court, in which it was expressly stated that the Tama
Detachment,oneofthetop-secretunitsoftheJapaneseArmy,hadsystematicallyconducted
wicked experiments on living people, inoculating them with poisoned serums. The report
statedthatthenumberofthedetachment'svictimsisincalculable.
ThisreportoftheatrocitiescommittedbytheJapaneseaggressorsattractedtheattentionof
theInternationalMilitaryTribunal,itrequestedtheAmericanprosecution,whichrepresented
the interests of Kuomintang China at the Tokyo trial, to submit more detailed proof of the
criminalactivitiesoftheTamaDetachment.
Shortly after this, the Soviet prosecution at the International Tribunal handed Joseph B.
Keenan,thechiefAmericanprosecutor,thewrittenevidenceofKawashimaandKarasawa,
whichcontainedasufficientlyfullexposureofthecrimescommittedbytheJapaneseruling
cliqueinperformingwickedexperimentsonhumanbeingstotestbacteriologicalweapons.
Certaininfluentialpersons,however,wereevidentlyinterestedinpreventingtheexposure
ofthemonstrouscrimesoftheJapanesemilitarists,forthedocumentsontheactivitiesofthe
TamaDetachment,andonsimilarexperimentsperformedbytheIshiiDetachment,werenot
submittedtotheTribunal.
Nevertheless, the fact that Detachment Ei 1644 took part in the 1942 expedition is fully
established by the evidence of the former Chief of this detachment, accused Sato, of the
accused Kawashima and Karasawa, by the evidence of exColonel of the Japanese Army
Mishina,andbyotherproof.
When the 1942 expedition in China was completed, General Ishii made an official
statementatanoperationsconferenceofthedetachment'sleadingpersonneltotheeffectthat
the results of employing bacteriological weapons in the Chekang region had been
considerable,andhadcausedseveralsevereoutbreaksofinfectiousdiseases.Thisstatement
by Ishii was true, as is evident, in particular, from the documents of the Chinese High
CommandthathadbeencapturedbytheJapanese13thArmy,inwhichreferenceismadeto
outbreaksofplaguecausedbytheJapaneseintheareafromwhichtheyhadretreated.
V.BacteriologicalSabotageonU.S.S.R.
andM.P.R.TerritoryandtheActivization
357
ofPreparationsforBacteriologicalWarfare
againsttheSovietUnion
AccusedKawashimatestifiedthat,inhisopinion,by1942,Detachment731haddefinitely
solved the problem of producing effective types of bacteriological weapons suitable for
employmentonamassscaleunderwarconditions,hadtestedthemonanenormousnumber
ofhumanvictimsandhadrepeatedlytriedtheminbacteriologicalattacksagainstChina.
Detachment 100, which was subordinated to the Veterinary Service of the Japanese
Kwantung Army, also carried out assignments of the Army Command in carrying out
bacteriological sabotage. Evidence of this was given before the Military Tribunal by
participantsinthissabotage—theaccusedHirazakuraandMitomo,andalsobythewitnesses
Kuwabaraandothers.In1944,anexpeditionofDetachment100intheareaofTryokhrechye
contaminated water sources on the frontier of the Soviet Union. Accused Hirazakura and
Mitomotookpartinthisexpedition.In1945,accusedHirazakuraheadedanexpeditioninthe
region of Hailar, the object of which was to conduct bacteriological sabotage against the
MongolianPeople'sRepublic.
FromevidencegivenbyaccusedandwitnessesweknowthatthemembersoftheHailar
expedition of Detachment 100 operated incognito. To avoid rousing suspicion they called
themselvesmembersoftheJapaneseMilitaryMissioninHailar.TheJapanesedocumentsof
theHailarJapaneseMilitaryMission,capturedbytheSovietforces,containconfirmationof
the fact that Hirazakura's group worked very energetically. The report of the Chief of the
Mission,Amano,datedMarch26,1945,containsthefollowingnoteunderpoint7:
"In conformity with the operations order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung
Army,inMarch1944aspecialgroupwassentfromtheHsinchingDetachment100,andat
the present time, headed by the Chief of the detachment, it is zealously and actively
performingitsduty."
Proof was submitted to the Court that already before this, sabotage-reconnoitring parties
had been repeatedly sent to the Hailar region from Detachment 100 for the purpose of
ascertainingtheactualpossibilitiesofinfectingcattlewiththeobjectofcarryingepizooticsof
severeinfectiousdiseasestoMongolianterritory.
All these data show that by orders of the Commanderin-Chief of the Kwantung Army,
Detachment 100 not only prepared for bacteriological warfare and sabotage against the
U.S.S.R.,ChinaandtheMongolianPeople'sRepublic,butactuallyconductedsabotageand
putbacteriologicalweaponstouse.
It has been proved during this trial that the activities of the Japanese war criminals in
preparing for and launching bacteriological warfare on a big scale increased exceptionally
after Hitler Germany's treacherous attack upon the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. At that
timetherulingcliqueinimperialistJapanintensifieditspreparationsforwarinallarmsand
allbranchesofitsarmedforcesand,bankingonGermany'svictoryovertheU.S.S.R.onthe
western fronts, merely waited for the opportune moment to invade the Soviet Far East and
358
seizeSovietterritory.
BythistimetheJapaneseimperialists'preparationsforconductingbacteriologicalwarfare
hadbeeninthemaincompleted,andalltheconditionshadbeencreatedfortheproductionof
bacteriologicalweaponsonamassscale.
Ihavealreadysaidthatin1944,whenaccusedYamada
.tookoverthepostofCommander-in-ChiefoftheJapanese
KwantungArmy,preparationsforconductingbacteriological
warfare were greatly speeded up. Special orders were again received from the Japanese
General Staff to speed up the work of producing plague-carrying fleas. These orders were
strictlyobeyed.AllthebranchesofDetachment731receivedinstructionstoincreasetothe
utmostthestocksofratsthatservedforthepurposeofbreedingfleas.Youheardfromthe
lips of accused Onoue and Nishi, and also from a number of witnesses, how eagerly the
branches set to work to fulfil this assignment. Special squads of soldiers in civilian clothes
scouredhouses,barnsandfieldsforrats.Ratcatcherswhocaughtthelargestnumberofrats
wererewarded.Thebreedingoffleasonamassscalewasorganized.
In detachments 731 and 100, improvement courses were arranged to train cadres for the
practical conduct of bacteriological warfare. The branches of these detachments were
subordinated to the commanders of fronts and armies. Accused Sato, who at that time
occupied the post of Chief of the Medical Service of the 5th Army, rendered Branch 643
activeassistanceinobtainingratsbyorderingalltheunitsofthe5thArmytocatchratsand
sendthemtothebranch.
AccusedYamadarepeatedlyverifiedthepreparednessofthebacteriologicalunitsforwar,
personallyinspectedthemandensuredtheirpreparedness.
Everythingwasready.TheywaitedonlyforthesignalfromTokyotocommencehostilities
againsttheU.S.S.R.
But the signal never came. The mighty Soviet Unicn and its heroic army frustrated the
aggressors'plans.ThedecisivevictoryoftheHitlerforcesontheSovietfrontforwhichthe
Japanesemilitaristswaitedsolongfailedtomaterialize,andthisfrustratedtheplansforan
attack on the Soviet Far East. Nevertheless, the rulers of imperialist Japan continued
intensivelytoprepareforwar.TheJapaneseHighCommandclungtotheirpiraticalplanto
employ bacteriological weapons against the U.S.S.R. until the last day of the Japanese
Army's existence. All the time, until the Japanese Army actually surrendered, the
commanders of the bacteriological units sustained the spirit of aggression among their
subordinates,impresseduponthemthepotencyofbacteriologicalweaponsandforetoldtheir
speedyutilizationinwar..
Thus,theseatofdangerofbacteriologicalwarfarecontinuedtoexist.
359
In view of Japan's obviously hostile policy towards the U.S.S.R., a policy incompatible
with the pact of neutrality, the Soviet Government, in April 1945, denounced that pact. In
August1945,faithfultoitsdutyasanally,andwiththeobjectofbringingWorldWarIIto
thespeediestend,theSovietUnionordereditsarmedforcestorouttheJapaneseKwantung
Army,thestrikingforceofimperialistJapan.Thisorderwascarriedoutinashortspaceof
timeandtheheroicSovietArmytherebycompelledtheJapanesearmedforcestosurrender.
TheendofWorldWarIIarrived.
Just before the surrender of the Kwantung Army, by order of the High Command, the
criminals wiped out the traces of the atrocities they had committed; they destroyed the
premisesandequipmentofdetachments731and100,andalsothoseoftheirbranches.
TheSovietUnionanditsarmedforcesperformedtheimmenseserviceofsavingmankind
fromthehorrorsofbacteriologicalwarfare.
VI.AnalysisofProof
ofthePersonalGuiltofAccused
ComradesJudges,
Iwillnowproceedtoanalyzetheproofthatestablishestheguiltofeachoftheaccused.
I am of the opinion that the Court investigation has fully established the guilt of all the
criminalswhohavebeenputontrial.Allofthem,fromtheformerCommanderin-Chiefof
the Kwantung Army, the accused Yamada, to the laboratory assistant of Detachment 100
Mitomo, in different degrees, of course, took an active part in the preparations to conduct
bacteriologicalwarfare,wereawareofthefrightfulconsequencesofsuchwarfare,andwere
awareofthecriminalnatureoftheiractions.
Themajorityofthemtookanactivepartin,orinitiated,criminalexperimentsonhuman
beings.Nopleadingwithreferencetoordersfromsuperiorsortothestatusofservicemencan
serve as justification for the heinous crimes they committed, and which have been fully
provedinCourt.
Onlyafewyearsagothesecriminalswereconfidentthattheyweresafefrompunishment,
and therefore went on cruelly tormenting their defenceless victims. In the offices of
headquartersandinsecretlaboratorieshiddenfromtheworld,theyhatchedvillainousplans
for putting millions of people to a painful death. In anticipation of the launching of
bacteriologicalwarfare,theytestedthelethaleffectsofbacteriaonpeacefulChinesewomen
andchildren,onthousandsofdefencelesspeoplewhohadbeenplacedintheirhandsbythe
mercilessmachineofthegendarmerie.
Theygavenothoughttothehourofretributionatthattime.
Butnow,caughtbythehandofjusticeandplacedinthedefendants'box,theycravenlytry
to justify their conduct. Some of them, including even such like the major criminal in this
trial, who by rights should be classed among the major Japanese war criminals, accused
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Yamada,pretendtobeshockedbywhattheyhaveheardinCourt.
Thesecruelmisanthropesarenowtryingtoposeaspeoplewhohadaninklingthatcrimes
were being committed, but had not been fully informed about them, or of people who had
blindlyobeyedorderswithoutreflectingontheircriminalnature.
Butthesecravenhalf-confessionsofcapturedandexposedmiscreantscandeceivenobody.
•
I will commence my analysis of the proof of the personal guilt of accused with that of
accusedYamadaOtozoo,formerCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy.
Inorderproperlytodefinethedegreeofhisresponsibilityforthecrimesagainstpeaceand
humanitywhicharetheobjectofjudicialinvestigationinthiscase,itisnecessary,firstofall,
to ascertain the role played in the Japanese colony that was called Manchukuo by the
Commander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy.
He was complete master of the country and of the Japanese armed forces that were
quarteredinit;adictator,inwhosehandsthe"Emperor"ofManchuria,HenryPu-yi,wasno
morethanapuppet.ThepostofCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmywasfilledonly
bythemosttrustedandinfluentialmembersoftheJapaneserulingclique,bythemostactive
participants in the criminal conspiracy of aggression whom the Japanese imperialists
entrustedwiththetaskofcarryingouttheirmostcherishedpiraticalplans.
Subordinated to the Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army were all the Japanese
armedforcesandalltheorgansofadministrationintheoccupiedcountry.Inparticular,those
organs of the Japanese Gendarmerie, espionage and counter-espionage which exercised the
cruelreignofterroroverthepopulationofManchuria,werecompletelysubordinatedtohim.
As Yamada confessed during the Court investigation, the so-called "Tokui-Atsukai," the
"special consignments" sent to the Ishii Detachment, could have been sent only after this
wickedmethodofdoingawaywithpeoplewhomtheJapaneseregardedasundesirablehad
beensanctionedbytheCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy.
DuringthetrialYamadatriedtominimizetheroleheplayedintheperformanceofthese
vile deeds by arguing that the "special consignments" had been sanctioned by his
predecessor, General Umezu, and that he had not rescinded that order on replacing Umezu
because he had not realized the dimensions which the extermination of people through the
"specialconsignments"hadassumed.
A miserable attempt to minimize his own responsibility! Yamada himself inspected the
IshiiDetachment,andhecouldnotbuthaveseenthehundredsofprisonerswhowerebeing
subjectedtotorturousexperimentsinthedetachment'sinnerprison.DuringthetrialYamada
asserted that he "did not remember" whether he visited the prison when inspecting the
detachment.
ButalsothisassertionofYamada'sisutterlyrefutedbytheproofsubmittedtotheCourt.
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IwillremindtheCourtthatinthebeginningofJune1945,ColonelTamura,formerChief
of the Personnel Division of the Kwantung Army Headquarters, inspected the Ishii
DetachmentonYamada'sinstructions.
Tamurainspectedthewholedetachment.Hewasconductedtotheprisonandtheresawthe
peoplewhowerebeingsubjectedtoexperiments.
"Ingoingoverthepremises,"Tamuratestified,
"Iwastakentoaninnerbuildingwhere,inspecial
cells, each of which had a window in the door, people Were kept in chains, who, as Ishii
himselftoldme,wereusedforexperiments....
"Among these experimentees I saw Chinese, Europeans and a woman. As General Ishii
himself informed me, this woman and the Europeans were of Russian nationality ... from
amongthosewho,intheopinionoftheJapanesepenalauthorities,weretobeexterminated.
"I myself saw that the people in these cells were lying on the bare floor and were in a
very_sickandhelplesscondition."
After making a detailed inspection of the Ishii Detachment, Tamura, to quote his own
words,"wasliterallyamazedbythevastdimensionsofthislethalproduction,"andwhathe
sawexceededallhisexpectations.
OnreturningtotheKwantungArmyHeadquarters,Tamuraimmediatelyreportedallhehad
seentoGeneralYamada.Inparticular,asTamurahimselftestified:
"IreportedtoGeneralYamadatheinterestingexperimentsGeneralIshiiandhismenwere
performingonhumanbeings....ItoldhimaboutmyvisittotheprisonandaboutallIhad
seenthere."WasYamadasurprisedor"shocked"bywhatheheardfromTamura?Notabit.
YamadahadlongknownaboutallthatTamuratoldhim,anditcouldnothavesurprisedhim
intheleast.
"FromGeneralYamada'scommentsandquestions,"Tamuratestified,"Ibecameconvinced
thathewasverywellinformedaboutthesituationinDetachment731."Andhowcouldthis
Commander-in-Chief not be "well informed" about everything that went on in the
detachment,consideringthathecloselywatchedthecriminalresearchesinemployingforwar
purposes the bacteria of the most dangerous diseases (you remember that Yamada, on his
own initiative, summoned General Kitano to Headquarters to report on the results of the
experiments in using plague-infected fleas on the Anta proving ground—in all cases those
experiments were made on human beings); considering that he appointed special
commissionsofhighstaffofficerstosanctiontypesofbacteriologicalweaponsandtodraw
upplansforusingthem;thathehimselfinspectedthedetachmentandwasoftheopinionthat
the Ishii Detachment, as this same Tamura said, was "capable of carrying out any
assignment"?
TheattemptonaccusedYamada'sparttoposeasasoldierwhoonlyknewsomethingabout
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the crimes that were being perpetrated by detachments 731 and 100, but was not aware of
their scale and vile character, although not repudiating responsibility—this attempt failed
utterly.
HenotonlyknewaboutallthecrimesperpetratedbyIshii,KajitsukaandTakahashi,about
the vile deeds performed by detachments 731 and 100; he planned and directed them;vhe
hurriedthecriminalexperimenters,fortheuseofbacteriologicalweaponsformedpartofthe
planoftherulingcliqueofJapantowageanaggressivewar.
InYamada'shandsIshiihimself,andalltheothercriminalswhowereengagedindevising
andperfectingmeansforthewickedexterminationofhumanbeings,werebutinstrumentsfor
carryingouttheplansofJapaneseaggression.
Thatiswhy,ashasbeendocumentarilyprovedduringthetrial,thesecretbacteriological
units were directly subordinated to the Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army,
Yamada,anditwasfromhimthattheordertoemploymeansofbacteriologicalwarfarewas
expected.
Yamada'sattempttominimizehisguiltbyarguingthatthecriminalexperimentsonliving
peoplehadbeensanctionedbyhispredecessor,GeneralUmezu,whomtheTokyoTribunal
sentencedtolifelongimprisonment,isfutileifonlyforthereasonthathe,Yamada,having
replaced Umezu, with greater zeal than his predecessor, began to activize the work of the
detachmentsinpracticallyapplyingthemostdangerousmeansofbacteriologicalwarfare.
The testimony of all the accused and witnesses who were examined in the course of the
trial shows that with Yamada's appointment to the post of Commander-in-Chief of the
KwantungArmy,thepreparationsforconductingbacteriologicalwarfaresharplyintensified,
and the scale and number of victims of the criminal experiments increased—the criminal
bacteriological weapons were tested on defenceless victims once again before being hurled
againstmankindasastrikingforceinabigwarofaggression.
In preparing in profound secrecy to conduct bacteriological warfare against peaceful
nations,accusedYamadaactedasoneofthemajorJapaneseconspiratorsagainstmankind.
Yamada devoted his whole life to the achievement of this criminal aim. He was InspectorGeneral of Military Training, a member of the Supreme War Council of Japan, he was in
commandofthelargestarmyunitsinChina,hetookpartinpreparingforanattackuponthe
U.S.S.R.,andlastly,itwashewhowasentrustedwiththepostofCommanderin-Chiefofthe
majorforceofJapaneseimperialism—theKwantungArmy—andwasJapan's"ambassador"
inpuppetManchukuo,whereheexercisedafierceoccupationalregime.
Theguiltofthiscriminalisfullyproved.Forthecrimeshehascommittedhedeservesthe
supremepenaltyprovidedbythelaw.
ThecriminalactivitiesofaccusedYamadaaredirectlyrelatedtoDetachment731andto
Detachment100.
Both these detachments were subordinated to Yamada, he directed all the work of the
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secret bacteriological units of the Kwantung Army and, therefore, this accused occupies a
specialplaceamongtherest.
IwillnowdealwiththeproofofguiltofaccusedKajitsuka.
KajitsukaRyujioccupiedthepostofChiefoftheMedicalAdministrationoftheKwantung
Army from December 1939. He was appointed to this important military post at the time
when the Ishii Detachment had already developed its criminal activities and had made the
firstbacteriologicalattacksagainsttheSovietandMongoliantroopsintheareaoftheriver
Khalkhin-Gol.
When testifying during the preliminary investigation and during this trial, Kajitsuka laid
specialemphasisonthiscircumstance.Asamatteroffact,hiswholelineofdefenceinCourt
amountstoanattempttoprovethathelearnedaboutthesecretworkconductedbytheIshii
DetachmentafterhehadtakenuphispostintheKwantungArmy,andthat,althoughheknew
about this work, and about the Ishii Detachment's "secret of secrets," to use his own
expression,i.e.,theexperimentsonhumanbeings,hetooknoactivepartinthesecrimes.We
willprovethattheseassertionsoftheaccusedarefalseandfutile.
Ithasbeenfullyproved,inparticular,thatmuchearlierthanthetimeheoccupiedthepost
of Chief of the Medical Administration of the Kwantung Army, as early as 1936, when he
wasChiefoftheSanitaryDivisionoftheMedicalAdministrationoftheJapaneseMinistry
forWar,Kajitsukaactivelyhelpedtoformaspecialsecretbacteriologicalunittoprepareto
conductbacteriologicalwarfare.
With Kajitsuka's consent and backing, the post of Chief of this unit, subsequently called
Detachment 731, was given to Ishii Shiro, with whom Kajitsuka had established close
personalrelations,andwhosecriminalideaofpreparingtoconductaggressivebacteriological
warfareKajitsukabackedandshared.
Thus,KajitsukatookanactivepartintheveryformationoftheIshiiDetachment.
ThedraftoftheorderappointingIshiiChiefofthedetachmentwasdrawnupandvisaedby
noneotherthanKajitsuka.AfterthattheorderwassignedbytheMinisterforWar.
DescribingIshii,andreferringtohisownrelationswithhim,Kajitsukasaid:
"Afterhisreturnfromhismissionabroad,Ishiibegan,in1931,tourgeamonghisfriends
at the Military Medical Academy, of whom I was one, and also among authoritative and
influentialpersonsandservicemenattheGeneralStaffoftheJapaneseArmy,thenecessityof
Japan preparing to conduct bacteriological warfare. . . . I agreed with Ishii's ideas and
arguments." Kajitsuka does not deny that he knew about the secret work of the Ishii
Detachment in preparing to conduct bacteriological warfare. He was also obliged to admit
thathe"waswellinformed"aboutthecriminalexperimentsonlivingpeople.
AttheconfrontationwithaccusedYamada,exposedbythelatter,headmittedthathehad
been kept informed about nearly all the "bacteriological work" performed by Detachment
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731.
He does not deny that he directed the research work of Detachment 731 in testing the
effectivenessofinoculationsofthevaccinesofplague,choleraandtyphus.
We know from the materials of the Court investigation that in all cases these criminal
researcheswereconductedbymeansofcruelexperimentsuponhumanbeings.
Kajitsukatriestominimizethedegreeofhisresponsibilitybysayingthatheknewabout
the experiments on human beings only from what Ishii and Kitano had told him, but had
takennodirectpartintheseexperiments.
Kajitsuka'sexplanationsoftheparthetookinthecriminalactivitiesofDetachment731are
contradictoryandhollow.Kajitsukaistryingtoposeasamanwhoknewabouteverything,
buthadtakennopartinanything.Hesays,forexample(Iquotehistestimony):
"Actually, I directed the work of Detachment 731 in studying from all aspects and
cultivatingdifferentkindsofepidemicbacteriawithoutreferencetothewaytheyweretobe
usedlater.ThatquestiondidnotinterestmeasChiefoftheMedicalAdministration.
"But,knowingthatthebacteriaproducedbyDetachment731wasusedforexperimentson
humanbeingsandwasintendedforbacteriologicalweapons,ItherebyassistedDetachment
731intheproductionofbacteriologicalweapons.
"Concretely,mydirectionoftheworkofDetachment731consistedinexercisingcontrol
overtheworkperformedbythedetachmentinthegeneralstudyandcultivationofdifferent
kindsofepidemicbacteria.
"Inthis I gave the Chiefof Detachment 731 allthe necessary instructions relating to the
afore-mentioned problems. I, in my turn, as Chief of the Medical Administration, received
reportsfromtheChiefofDetachment731onproblemsrelatingtothestudyandcultivationof
differentkindsofepidemicbacteria.
"Moreover,beingabacteriologist,Igavevariousadviceintheseproblems."
TheCourtknowsthatallthework,which,inhistestimonyKajitsukastatedcamewithin
his jurisdiction, was conducted by Detachment 731 by means of experiments on living
people. This confirms the fact that Kajitsuka was not a passive onlooker, but an active
participator in the heinous crimes perpetrated by Detachment 731. Nay more, these crimes
werecommittedbyordersdirectlygivenbyKajitsuka.
AttheconfrontationwiththelaboratoryassistantofDetachment731,Segoshl,Kajitsuka
was forced to admit that the so-called "freezing researches" came within hjs jurisdiction.
Hence,theonlycorrectdeductiontobedrawnisthattheseexceptionallycruelexperiments
wereconductedbyhisorders.Kajitsukaalsoadmittedthathereceivedwrittenreportsfrom
Yoshimura,whohadconductedfreezingexperiments.
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I will not repeat to you the description of the frightful experiments conducted by
Yoshimura. Detachment 731 conducted these experiments on orders directly received from
Kajitsuka,andIconsideritprovedthataccuseddidnotsimplyknow,asheasserts,aboutthe
"secretofsecrets"ofDetachment731—experimentsonlivingpeople—butwastheinitiator
anddirectorofthemostcruelandinhumanofthem.
KajitsukawasfullyinformedaboutthebacteriologicalattacksDetachment_731madeupon
thecivilianpopulationofChina.
Kajitsuka, however, is trying to make it appear that these open attacks of aggressive
bacteriologicalwarfarewerenothingmorethanexperiments.
"Undoubtedly, for China, this was a weapon of attack," says Kajitsuka, "but for Japan, I
consideritwas
anexperimentalone."
The cynical sophistry of these arguments about the "experimental nature" of the
bacteriological attacks upon the Chinese people only reveal Kajitsuka once again as a
mercilessmisanthropewhostillregardstheIshiiDetachment'sexpeditionstoChinaashaving
beenonlyasexperimentsprecedingaggressivebacteriologicalwarfare.
Unlike other high staff officers of the Kwantung Army, Kajitsuka suffered from no
restrictions whatever as regards familiarizing himself with all the work conducted by
Detachment731.IthasbeenprovedthatheregularlyvisitedDetachment731andwasfully
informedaboutallitsactivities.
AccusedYamadatestifiedthatafterhehadtakenuphispostintheKwantungArmy,none
other than Kajitsuka, at the end of July 1944, gave him a detailed report on the work of
Detachment731,inthecourseofwhichhestatedthatthisdetachmentwasconductingsecret
workindevisingandproducingbacteriologicalweapons.
ThesameYamadatestified:
"LieutenantGeneraloftheMedicalServiceKajitsuka
exercised direction of the scientific experimental work conducted by Detachment 731 in
devisingandproducing
bacteriologicalweaponsonamassscale."
Kajitsuka himself formed the branches of Detachment 731, the direct function of which
wastomakeabacteriologicalattackupontheU.S.S.R.
Thus,allthematerialsinthecaseprovethatfromthemomentDetachment731wasformed
toJapan'ssurrender,Kajitsukawasoneofthemostactiveparticipantsinthepreparationsfor
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conducting bacteriological warfare. He took part in all the secret operations conferences
convened at Headquarters of the Kwantung Army for the purpose of discussing practical
problemsconnectedwiththeemploymentofbacteriologicalweaponsinawarofaggression.
It was Kajitsuka who served as the direct link between Detachment 731 and the High
CommandoftheKwantungArmy.
The guilt of accused Kajitsuka has been proved by the Court investigation and, as State
Prosecutor,Ireaffirmthechargeagainsthiminitsfullscope.
Accused Kawashima must be regarded as one of the criminals who was most fully
informedaboutalltheactivitiesofDetachment731.Duringtheperiodofhisserviceinthe
detachmentheoccupiedthepostofChiefoftheGeneralAffairsDivisionandChiefofthe4th
"production" Division. In 1941, he was, in addition, Chief of the 1st, so-called research,
Division,themostsecretofallthedetachment'sdivisions.
Kawashimacarefullyconcealedhisworkinthisdivisionfromtheinvestigationauthorities
for a long time until he was exposed by the witness Furuichi, who had worked in the 1st
DivisionunderKawashima'sdirection,andwhoidentifiedhimashisformerchief.
ThepostthatKawashimaoccupiedforthelongestperiodwasthatofheadofthe4th,socalledproduction,Division,whichengagedinthemassproductionofbacteria.Heservedin
thispostfrom1941to1943.DuringthisperiodtheoutputcapacityofDetachment731was
raised, as we know from the report of the medicolegal experts and from the testimony of
accusedandwitnesses,tocolossaldimensions—tomanyhundredmillionbillionsofmicrobe
bodiespermonth.
Kawashimatookadirectpartinexperimentsonhumanbeings.Ithasbeenprovedthatin
somecaseshehimselfdrewupplansforcriminalexperiments;inparticular,inJune1941,he
himself wrote out the order to make experiments on human beings to test the effect of the
Ishii bomb that contained plague-infected fleas. Kawashima's testimony shows that the
victims of this experiment were 15 Chinese prisoners. Kawashima took a direct part in
conductingthiscriminalexperiment.
Equally, Kawashima took part in making bacteriological weapons for an attack upon the
Chinesecivilianpopulation.
The accused's own testimony establishes the fact that to supply the Ishii Detachment's
expeditionintoChinainMay-June1942,anenormousquantityoftyphoid,paratyphoidand
anthraxgermswerepreparedunderKawashima'sdirection.
The evidence of the witness Furuichi proves that, directing the detachment's 1st, the
research,Division,Kawashimaperformedcriminalexperimentsonamassscaleinforcibly
infectinglivingpeopleandotherinhumanexperimentsonhumanbeings.
Thus,Kawashimabearsdirectresponsibilityforthebrutalexterminationofmanyhundreds
ofprisonersintheinnerprisonoftheIshiiDetachment.
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Admitting all these facts, Kawashima confirmed in Court that he participated both in
preparing to conduct bacteriological warfare and in inhuman experiments on living people.
Thus,Kawashima'sguiltisfullyproved.
The guilt is equally fully proved of accused Karasawa Tomio, who in 1933 entered the
JapaneseArmy,obtainedamedicaleducationpaidforbytheGeneralStaff,wentthroughtwo
specialrefreshercoursesinbacteriologyinamilitarymedicalcollege,andinDecember1939
was appointed to the Ishii Detachment, where he specialized in the mass production of
bacteriologicalweapons.
InthisdetachmentKarasawawassoonpromotedtothepostofChiefofasection.Inthe
wordsofhisimmediatesuperiorKawashima,Karasawa"loved"hisworkandineveryway
strovetoimprovethemassproductionoflethalbacteria.
ItwasKarasawawhosuppliedhugequantitiesofbacteriaforalltheexpeditionsorganized
bytheIshiiDetachmentforconductingbacteriologicalattacksupontheChinesepopulation.
Whenstudyingthelethaleffectivenessofthebacteriacultivatedbyhisdivision,Karasawa,
in1943-44,tookpartintheexperimentsmadeontheAntaprovinggroundtoinfecthuman
beingsbytheexplosionofbacteriashells.
During the war accused Karasawa was commissioned to study the problem of
decentralizing the production of bacteria and distributing it among all the detachment's
branches. With this object, Karasawa, in 1944, visited the detachment's branches in Sunyu,
Hailar, Linkow and Hailin, and drew up a plan for supplying these branches with the
apparatusnecessaryforthemassproductionofbacteriatoserveasweaponsinbacteriological
warfare.
ToallthisKarasawahasconfessedfullguilt.
Inadditiontohisownconfession,hisguiltisprovedbythetestimonyofanumberofother
accused and witnesses, in particular, by the testimony of Kawashima and Nishi, who
described accused as an efficient and active participant in the preparations to conduct
aggressivebacteriologicalwarfare.
DuringtheCourtinvestigationtheguiltoftwootheraccusedwasfullyestablished:Nishi
ToshihideandOnoueMasao.Theformer—Nishi,wasChiefofthedetachment'sBranch673;
thelatterwasChiefofBranch643.
BoththeseaccusedwerefullyawareofthenatureofthecriminalactivitiesofDetachment
731inpreparingtoconductbacteriologicalwarfare,andtookanactivepartinthiswork.
AccusedNishitookpartinexperimentsonhumanbeings.Thus,thematerialsinthecase
haveestablishedthatinJanuary1945,Nishitookpartinexperimentstoinfecthumanbeings
withgasgangrene.Thevictimsoftheseexperimentswere10Chinesepatriotswho,afterthe
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experiments,asisevidentfromNishi'sowntestimony,diedingreattorment.
When our Soviet troops were approaching the town of Sunyu, Nishi ordered all the
premises and equipment of Branch 673 to be burnt in order to wipe out the traces of the
branch'sactivities.
Nishi handed out to his subordinates potassium cyanide and ordered them to poison
themselvesiftheyweretakenprisonerbytheSoviettroops.
Nishi's subordinates did not carry out this order, with a few exceptions they preferred to
surrender.
Both Nishi and Onoue were among General Ishil's most active assistants in the
preparations for conducting bacteriological warfare and were fully aware of Ishii's plans to
usebacteriologicalweapons.
Bothaccusedhavepleadedguiltytothechargesbroughtagainstthem;moreovertheirguilt
is proved by the evidence of witnesses and by documents that have been submitted to the
Court.
AccusedSatoShunjienteredtheJapaneseArmyin1922;likemostoftheotheraccused,he
went through two special courses of training at the Military Medical Academy, and for a
considerableperiodservedinvariouspostsintheMedicalServiceandasaninstructoratthe
Academy.
In 1941, in the rank of Colonel, Sato was appointed in the city of Canton to the post of
Chief of Bacteriological Detachment 8604, known as the "Nami Detachment," and in
February 1943 he was transferred to Nanking to take the post of Chief of Bacteriological
DetachmentEi1644.
IhavealreadydescribedindetailtheactivitiesconductedbytheNankingDetachmentEi
1644.Likedetachments731and100,theNankingDetachmentwasasecretbacteriological
unitoftheJapaneseArmy,formedforthepurposeofconductingaggressivebacteriological
warfare.
IthasbeenprovedthatitwasDetachmentEi1644,togetherwiththeIshiiDetachment,that
madeabacteriologicalattackupontheChinesecivilianpopulation.Ithasalsobeenproved
that Detachment Ei 1644 conducted cruel experiments on living people. The very fact that
Sato was appointed Chief of Detachment Ei 1644 is in itself proof that he was an active
participantinaggressivebacteriologicalwarfare.
Thisisconfirmedbythedataontheoutputcapacityofthedetachment'sspecialapparatus
thatwasintendedforthecultivationofbacteriaonamassscale.
These microbes, cultivated in large quantities, were to have served for the purpose of
conductingbacteriologicalwarfare,for,aswasestablishedduringtheCourtinvestigation,the
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Nankingdetachmentscarcelyengagedintheproductionofvaccines.
ForalongtimeSatostubbornlydeniedhisguilt;buttheweightofproofbroughtagainst
him compelled him to admit that he was in command of detachments that were special
bacteriologicalunitsintendedforthepurposeofconductingbacteriologicalwarfare.
During the Court investigation Sato also admitted that he was fully informed about the
participation of Detachment Ei 1644 in the bacteriological attack on the Chinese forces in
CentralChinain1942,duringtheso-calledChekangoperation.
Healsoadmittedthatthisdetachment,ofwhichhewasthehead,wasthebacteriological
arsenaloftheJapaneseArmy.
In1944SatowastheChiefoftheMedicalServiceofthe5thKwantungArmyandinthat
postrenderedtheHailinBranchoftheIshiiDetachmentpracticalassistance.
HeissuedaspecialordertoformsquadstocatchrodentsandtodeliverthemtotheHailin
BranchofDetachment731.
Sato was one of the active participants in the preparations for conducting bacteriological
warfareandIconsiderhisguiltprovedbythematerialsinthiscase.
AccusedKikuchiandKurushimaservedaslaboratoryassistants.OneservedinBranch643
andtheotherinBranch162ofDetachment731.Bothhelpedtheofficersofthesebranchesto
cultivate bacteria, and were fully aware that the purpose of their work was to prepare to
conductbacteriologicalwarfare.
Moreover, in the summer of 1945, Kikuchi went through a course of training in classes
organized by Detachment 731 for training cadres for the purpose of conducting active
bacteriologicalwarfare.AccusedKikuchiandKurushimathemselvesdonotdenythesefacts.
Thus, both must answer for having been participants in preparations for conducting
bacteriologicalwarfare.
AppointedinMarch1941tothepostofChiefoftheVeterinaryServiceoftheKwantung
Army,accusedLieutenantGeneraloftheVeterinaryServiceTakahashiTakaatsuhadunder
his command Detachment 100, which was a special unit for preparing and conducting
bacteriologicalwarfareandforcarryingoutbacteriologicalsabotage.Immediatelyontaking
upthispost,TakahashidevelopedenormousactivityandsecuredanincreaseinDetachment
100's potential output capacity in the production of germs of severe infectious diseases
amonganimals:glanders,cattleplague,andanthraxdiseases,andalsopoisonsandexcitersof
diseasesamonggraincrops.
OnTakahashi'sdirectinitiativetheso-called6thSectionwasformedinDetachment100;
this section cultivated bacteria on a mass scale to be used in bacteriological warfare and
sabotage,andalsoconductedcriminalexperimentsonlivingpeople.
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AmongtheunitsoftheKwantungArmyaccusedTakahashiformedanetworkofbranches
of Detachment 100, which also engaged in the production of bacteriological weapons and
were intended for the purpose of directly carrying out bacteriological attacks and
bacteriologicalsabotageduringwar.
Personally directing the work of devising means of bacteriological warfare, Takahashi
considerablyenlargedDetachment100'spotentialoutputcapacitybyformingnewdivisions
fortheproductionofbacteriaandpoisons.
The Japanese Gendarmerie supplied Detachment 100 with prisoners from the same
contingents as those that were sent for extermination to Detachment 731, and on these
prisonerswickedexperimentswereperformedforthepurposeofstudyingtheeffectsofthe
poisonsthatwereinjectedintotheirbodies.Afterthisalltheexperimenteesweremurderedso
that no witnesses of these atrocities should be left. Since Takahashi directed the work of
Detachment100,hebearsresponsibilityfortheseatrocitiestoo.
TakahashialsodirectedthesabotageactivitiesofDetachment100.
This detachment purchased large consignments of animals on which experiments in
wholesaleinfectionfromtheairwereconductedinpreparationforconductingsabotage.
OnordersfromaccusedTakahashi,forthepurposeofstudyingtheeffectofbacteriological
weaponsundernaturalconditions,testsweremadeonDetachment731'sprovinggroundin
theregionofAntaStation,wherecattlewereinfectedbythesprayingofbacteriaontheirfeed
from aircraft. Moreover, after the districts of the North Khingan Province bordering on the
SovietUnionhadbeensystematicallyreconnoitred,accusedTakahashisentoutexpeditions
fromDetachment100,whichcontaminatedthetributariesofthefrontierriverArgunwiththe
objectoftestingtheeffectofbacteriologicalsabotageonrivers.
AccusedTakahashiconfirmedallthesefactsinCourt.
TheTribunalhasalsoheardthetestimonyofaccusedHirazakura,whoconfirmedthefact
that accused Takahashi took an active part in the preparations to conduct bacteriological
warfareandincarryingoutbacteriologicalsabotageagainsttheU.S.S.R.andtheMongolian
People'sRepublic.Thus,theguiltofaccusedTakahashihasbeenfullyestablished.
Accused Hirazakura Zensaku, veterinary surgeon, was enrolled in the Japanese Army in
December 1939 and in June 1942 was appointed to Detachment 100. Knowing that the
detachmentengagedinthemassproductionofdifferentkindsofbacteriaandvirulentpoisons
intendedforsabotageandbacteriologicalwarfareagainsttheSovietUnion,Hirazakura,until
the moment he was taken prisoner, actively took part in the preparations for conducting
bacteriological warfare against the U.S.S.R. and the Mongolian People's Republic. He
himself conducted researches in devising and employing bacteriological weapons. In July
1942, Hirazakura took part in an expedition in the valley of Tryokhrechye, in the North
Khingan Province bordering on the U.S.S.R., where, after experiments had been made in
contaminatingwatersourcesandpastures,thetributaryofthefrontierriverArgunwas,with
hisparticipation,infectedwithanthrax.
371
In June 1944, at the head of a reconnoitring-sabotage group of seven members of
Detachment 100, Hirazakura conducted reconnoitring operations with the object of
ascertainingwhetheritwaspossibletocontaminatefromaircraftwatersources,summerand
winter pastures, hayfields and roads in the Soviet frontier districts. Accused Hirazakura
submittedadetailedwrittenreportontheresultsofthereconnoitringoperationtotheChief
of Detachment 100, and made a verbal report to the Chief of the Veterinary Service of the
KwantungArmy,accusedTakahashi.
AccusedHirazakura,inconformitywithordersreceivedfromTakahashi,purchasedinthe
region of Hailar large consignments of cattle, which were to be infected with severe
infectious diseases and then driven into the Mongolian People's Republic as a means of
bacteriological sabotage. Owing to the rapid advance of the forces of the Soviet Army,
however,Hirazakuradidnotmanagetocarrythisout,becausesoonafterhisarrivalinHailar
hewastakenprisonerbytheadvancingforcesoftheSovietArmy.
AccusedHirazakuraisprovedguiltyofthesecrimesbyhisownconfession,aswellasby
thetestimonyofaccusedTakahashiandMitomo,andofwitnessesKuwabaraandothers.
Accused Mitomo Kazuo in 1941 voluntarily joined Detachment 100 as a laboratory
assistant, and knowing that Detachment 100 was making preparations for conducting
bacteriologicalwarfare,workedactivelytocultivatethegermsofanthrax,glanders,andother
diseases.
InJuly1942,togetherwithaccusedHirazakura,accusedMitomotookpartinasabotage
expeditiontocontaminateatributaryoftheriverArgun.InAugust-Septemberl944,working
under the direction of Ida Kiyoshi, a member of Bacteriological Detachment 100, Mitomo
systematicallyconductedcriminalexperimentsonhumanbeings.
Accused Mitomo has admitted that he himself tested the action of different kinds of
poisons on living people. As a result of Mitomo's experiments, one of the prisoners died;
Mitomo murdered another with an injection of potassium cyanide in order to keep the
experimentssecret.ForthesamereasonthreeotherswereshotinhispresencebyaJapanese
gendarme.
AlthoughMitomowasonlyanordinarylaboratoryassistantinDetachment100,hishands
arestainedwiththebloodofthepeoplehetorturedtodeath,andthedeliberateobjectofhis
activities was to prepare for the conduct of bacteriological warfare. This has been clearly
established not only by Mitomo's own admissions, but also by the testimony of accused
Hirazakuraandofanumberofwitnesses.
VII.Conclusion
ComradesJudges,
Horrible and revolting are the crimes committed by the miscreants now sitting in the
defendants'box.
372
Theatrocitiescommittedbythesemisanthropesfromthesecretbacteriologicalunitsofthe
JapaneseArmyverilyhavenoequal.
Indefiningtheresponsibilityofthecriminalsontrial,wemusttakeintoaccountnotonly
thecrimestheycommitted,thosethatarepastandover.Monstrousasthesecrimesare,we
cannot for a moment forget that they served the object of preparing for the commission of
other,stillmoremonstrouscrimes.Thepainfuldeathtowhichthousandsofpeoplewereput,
wastohavepreparedforthemurderofmillions.
The merciless experiments on living people were to have been the preliminary to
epidemicsofblackdeathandcholera.
AccordingtotheplansoftheJapaneseimperialists,bacteriologicalweaponsweretohave
caused incalculable disaster and suffering to the whole of peace-loving mankind, were to
havecausedtheexterminationofmillionsofpeopleandthedevastationofvastareas.
Thatiswhy,indecidingthefateofthecriminals,theCourtmustbearinmindtheultimate
aimsofthiscriminalconspiracyagainstpeaceandhumanity,inpursuitofwhichtheweapons
ofbacteriologicalwarfareweremanufactured.
Weknowthatnotallthecriminalsareinthedefendants'box.Thechainofparticipantsin
thiscriminalconspiracy—Imentionedthisattheopeningofmyspeech—doesnotendwith
thecriminalsonwhomyouwillpasssentence.
We know that the secret bacteriological units of the Japanese Army which were
commissionedtoprepareforandconductbacteriologicalwarfarewereformedbycommand
oftheJapaneseEmperorHirohito.
WeknowthenamesofthecriminalsintheJapaneseGeneralStaffandMinistryforWar
who backed and directed the clandestine work of the secret bacteriological units, lavishly
financed them, sanctioned types of bacteriological weapons and planned the day for
launching bacteriological attacks. In justice, they should have been here by the side of the
former member of the Supreme War Council of Japan and Commander-in-Chief of the
KwantungArmy,accusedYamada.
We know the names of the contemptible, morally corrupt servitors of Japanese
imperialism,generalsoftheformerJapaneseArmy—thebacteriologicalscientistsIshiiShiro,
Kitano,WakamatsuYujiro,whowerereadytoplacetheirspecialknowledgeattheserviceof
the ruling clique of Japan for the purpose of preparing to conduct criminal bacteriological
warfare.
We know the names of those wicked misanthropes, the former members of Detachment
731, physicians and engineers of the Japanese Army, Oota, Murakami, Ikari, Tanaka,
Yoshimuraandmanyothers,whomercilesslyandincoldbloodmurdereddefencelesspeople
and bred many millions of plague-infected parasites and hundreds of kilograms of lethal
microbesfortheexterminationofmankind.
373
Thosemiscreantsarenotinthedefendants'box.Outsidethebordersofourcountry,they
enjoytheprotectionofthosereactionaryforcesintheimperialistcampwhoarethemselves
dreamingofthetimewhentheywillbeabletohurluponmankindloadsofT.N.T.,atomic
bombsandlethalbacteria.
ButthoseofthemurdererswhoarefacingthisCourttodaymustbesternlybroughttobook
foralltheheinouscrimestheyhavecommitted.
Inviewofthenatureofthesecrimes,inviewoftheirobjectbrutallytoexterminatevast
masses of absolutely innocent people—the aged, women and children—in view of the fact
that the criminals performed inhuman experiments that caused the death of thousands of
defenceless victims, the State Prosecution is of the opinion that all the accused should be
punishedinconformitywithArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietof
theU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.
All the accused committed heinous crimes, and all are deserving of severe punishment.
But, Comrades Judges, in defining the measure of punishment, you will discriminatingly
approacheachoftheaccused.
AstherepresentativeoftheStateProsecution,IamoftheopinionthataccusedYamada,
Kajitsuka,Takahashi,KawashimaandSatoshouldbesubjectedtothemaximumpenalty—
deprivationoflibertyfortwenty-fiveyears.
Accused Karasawa, Nishi, Onoue, Hirazakura and Mitomo—deprivation of liberty for
fifteentotwentyyears.
AsregardsaccusedKikuchiandKurushima,takingintoaccountthattheymerelyobeyed
orders—althoughknowingthemtobecriminal—Ideemitpossibleforthesentenceoneach
ofthemtobelimitedtodeprivationoflibertyforthreeyears.
Comrades Judges, the significance of this trial lies in that it, with extraordinary clarity,
revealed the brutal face of piratical Japanese imperialism, which, in profound secrecv,
prepared to conduct bacteriological warfare—one of the most inhuman weapons of
aggression.
Thehourinwhichthefrightfulforceofincalculablebillionsofdisease-causingmicrobes
weretohavebeenhurledagainstmankindwasquitenear;itwasonlytheswiftcrushingblow
oftheArmedForcesoftheSovietUnionthatparalyzedtheenemy,savedtheworldfromthe
horrorsofbacteriologicalwarfare.
It is with feelings of pride for our mighty Socialist Motherland, which saved human
civilizationfromdoom,thatwetodayrecallthegreatfeattheSovietpeopleperformedinthe
PatrioticWar.
Yourverdictmustnotonlysternlyandjustlypunishthecriminalsontrialandcondemnthe
crimesperpetratedbytheJapaneseaggressors.
374
Your verdict must sound as a stern warning to the instigators of a new world war,
misanthropesasmercilessandcruelasthosewhosecrimesyouare/abouttocondemn.
Let all those who are contemplating new crimes against mankind, and preparing new
means for the wholesale extermination of human beings, remember that the world has not
forgottenthelessonsofWorldWarII.
Peaceandsecurityisbeingguardedbymillionsofcommonpeople,bythemightyfrontof
democraticforcesheadedbythegreatSovietUnion.
I-tisamightyandall-conqueringforce,whichwillbeabletocheckandsternlypunishall
instigatorsofanewwar.
Letyourverdictsoundasasternreminderofthis,ComradesJudges!
375
SpeechesfortheDefence
MORNINGSITTING,DECEMBER30
President of the Court: The sitting of the Court continues. Counsel Belov, defending
accusedYamada,willnowspeak.Theaccusedmaylistentothelawyer'sspeechtransmitted
inJapanese.
CounselBelovdeliversaspeech,thetextofwhichisappendedtotherecordoftheCourt
proceedings.Simultaneouslythelawyer'sspeechistransmittedinJapanese.
SPEECHBYCOUNSELBELOV,N.P.,
INDEFENCEOFACCUSEDYAMADA
ComradesJudges!
At the present trial my colleagues for the defence and I, defence counsel for the former
Commander-in-ChiefoftheformerKwantungArmyGeneralYamada,putfewquestionsto
theaccused.Thisfollowedlogicallyfromthefactthattheindictmentwascorroboratedbythe
testimony of the accused and the witnesses, as well as by the documents appended to the
case.
Thebiggestdifficultyofthedefenceinthepresenttrialliesinthatherethereisnoroom
fordebateconcerningthefactsandproofsassuch.
The evidence of the witnesses, the original documents at hand in the case, which were
collectedduringthestageofpreliminaryinvestigation,andthedetailedexplanationsgivenby
theaccusedthemselves,haveconfirmedintheirsumtotalthefactualsideoftheindictment.
Inthelightofthesefactsandcircumstancesofbothmaterial-legalandproceduralnature,
the role of the defence in the present trial is not easy or simple, but the defence counsel is
obligedtocarryouthisdutywiththeutmostthoroughnessdictatedbytheinterestsofjustice.
Naturally,Idonotintendtodefendthosetrulyextraordinarilygravecrimesaboutwhich
theStateProsecutorspokeinsuchdetailinhisspeech.Iamdefendingonlyamanwellonin
years,theaccusedYamada,whobyvirtueofachainofcausesandcircumstancesfatefulfor
him took a definite part in violating the laws and customs.of war, in committing crimes
againstmankind.
Graveistheguiltofmyclientbeforethelaw,aswellasbeforethereasonandconscience
of the peoples upon whose sons and daughters he, together with others, employed the
bacteriological weapon, but there is also a number of features and circumstances which
explain and extentuate his guilt and which, in the name of justice, you, Comrades Judges,
shouldtakeintoaccountinpassingsentence.
376
InhisspeechtheStateProsecutor,adducingnumerousfactsanddocuments,spokeabout
thegravecrimescommittedbytheaccusedinthepresentcase,andinparticularbytheformer
GeneralYamada.
Iwishtotellaboutthosefactorsundertheinfluenceofwhichthemind,will,characterand
moral complexion of my client Yamada, who is now already about 70 years old, were
formed.
Indeed, a clear and precise answer must be given to this question which has a most
essential bearing on the case. Our Soviet science of criminal law has never made common
causewiththeso-calledanthropologicalschoolofcriminallawanditsdoctrineoftheborn
criminal.
The outstanding thinkers, scientists and political figures of the era when the bourgeoisie
was still a revolutionary, progressive social class, also advanced and substantiated the
viewpointthatmanisbornwithoutideas,withoutpassionsorcharacter.
It is common knowledge that such outstanding thinkers as John Locke and Jean Jacques
Rousseauaffirmedintheirworksthat"thereisnoInborndepravityInthehumanheart...."
Considering the question of heredity and upbringing, Konstantin Dimitrievich Ushinsky,
thegreatRussianeducatorofthe19thcentury,pointedoutthatifininfancythechildofthe
greatest of musicians were transported to an island inhabited by savages, then the savage,
discordantsoundswithwhichhismusicalcreativeeffortsbeganwouldbeveryremotefrom
themusicalcultureofhisparents.
Itseemstome,ComradesJudges,inplace,further,tocalltomindthatsuchinvestigators
of genius as Karl Marx and Frederick Engels noted in their works that the historical
environment, the conditions of social being and the conditions of the education of people
engendered by the social relations formtheirmind,interests,will,character and moral
complexion.Engels,inparticular,testifiesthataslate.asinthemiddleofthe19thcenturythe
EnglishworkerandtheEnglishbourgeoissolittleresembledoneanothereveninappearance
that they might have belonged to two different nations, and that this difference in their
appearance, in their character and in their entire spiritual complexion was the result of the
different conditions of life, of the different influences to which they were subjected in the
socialenvironment.
IthinkthattheageandthepositionoccupiedinthetrialbymyclientYamadaobligemeto
dwell as fully as possible on the question of the influence which social, statepolitical and
ideologicalfactorsplayedinforminghiswillandcharacter.
Moreover, we can, and should, have in mind the will and character not only, and not so
much, of separate individuals as of whole social classes, and at times of whole nations as
well.
Permitme,ComradesJudges,toaskyoutorecallthat,asisapparentfromthematerialsof
thecase,myclientYamadawasbornin1881.AbouttheJapanofthattimeKarlMarx,the
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greatestofthinkers,wrote:
"Japan, with its purely feudal organization of landed property and its developed petite
culture,givesamuchtruerpictureoftheEuropeanmiddleagesthanallourhistorybooks,
dictatedastheseare,forthemostpart,bybourgeois
ItwaspreciselyastheMiddleAgeswithitsswayofbruteforceandarbitraryrule,withits
lack of political rights, the darkness and ignorance of the popular masses, the rule of the
church,thepersecutionofscience,brutalreprisalsagainsttheadvancedpeopleofthetime—
it was precisely thus that the founder of scientific Communism characterized the historical
environmentandconditionsofsocialbeinginwhichmyclientYamadawasbornandspent
hisearlyyears.
Itwasatthattime,inthesecondhalfofthe19thcentury,thatthefourwealthiestfamilies
—theMitsui,Mitsubishi,SumitomoandYasuda—appearedonJapan'spoliticalarena.They
quicklyturnedintoimperialistmonopolies,enjoyingassistancefromthestateandallpossible
supportbytheImperialCourt.
Therevolutionof1868preservedthefeudalpillarsinJapan.Theabsolutemonarchysetup
inJapanafter1868was,inessence,preservedalmostupuntilrecently,fortheconstitutionof
1889,modeledafterthePrussianconstitution,lefttheemperorunlimitedpower.
Duringtherevolutionof1868thehouseofMitsuirenderedtheimperialdynastyfinancial
aid in its struggle against the shogunate, the government of feudal Japan. The Mitsui and
Mitsubishihelpedenthronethe15-year-oldMutsuhito,theyearsofwhoserulewerenamed
theMeiji.
The capital investments in the imperial house proved to be of mutual advantage.
Exploitation rights to the mines, forests and factories were given to the house of Mitsui.
Almost all of Japan's economic resources became the monopoly property of the Mitsui,
Mitsubishi,SumitomoandYasuda.
Duringtheperiodwhichhaselapsedsincetherestoration,theimperialfamilyhasbecome
therichestdynastyintheworld,thepossessorofincalculablewealth.
Sincethesecondhalfofthelastcenturytheabove-mentionedfourall-powerfulfamilies,
together with the imperial family, hold and control the banks, factories, mines, forests, the
land,andallthecountry'seconomicresources.Thegiantindustrialandbankingmonopolies
which they head are called in Japan the "zaibatsu." An exact translation of the word
"zaibatsu"is—financialclique.Thebigspecialistinthehistoryofthe"zaibatsu,"Toyohara
Ichiro, calls the "zaibatsu" monopoly capital which developed in feudal conditions. Cheap
labourhelpedthe"zaibatsu"growrich.TheaggressivewarswhichJapanwagedinChinaand
Manchuria for half a century showed the entire world the methods by which the Mitsui,
Mitsubishi, Sumitomo and Yasuda were consolidating their might. Emperor Hirohito of
Japancalledthesecondworldwar"'Japan'ssacredwar,"althougheveryoneknewthatitwas
the "zaibatsu" which had hatched and was waging it; Tojo and Araki were merely their
ideological brothers. The war enriched primarily and chiefly the Mitsui, Mitsubishi,
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SumitomoandYasuda,andtwentyfamiliesofwhatwerecalledthenew"zaibatsu."Itisnot
fornothingthatthe"landoftherisingsun"wasandiscalledthe"kingdomofthe'zaibatsu.'"
Duringthefive-yearperiodprecedingthewarthe"zaibatsu"doubleditscapital,andinthe
fiveyearsofthewarincreasedittenfold.Threehundredandsixtynewhugemillsfedthis
gigantic "human meat-grinder" which was so highly profitable for the "zaibatsu." They
shippedguns,shells,bombsandplanestothebattlefields.Itwasatthewillofthe"zaibatsu"
thatthebacteriologicalweapon,also,waspreparedandemployed.
It was they, the most predatory and brigandish Japanese imperialists, who, realizing the
impossibility of waging wars without mobilizing the broad masses of the population,
establishedastatesystemofpoisoningthemindsoftheJapanesepeoplewiththevenomof
bellicose nationalism and bestial chauvinism. The chauvinistic education of children in the
familyand in school, militaristpropaganda in the press and inart, the system of gendarme
espionage and police terror, the religious temples and their priests, the prisons, the socialfascistpartiesandsimilarattributesoftheimperialiststatemachinewererigidlydeveloped
andputintoactionforthereactionarymouldingofthebroadpopularmasses,andinthefirst
placetheservicemenofthearmyandthenavy.Atthebasisofalltheseformsandmethodsby
whichJapaneseimperialismshapedthesubmissiveservicemanwasplacedtheprinciplethat
Japanesemonarchismisofdivineorigin,eternal,andimmutable.
CharacteristicofJapanesemilitarismandimperialismasawholewasthecombinationof
modern, "up-to-date capitalist" forms of organization, especially in the field ofarmaments,
tactics and strategy, with the old, feudal forms of military relationships. The ideology in
which the Japanese military man was brought up was the samurai ideology, that is, feudal
onceagain.Theentiremilitarymoralcode("bushido")bywhichtheJapaneseofficerwasto
guidehimself,beginningwithdeificationofthesamuraiswordandworshipoftheemperoras
the supreme being, and ending with hara-kiri in the event of a military setback or "loss of
face,"waspermeatedwithideasandemotions[profoundlyfeudal.
NotonlythemilitarymenbuttheentireJapanesepopulationwastrainedinthissamespirit
fromearlyagerightuptooldagethroughtheschool,thepress,thetheatre,thecinema,and
so on. Widely cultivated in training the army and the population at large in a warlike and
aggressivespiritwasindoctrinationofwhatiscalledthe"samuraispirit,"bywhichismeant
thespiritofthesuperiorityoftheJapaneseasaspecialnationchosenfromabove,thespiritof
contemptforandboundlesscruelty toward the enemy, as an inferior being, a "barbarian."
Thisspiritproducedfanaticswhobelievedthatdeathwouldmakethemsaints.
Calltomind,ComradesJudges,theso-called"kamikaze"("divinewind"—sowerecalled
fliers who endeavoured to put an enemy's ship out of commission at the cost of their own
life). Not only Japanese propaganda but the world bourgeois press as well extolled the
fanatical acts of these fliers as the newest manifestation of "the Japanese spirit" ("Yamato
damashi"),whiletheShintoreligiontaughtthatthesoulofsucha"fortunate"whohaddied
forthe"divine"emperorwouldbecomeadivinityand,hence,wouldbeassuredimmortality.
During the last two decades Japanese imperialism "modernized" the feudal samurai
ideologybycombiningitwiththemostreactionary,predatory,piraticalpresent-dayideology
offascism,therebylendingJapanesemilitarismamilitaryfascistcharacter.Thiscombination
ofthemostreactionaryofideologiesonlyredoubledthebrigandcharacterofJapan'sentire
379
warmachineandforeignpolicy.
Apoliticalconsequenceofthiswas,asisknown,theconclusionofthe"anti-Comintern"
pactwithHitlerGermanyandfascistItalyin1936and;thethree-powermilitarypactin1940.
Thewildtheoryof"thesuperiorrace"wasinculcatedevendeeperintheservicemenofthe
JapaneseArmyandintheJapanesepeoplethanitwasinculcatedintheGermansbythearyan
fiihrersandprofessors.
The function of racism was to give a "theoretical" substantiation for the striving of the
JapaneseimperialiststoenslavethepeoplesofAsia,andthentoattainworlddomination.
MattersreachedapointwhereevenJapanesediplomaticrepresentatives,whobythenature
of their profession are obliged to conduct themselves with restraint, gave full rein to their
Great-Power aspirations. Everyone remembers how the Japanese Count Uchida, when a
delegateataLeagueofNationsconferencein1932,declaredinanofficialinterview:"The
missionoftheJapaneseonearthistoguidetheworld.Japanwillbethecradleofthenew
Messiah."
Alongsidethis,aswasprovedbythedocumentaryevidenceandtestimonyofwitnessesat
the Tokyo trial, throughout the period embraced by the indictment, that is, beginning with
1928, the elements of democracy that existed in Japan were systematically and ruthlessly
wipedout.ThestateapparatusinJapanwasrigidlyrebuiltafterthefascistmodel,andevery
hintofresistancetothedevelopmentofJapaneseimperialismandfascismwassuppressedby
themostruthlessterroristmeasures.
It is difficult to pass over in silence the fact that NipponShintoron—a Japanese school
textbookwrittenbyProfessorYutakaHibino—teachesthatgoddescendedtoearthandtook
the incarnation of the Japanese emperor "for the purpose of ruling the race of Yamato, the
race of god-men." "Our sacred empire stands above all else in the world in single and
unattainablesuperiority,"thiscatechismforJapaneseadolescentsandyouthdeclaresfurther.
TheleadingcliqueofJapaneseimperialismmanagedtoachieveasituationwherebyuptothe
timeofthedefeatoftheJapanesewarmachine,almosteveryJapaneseconsidereditastaken
forgrantedthat"theraceofYamato"wasadivineracewhosemissionwastosubordinateall
thenationsandruletheworld.Theprincipleof"Hakkoichiu,"thatis,thatallthecountriesof
theworldmustcomeunderthesceptreofthe"mikado,"waspropagatedinthetemplesand
universities, in the schools and in the streets, in the family and in the departments—
everywhere.
Ishouldlike,ComradesJudges,especiallytoaskyoutotakeintoaccountthatitwasjust
during the years of my client Yamada's upbringing, general education and specialized
militaryeducation,andsubsequentlongyearsofserviceintheformerJapaneseArmy,that
the doctrine of the divine origin of Japan and her emperors, worship of the "spirit of the
ancestors,"andsoonwerewidelycultivatedbytheartfulgraftingofreligiousdoctrineswith
theprinciplesofabsolutemonarchy.
The brain of the Japanese, and in particular of the serviceman, was stuffed with sundry
380
mythologyabouttheoriginoftheJapaneseislands,aboutthedescentoftheimperialhouse
fromAmaterasu-o-mikami(goddessofthesun),andaboutthedescentoftheJapanesepeople
fromthedivinefamilyoftheemperor,whohadtobeobeyedblindlyandunquestioningly.To
this was added the aggressive doctrine of Japan's "special" mission in emancipating the
colouredpeoples"fromthedominationofthewhites."Thepoliticalconclusiondrawnfrom
allthiswasthedoctrineofthe"necessity"ofwarandits"eternalinevitability"asameansof
carryingoutthe"divineplans"andpurgingtheearthofevilandsin.
I should like, Comrades Judges, especially to stress that the inculcation of the "samurai
spirit"intheJapaneseArmywaspromotedbythefactthatbeginningwiththeeightiesofthe
lastcenturytheJapaneseArmybegantobetrainedalongPrussianlines.AGermanmilitary
missionspentlongyearsinJapan,instructingtheJapaneseArmy.Thismissionwasheaded
byMeckel,closestassociateofMoltke.
Thus Prussianism with its reactionary ideology, with its conversion of discipline into
mentalautomatism,wasinculcatedintheJapaneseArmytoo,anditisnotfornothingthatfor
longyearsJapanwascalledthe"PrussiaoftheEast."
Itseemstome,ComradesJudges,permissibletocalltomindthefactthatPrussianismis
theruleoftheknout,theswordandtheletterof"thelaw,"istheimplantationofbrutaldrill
anddisciplineofthecaneinthearmy.
Itisalsonecessary,ComradesJudges,torecallandbearinmindthatthedirectorganizer
of the Japanese war machine, Marshal Yamagata, was an ardent admirer of Bismarck and
Moltke,aworshipperofWilhelmIL
The military party, which was headed by Yamagata, the most prominent member of the
genro(emperor'scouncilofelderfeudallords)advancedtheslogan:"AllJapan'sstrengthlies
in her military might." Yamagata headed the war machine and was the "sovereign of the
thoughts" of the officer corps and the youth, and was the leader of the Japanese state
apparatusfromtheendofthe19thcenturyalmostuptohisdeathin1922.Yamagatawasan
ideologist of the tactics of the "sudden blow." He was the initiator of the law on the direct
subordination of the army and navy to the emperor. The reactionary Japanese military
publicist Hirata Shinsaku, in a book carrying a foreword by General Araki and Admiral
Okada,statedoutright:
"TheJapaneseofficer,soldierandsailoraresubordinatetotheemperoralone,apartfrom
whosewilltheycannotfireasingleshot."
Comrades Judges, the analysis of historical facts, documents and circumstances which I
have presented testifies eloquently to the fact that the modern industrial and banking
"zaibatsu"monopoliesheadedbytheemperor,whichtothisdayholdthemodernindustrial
machine that already seven times in the course of half a century was an instrument for
Japaneseaggressivewars—thatpreciselytheyweretheinspirers,instigators,organizersand
leaders of Japanese aggression with its rich arsenal of weapons of destruction, and, in
particular, were the initiators and organizers of the preparation and employment of
bacteriologicalweapons.
381
It was they who planned, prepared and unleashed aggression; it was they who weighed
downtheJapanesenationof90millionwithreligiousandfeudalprejudices;itwastheywho
helditunderapoliceyoke;itwastheywhopoisoneditsmindwiththevenomofbellicose
nationalismandbestialchauvinism;itwastheywhobytheentiresystemofupbringingand
educationconvertedthemembersofthearmedforcesintomechanicalexecutorsoftheirwill
forthepurposeofestablishingmilitary,naval,politicalandeconomicdominationthroughout
theworld.
The accused Yamada was one of the many executors of the heinous crimes of Japanese
imperialism. I hope, Comrades Judges, you will share my conviction that the crime
committed by my client Yamada was the outcome of the tragic priming and drilling of
thought to which he was forcibly subjected day in and day out in the ranks of the former
JapaneseArmythroughouthislonglife.
This cannot but be admitted, Comrades Judges, and once it is admitted, in the name of
justiceyoumuststatebyyoursentencethatthepresentcasehasestablishednotonlytheguilt
oftheaccusedYamadabutalsohismisfortune,whichconsistedinthathewasborn,grewup,
wasformed,livedandworkedatsuchatime,insuchahistoricalenvironmentandundersuch
conditionsthathecouldnothavebecomeanythingelse.
Itishighlypossible,ComradesJudges,thatyouwillfindinsufficienttheargumentsIhave
adduceddemonstratingthattheconditionsofsocialbeingandtheconditionsofupbringing
andeducationengenderedbythesocialrelationsandthestatestructureformthemind,will,
characterandmoralcomplexionofpeople,thatis,inotherwords,perhapsyouwilldoubtthat
myclientYamadaandtheotheraccusedinthepresentcasearenotonlycriminalsagainstthe
lawsofwarfareandofmankindbutarealsovictimsofJapaneseimperialism.
Inthatcasepermitme,inorderthebettertosubstantiatethebasicthesesofmyspeechfor
thedefence,torefertohistoricaldatathatcarryexceptionalforceofconviction.
ComradesJudges,bynownotonlyweourselves,citizensoftheUnionofSovietSocialist
Republics, and not only our numerous friends abroad, but also our sensible enemies know
that the conditions of socialist society favour the all-round development of man's physical
andspiritualforces,abilitiesandgifts.
ComradesJudges,takethehundredsandthousandsofSovietmenandwomenofourtime
whoareworkingcreativelyinvariousfieldsofscience,art,technique,inthemilitaryfield,in
sports. Take those of them who were born before the Great October Socialist Revolution,
thosewhosprangfromthepeople,andaskyourselveswhattheywouldhavebecome,how
their lives would have developed, in the conditions of Russian reality before the Great
October. Then look at what they have become, how their lives have developed under the
conditionsoftheSovietLand,underthesunoftheStalinConstitution.Weseeandknowthat
millionsofpeoplewhomtsarismtrampled,crushedandstifledhavereceivedtheopportunity
tostraightenout,tosquaretheirshoulders,tounfoldtherichcreativegiftswithwhichthey
are endowed, and, under the conditions of the changed social relations, to reveal the deep,
hidden, rich spiritual forces they possessed. Yesterday's worker and shepherd, men and
womenofthepeople,havetodaybecomeprominentscientists,artworkers,statesmen,andall
this they owe to the changed social relations and the new conditions of upbringing and
382
educationengenderedbythem.TheworldisobservingananalogoussituationinthePeople's
Democracies.
Permit me, now, Comrades Judges, to go from the general thought to the particular and
drawalogicalconclusionwithregardtomyclient,theformerGeneralYamada.
Permitmeonthebasisofthedocumentarydatainthecasetopresentthestory,asitwere,
ofmyclient's"lifepath,"whichcharacterizeshispersonalityandactions.
From the materials of the case it is seen that the accused Yamada was born in 188Tand
comesfromthemilitarycasteofthesamurai,whosincethedaysofyorewereintheservice
oftheemperorandreigningprinces.
From 1887 to 1898 he was brought up and educated in the general elementary and
secondary school. In 1898 Yamada entered the cadet corps. From there he went into an
officers' school, upon his graduation from which, in 1903, he was given the rank of sublieutenant and served in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. From May through September 1904
YamadafoughtintheRusso-JapaneseWar,ontheDalny-Liaoyangsector,asthecommander
of a cavalry unit. The tsarist army, poorly armed and led by mediocre men headed by
NicholasII,thatenthronednonentity,suffereddefeat.
Thedefeatofasystem,thedefeatofautocracy,wasinterpretedinJapan,andnotonlyin
Japanbutinothercapitalistcountries,too,asavictoryoverRussia,overthegreatRussian
people.
This victory turned the head not only of the young officer Yamada, not only of the
JapaneseArmyandNavy,butofyoungpredatoryJapaneseimperialismasawhole.
ComradesJudges,totheamazementofthepeace-lovingpeoplesofallthecountriesofthe
world,inthedockattheTokyotrialtherewasnotasinglerepresentativeofthe"zaibatsu"—
the combines of Japanese monopoly capital. Nor was their head, Emperor Hirohito, there.
Thereason for this wastheties that bound, andbind,the American monopolists with their
Japanesecolleaguesaretoostrong.ThatispreciselywhytheAmericanprosecutorcouldnot
bringhimselftospeakbeforetheInternationalTribunaloftheroleplayedbytheindustrial
andfinancialmagnatesinplanningandorganizingthesecondworldwar.
OurSovietjusticeisgenuinejustice,andinitsnameIasktheMilitaryTribunal,inpassing
sentenceuponmyclientYamada,totakeintoaccounthisreal,andnotseeming,roleinthe
crimesoftheJapaneseimperialistsagainstthelawsandcustomsofwarfare.
IthasbeenestablishedinthecasethatYamadawasborn,grewup,wasformed,livedand
workedinsuchahistoricalperiod,insuchanenvironmentandundersuchconditionsthathe
becameanembodimentofaformofmilitarydisciplinewhichwasnothingmorenorlessthan
mentalautomatism.
HenceYamadaisnotonlytobecondemnedbutalsotobepitied.
383
And,finally,ComradesJudges,inpassingsentenceIaskyoutotakeintoaccountalsothe
fact that the accused Yamada found in himself the strength and the courage to confess his
guiltduringboththepreliminaryinvestigationandincourt.Hehascometorealizethefull
depth of his fall. Without trying to clear or spare himself he described fully, in detail,
sincerely, both his own criminal activity and the still more criminal activity of the other
inspirersandorganizersofthecrimesestablishedatthepresenttrial.
AndnowtheaccusedYamadahasbowedhisguiltyheadbeforeyouandawaitsyourjust
sentence.
With this, Comrades Judges, permit me to conclude my explanations in defence of the
accusedYamada.
PresidentoftheCourt:CounselBorovik,defendingaccusedKawashimaKiyoshi,willnow
speak.
CounselBorovikdeliversaspeech,thetextofwhichisappendedtotherecordoftheCourt
proceedings.Simultaneously,thespeechistransmittedinJapanese.
SPEECHBYCOUNSELBOROVIK,N.K.,
INDEFENCEOFACCUSEDKAWASHIMAKIYOSHI
ComradesJudges,ComradesMembersoftheMilitaryTribunal!
ThefeelingthatweSovietpeopleexperienceinthedaysofthistrialiscomprehensibleto
eachofus.
Inthesedaysthethoughtsofeachofushaveinvoluntarilyturnedagainandagainwiththe
profoundest gratitude and love to the man whose wisdom foresaw and warned the Soviet
peoplemany,manyyearsagoofthedeadlydangerthathungoverourMotherlandintheFar
East;tothemanwhosebrightgeniusturnedasidetheraisedhandoftheenemyandsavedus
fromfrightfulcalamityandsuffering.
Greatisthegravityofthecrimescommittedbytheaccusedsittinghereinthedock.
But,ComradesJudges,inkeepingwithourfundamentallawweSovietlawyershavebeen
calledheretocarryoutthetaskwithwhichwehavebeenchargedofhelpingyoucorrectlyto
decidethiscaseandtopresenttoyouallthatmitigatestheguiltoftheaccused.
TotheextentofmyabilitiesIshallendeavourtofulfilthistask.
I am defending the accused Kawashima Kiyoshi, former Major General of the Medical
ServiceoftheJapaneseArmy,DoctorofMedicalSciences.
BeforeembarkingonhisdefenceIshallremindyouthatinthiscase,justasineverycase
wherenotonebutseveralaccusedareinthedock,perhapsthemostdifficultproblemisthat
384
of determining the role and degree of complicity of each of the accused individually, of
determining the personal responsibility of each of the accused in the commitment of the
crime.
ThatiswhyIventuretobeginmyspeechforthedefencewithjustthis,withadefinitionof
theroleandplaceofmyclientinthepresentcase.
Asisknown,KawashimaKiyoshiischargedwithhavingcommittedanumberofcrimes.
TheformulaoftheindictmentdeclaresthatKawashimaKiyoshi,conjointlywithagroup
of responsible officers of special bacteriological formations of the Japanese Army, the
activity of which group was directed toward preparing and waging bacteriological warfare,
took an active part in research on and production of bacteriological weapons for the mass
exterminationofpeople,thattogetherwiththeaccusedKarasawahelikewisetookanactive
partinwagingbacteriologicalwarfareagainstChina,thattogetherwithanumberoftheother
accusedhepersonallyparticipatedincriminal,inhumanexperimentsonlivingpeople....
ThisiswhatKawashimaischargedwith.
Hisguilthasbeenprovenbythematerialsofthecase:thetestimonyoftheaccusedandof
witnesses,andthefindingsofthemedicolegalexperts.NordidKawashimahimselfintendto
keepanythingback,tohideanything,andliterallyfromtheveryfirstdaysofthepreliminary
investigationrightuptotheendoftheCourtinvestigationshehasfullypleadedguilty.
Naturally, in such a situation there can be no room here for any debate with the
representative of the State Prosecution on the question of proofs or facts. Everything
Kawashimacommittedhasbeenproven,andhehasconfessedit.However,Kawashima'srole
and degree of complicity in this case differ substantially from the role of a number of the
otheraccused;especiallydotheydifferfromtheroleofthosemajorwarcriminalswhohave
managed to evade responsibility but whom the retributive hand of the peoples will reach
soonerorlater.
Comrades Judges! Despite the gravity of the crimes committed by Kawashima I
nevertheless venture to hold that Kawashima is not a chief or main participant in these
crimes.
Kawashima is today being tried for actions committed in the period of his work in
Detachment731.Letusrecallinbrieftheprehistoryofthisquestion.
Let us call to mind the year 1936, the year when the Emperor of Japan issued a secret
decreeontheformationinthevicinityofHarbinofabacteriologicaldetachmentlaternamed
the Manshu Detachment 731. Where do we find Kawashima at this time? At this time he
occupiedthemodestpostofassistanttotheChiefofthemedicaladministrationofaTokyo
division.
Theyear1936passes.Theyears1937,1938,1939,and1940pass.InthistimeDetachment
731grows,itspersonnelisinflated,thescaleofitsworkexpands,aerodromesandproving
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groundsarelaidout,aprisonandcremationfurnacesappear,anentiremilitarycantonmentis
erected.AndwhathasKawashimabeendoinginthistime?
A Lieutenant Colonel of the Medical Service, he is an instructor of hygiene in the
preparatorydepartmentofaTokyomilitaryschool.LaterhemovestothecityofPekingto
takeupapositionthere.
At this time Kawashima has no inkling that there exists at Pingfan Station such a death
factory,alreadyoperatingatfullcapacity,thatatthistimesouthofShanghai,inthevicinity
ofNimpo,bacteriologicalmilitaryoperationsarebeingconductedagainsttheChinesepeople
withtheproductsofthisghastlyfactory,thatinlinewithanewimperialdecreethefurther
expansionofthisfactory'sactivityiscontinuing,andsoon.
And now comes the year 1941, a year fateful for Kawashima, a year filled with major
international events. The month of March. There is an order of the Japanese War Minister,
and Kawashima for the first time learns of the existence of the Pingfan Detachment.
Meanwhile, in the country completely in the grip of the Japanese military, in the country
where the most extreme, the wildest forms of reaction and obscurantism are in full flower,
frenziedpreparationsforwararegoingon.
The victorious communiques of the mad fuhrer, who by this time has already seized a
numberofEuropeancountriesandhasmarchedthroughalmostallofWesternEurope,give
theJapanesemilitaristsnopeaceofmind.Japanesereactionisinahurry;itisafraidofbeing
late; it is afraid of letting the opportune moment slip by. The behaviour of the Japanese
military at that period receives quite detailed treatment in the materials of the International
MilitaryTribunalinTokyo.
Thiswaveofwarhysteriaandpsychosis,thiswaveofthewildparoxysmoftheJapanese
military,engulfedKawashima,asitdidmanyothers,anduponlandinginDetachment731he
gavelittleheedorthoughttowhathewasdoingorwherehehadlanded.
ThusdidKawashima'sfallbegin.
In the two years that he worked in this detachment Kawashima committed a number of
crimes,andthishasbeenestablished.However,washisroleoneofanactiveorganizer,was
heoneofthechieffiguresthere?
Atthepreliminaryinvestigation,andespeciallyhere,attheCourtinvestigation,interesting
detailscametolightconcerningthemannerinwhichthisdetachmentwasdirected,andwho
wasitsactualdirector.
The name of Emperor Hirohito was pronounced here, who constantly looked out for his
creation,andtheWarMinisterandtheGeneralStaffoftheJapaneseArmy,whodisplayed
solicitudeforthedetachment,werespokenof.ThedetachmentwasdirectedbytheCommand
oftheKwantungArmy,andbymanyothers.
Youremember,ComradesJudges,Kawashima'stestimonyabouthowoftenhisimmediate
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Chief,IshiiShiro,wascalledtoTokyotoreportonthedetachment'sactivity,howoftenthis
detachmentunderwentvisitsofinspectionbyallsortsofgeneralsandresponsibleleadersof
theKwantungArmyCommand.
TowhomonlydidKawashimanothavetorenderanaccountofhiswork!Evenacertain
LieutenantColonelYamamoto,permanentrepresentativeoftheCommandoftheKwantung
Army in the detachment, constantly interested himself in what Kawashima and other
membersofthedetachmentpersonnelweredoing;hewas,asKawashimasoaptlyputitat
thepreliminaryinvestigation,the"eyesandears"oftheKwantungArmyHeadquartersinthe
detachment.Ifweaddtothisthefactthattheimmediatechiefanddirectorofthedetachment
wasIshiiShiro,themajorspecialistinthefieldofbacteriologyandawell-knownideologist
ofbacteriologicalwarfare,thenitbecomesclearthatagainstthisbackgroundKawashimacan
hardlybeconsideredachief,leadingfigure.
InrealityKawashimawasonlyoneoftheexecutorsofthecriminalbiddingofothers;true,
a responsible executor, but just the same only an executor. It appears to me that this
circumstance is an extentuating one, and I ask you, Comrades Judges, to take this into
considerationindeterminingmyclient'sdegreeofguiltandhisroleandpositioninthiscase.
Comrades Judges! I should consider my task incompletely fulfilled if I did not call your
attention to another circumstance of no inconsiderable weight that mitigates the guilt of
KawashimaKiyoshi.
Kawashima,asisknown,fullypleadedguiltyofhavingcommittedcrimes.Moreover,he
has fully repented them, and in my opinion there are insufficient grounds for not believing
him,fornotbelievinginthesincerityofhisbehaviour.HowcanKawashima'sbehaviourbe
explained? It seems to me that his origin undoubtedly exercised an influence on his
behaviour.Afterall,KawashimacomesfromacommonJapanesefamily.Hedoesnotcome
fromafamilyofsamurais,norishethesonofabigcapitalistorlandowner.Hisfatherwasa
common peasant. Kawashima Kiyoshi managed to obtain a higher medical education; he
thought of devoting himself to science, and as early as in 1934 he defended his doctor's
dissertationonthehighlyinnocentthemeof"pseudotubercularbacteria."AndIthinkthatif
KawashimahadnotfallenintothesituationofwhichIhavespoken,itisimprobablethathe
wouldhavefoundhimselfinthedock.Kawashimacommittedacrime;herealized,cameto
understand,thattheburdenofthesecrimesweighedhimdown,thathehadtochooseanother
path,anhonestpath,andhefoundthestrengthandcouragetotakethispath;andnotonlyto
confesshiscrimebuttohelptheCourttotheutmosttodisclosetheentirecrimetotheend.
You remember, Comrades Judges, what he said already at the preliminary investigation,
whenhewasinterrogatedonOctober30,1949.AtthattimeKawashimasaid:
"...Ifullypleadguilty...atthepresenttimeIhavefullyrealizedthecriminalnatureofmy
activityinDetachment731directedtowardresearchinweaponsofbacteriologicalwarfare,
thewagingofwhichhasbeencondemnedbymankind....
"...Iacknowledgethatthemethodsweemployedofexperimentingonhumanbeingsand
oftheirmassannihilationbytheactionoflethalbacteriawerebarbarousandacrimeagainst
387
humanity. ... I did not join Detachment 731 voluntarily but by order of the Japanese War
Minister, which I could not but carry out. I realize that Detachment 731 was a criminal
organization. And I, as a member of it, am ready to pay the penalty. ..." Naturally, these
wordsdidnotcomeeasilytoKawashima.Hehadadifficulttimeofit.Heponderedoverand
lived through a great deal before he found in himself the staunchness and determination to
pronouncethem.
ItseemstomethatKawashima'spronouncementofsuchwordstodaytestifiestoadefinite
turn that has taken place jn his psychology. What was it that influenced him? What factor
influencedhim?Itseemstomethatthisfactorwasundoubtedlytime.Afterall,Kawashima
hadbeenaprisonerofwarformorethanfouryears.Itisasufficientlylongtimeinwhichto
thinkthingsover,andtorecastcertainvalues.Afterall,Kawashimacouldnotbuthavegiven
thoughtsay,tohowithappenedthattheSovietUnion,whichatonetimehadlostextensive
territory,wasablenotonlytoholdoutsingle-handedagainstanenemyarmedtotheteeth,
butalso to achieve the utterrout of the crackHitleritedivisions. Kawashima could not but
havepondered,also,onthereasonsforthesorryfateofhisownarmy.NorcouldKawashima
nothavebeeninterestedinthechangesthatoccurredinhisnativeland,inJapan,asaresult
ofthewar,andinmanyotherthings.
I think these thoughts, extremely beneficial thoughts, could not but have influenced his
consciousnessandpsychology.
ThisiswhatseemstometobethetruerootsofwhatcausedKawashimatoreconsiderhis
positiontoacertaindegree.Thisiswhatbringsonetotheconclusionthatwearedealinghere
with the repentance of Kawashima. Comrades Members of the Military Tribunal! I am
concludingmyspeech.Kawashimahascommittedagravecrime.Heisnothavinganeasy
timeofitherenowinthedock.Butonethingiscertain:Kawashimawillleaveherewitha
feelingofrelief,withafeelingthathere,incourt,hebehavedhonestly.
Iaskyou,ComradesJudges,tomitigatehissentence.
President of the Court: Counsel Sannikov, defendingaccused Kajitsuka Ryuji, will now
speak. The accused may listen to a translation of his speech into Japanese over the
transmitter.
Counsel Sannikov delivers a speech, the text of which is appended to the record of the
Courtproceedings.Simultaneously,thespeechistransmittedinJapanese.
SPEECHBYCOUNSELSANNIKOV,S.E.,
INDEFENCEOFACCUSEDKAJITSUKARYUJI
ComradesJudges,itiswithfeelingsofdeepemotionthatIamproceedingtoperformthe
dutythathasbeenimposeduponme.Iappreciatethecomplexityanddifficultyofthedefence
inthepresentcaseingeneral,andofthedefenceofmyclientKajitsukaRyujiinparticular.
Thecomplexityanddifficultyofthedefenceinthepresentcasespringfromthecharacter
ofthedeedscommittedbytheaccusedandfromthegravityofthechargesbroughtagainst
388
them.
Allofusinagreaterorlesserdegreehavewitnessedandhaveevenparticipatedincourt
trials of great public and political importance, but the present trial is an exceptional one in
view of the specific character of the crimes. There have been no such trials in juridical
practicebefore,andhistoryknowsnonelikeit.
Theprincipalaccusedinthepresentcase,Yamada,Kajitsuka,TakahashiandSato,whoare
now in the defendants' box, are charged with having, while occupying leading posts in the
JapaneseArmy,headedspecialbacteriologicalunitsoftheJapaneseArmyanddirectedtheir
activities in the production of bacteriological weapons in preparation for the conduct of
bacteriologicalwarfareagainsttheSovietUnionandotherstates.
As formulated in the indictment, the basis of the charge is—preparation to conduct
bacteriologicalwarfare;thischargeisalsobroughtagainstaccusedKajitsuka,formerChiefof
theMedicalAdministrationoftheKwantungArmyHeadquarters,LieutenantGeneralofthe
MedicalService,DoctorofMedicalSciences.
The science of bacteriology has existed for many years. The advanced scientists of the
world, Pasteur, Koch, Mechnikov and others toiled for many years studying microbes;
devotingtheirlabours,theirminds,theirhealthandtheirlivestothewelfareofmankind,they
foughtthatscourgeofmankind—epidemicdiseases,foughttoprolonghumanlife.
ButinthiscaseweseethatthemilitaryandmedicalexpertsoftheJapaneseArmynowin
the defendants' box utilized humane science for a different purpose—for the purpose of
waging war against mankind; they adapted the science of bacteriology to the aims of an
aggressivewaragainsttheSovietUnionandotherstates.
Everywarimposesaheavytollofhumanlifeandinflictsgreatsufferinguponmankind-.
The accused manufactured what they called the most effective weapons of war, but what
wereactuallythemosthorribleweaponsagainstmankind.
MyclientKajitsukaRyujitoostandschargedwiththisheinouscrime.
DuringthepreliminaryandtheCourtinvestigation,accusedKajitsukaadmittedinthemain
thatthechargebroughtagainsthimiscorrect.
Fromthefactthattheaccusedhasadmittedthechargebroughtagainsthimitwouldseem
possible to draw the conclusion that I, Kajitsuka's counsel, had nothing to do, and that my
speechissuperfluous.Ourlaws,however,wiselylayitdownthatirrespectiveofthecharacter
ofthecrimeandtheweightofevidence,itisthedutyofthedefencetospeakindefenceof
theaccusedandtosumuptheevidencethatservestomitigatehisguilt.
SinceaccusedKajitsukahasinthemainpleadedguilty,thereisnodisputebetweenmeand
the State Prosecutor as regards facts. Nor is there any legal dispute concerning the
qualificationofthecrime.
389
I will draw your attention, Comrades Judges, only to certain points which my client
challenges.
When I say that accused Kajitsuka in the main has admitted the charge brought against
him,Ibasethisstatementonthefactthatduringthepreliminaryinvestigationandduringthe
CourtsessionaccusedKajitsukaadmittedthatfrom1931onwardshesharedtheviewsofthe
ideologistofbacteriologicalwarfare,IshiiShiro.In1936,Kajitsukasupportedtheapplication
oftheCommanderoftheKwantungArmytoformtheIshiiDetachmentwithintheKwantung
Army.Atthetimethisdetachmentwasbeingformed,Kajitsukatookadirectpartinstaffing
it with Medical Service officers. Furthermore, Kajitsuka knew that Detachment 731 was
manufacturing bacteriological weapons for use against the Chinese Army and civilian
population.
In general, accused Kajitsuka has admitted that he took a direct part in forming
Detachment731andthathewasawareofthepracticalactivitiesitwasengagedin.
At the same time, accused Kajitsuka asserts that Detachment 731 was under double
subordination, as a consequence of which he was unaware of certain facts concerning the
activitiesofthisdetachment.
That Detachment 731 was under double subordination follows from the evidence of
witnesses and from other materials in the case. In the descriptive part of the indictment it
says:
"The bacteriological detachments and their branches were directly subordinated to the
Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Kwantung Army. . . . This is corroborated ... by the
order—captured by the Soviet forces—issued on December 2, 1940 by General Umezu
Yoshijiro,formerlyCommander-in-ChiefoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy."Furtheroninthe
indictmentitsaysthat
"GeneralYamada,oneoftheaccusedinthiscase,whosucceededUmezuasCommanderin-Chief of the Japanese Kwantung Army, has also confirmed in his testimony that the
bacteriologicalunitsweredirectlysubordinatedtohim...."
Thereby it is established that Detachment 731 was directly subordinated to the
Commander-in-Chief.Duringthepreliminaryinvestigationthequestionarose,throughwhich
divisions and administrations did the Commander of the Kwantung Army exercise control
overDetachment731?
One would think that, considering the nature of its activities and the fact that it came
within the Medical Administration of the Kwantung Army Headquarters, Detachment 731
shouldhavebeencompletelysubordinatetothisMedicalAdministrationoftheHeadquarters
that was headed by accused Kajitsuka. It has been proved, however, that Detachment 731
performedanumberofstrategicalfunctionsand,asaccusedKajitsukaasserts,thispartofits
workwasnotdirectlysubordinatedtohim.
IsaccusedKajitsukarightinmakingtheseassertions?Iwouldliketodrawyourattention
390
to the evidence given by witnesses that directly relates to Detachment 731 's activitiesand
throwslightonthequestionoftheleadershipofthisdetachment.ThesewitnessesareColonel
TamuraTadashiandMajorGeneralMatsumura.
WitnessTamuraTadashideposedduringthepreliminaryinvestigation:
"Detachment731,inconformitywithregulations,wasunderdoublesubordination:asan
operations-combatunit,Detachment731wasdirectedandcontrolledbythelst(operations)
DivisionoftheHeadquartersoftheKwantungArmy,headedbyMajorGeneralMatsumura.
Simultaneously, Detachment 731 was subordinated to the Medical Administration of the
Headquarters of the Kwantung Army, to Lieutenant General Kajitsuka." More distinct
evidenceonthisquestionwasgivenbythewitnessMatsumura,whowasinterrogatedduring
thepreliminaryinvestigation;hesaid:
"Commander-in-Chief Umezu, and then, beginning with July 1944, Yamada, supervised
theactivityofDetachment731onstrategicalmattersthroughtheOperationsDivision...and
on scientific and technical matters—through General Kajitsuka, the Chief of the Medical
AdministrationofHeadquarters."
Further,inanswertodirectquestions,witnessMatsumurasaidthat
"The Operations Division of the Kwantung Army Headquarters supervised Detachment
731onmatterspertainingtothedevelopmentandpreparationofbacteriologicalweapons."
AtaconfrontationthesamewitnessMatsumuraconfirmedthat"questionsconcerningthe
tacticalemploymentofbacteriologicalweaponsweredirectedbytheOperationsDivisionof
Headquarters."
From the evidence of these witnesses, Tamura and Matsumura, the conclusion can be
drawnthatDetachment731wasunderdoublesubordination,andonquestionsconcerningthe
devising,manufactureandtacticalemploymentofbacteriologicalweaponswassubordinated
to the Operations Division of the Kwantung Army Headquarters, and on questions
concerning scientific research work—to the Medical Administration of the headquarters of
thesamearmyheadedbyaccusedKajitsuka.
Such a double subordination of Detachment 731 could create conditions under which
information concerning the manufacture of bacteriological weapons, and all questions
connectedwiththeseactivitiesofthedetachment,couldallcomewithinthecompetenceof
the Operations Division, and Kajitsuka, as Chief of the Medical Administration, might not
haveknownanythingaboutcertainquestions.
TheargumentsIhaveadvanceddonotrelieveaccusedKajitsukafromresponsibility,but
theycanserveasabasisforraisingthequestionofmitigatinghisguiltandhiscomplicity.
Iwouldalsoliketodrawyourattentiontooneothercircumstance:ithasbeenprovedthat
Detachment731wasorganizedin1936bycommandoftheEmperorofJapan,Hirohito.The
idea of bacteriological warfare, the initiative in organizing Detachment 731, came from
391
GeneralIshiiShiro,thepracticalactivitiesofthedetachmentwerealsodirectedbyGeneral
Ishii.Directionandcontrolofthedetachment'sactivitiesinmattersconcerningthedevising
and manufacture of bacteriological weapons were exercised by Major General Matsumura
andChiefofStaffoftheKwantungArmyLieutenantGeneralKasaharaYukio,which,inmy
opinion,cannotbutmitigatetheguiltofKajitsuka.
As regards the personality of accused Kajitsuka, I must observe that in 1914 Kajitsuka
graduated from the Medical Department of the Tokyo University and, having received his
education at state expense, was obliged, on graduating, to serve in the Japanese Army. In
March1924KajitsukareceivedthedegreeofDoctorofMedicalSciences.
Inconclusion,IaskyoutotakeintoconsiderationinrelationtoKajitsukathemitigating
circumstancesIhaveadvanced;Iaskyoualsototakeintoconsiderationhisfrankconfession
ofguiltanddeterminehispenaltyaccordingly.
PresidentoftheCourt:CounselZveryev,defendingaccusedTakahashiTakaatsu,willnow
speak.
CounselZveryevdeliversaspeech,thetextofwhichisappendedtotherecordoftheCourt
proceedings.Simultaneously,thespeechistransmittedinJapanese.
SPEECHBYCOUNSELZVERYEV,A.V.,
INDEFENCEOFACCUSEDTAKAHASHI
ComradesJudges,
ItismydutytodefendtheformerChiefoftheVeterinaryServiceoftheformerKwantung
Army,LieutenantGeneralTakahashiTakaatsu.
MyclientTakahashiisguiltyofcrimesagainsthumanity,ofdeedsthatineverycivilized
countryareregardedasheinouscrimes.
Thiscase,ComradesJudges,isofenormouspublicimportance,foritonceagainreminds
mankindoftheincalculablecalamitiesfascismcausedinitsstrivingforworlddomination.
ThelawsandcustomsofwarwerealientoimperialistJapan.ThetoprankoftheJapanese
militarycliqueresolvedtoconvertalltheachievementsofsciencefromaboonintoabaneto
mankind.
ComradesJudges,thereisnotacountryintheworldinwhich,withtheobjectofridding
mankindoffrightfulepidemicsanddiseases,researchisnotbeingconductedtodevisemeans
andmethodsofcombatingthegermsofthesediseases.
How many great scientists have devoted their lives to this noble object, how many have
laboured and have sacrificed their lives in the struggle against epidemics? The whole .of
mankind loves and honours the names of Sechenov, Pirogov, Vinogradsky, Mechnikov,
392
Pasteur and other coryphae of science! But in imperialist Japan, certain scientists, utilizing
theachievementsofworldscience,directedtheirknowledgetowardsthestudyandsolution
ofproblemsofadifferentkind,towardsseekingmethodsofartificiallyspreadingaswidely
aspossibleepidemicsofplague,cholera,glanders,anthrax,typhoid,andotherdiseases.
In Japan was found the ideologist of bacteriological warfare, the scientist General Ishii;
andthisscientisttooktheleadinadvocatingtheemploymentofbacteriologicalweaponsin
thewarofaggrandizementthatwasbeingpreparedagainstpeacefulnations.
ButIshiiwasnottheonlyone.ThetoprankoftheJapanesemilitaryclique,imbuedwith
strivingstowardsaggrandizement,bankedonanewtypeofweapon—lethalbacteria.
TheEmperorofJapan,Hirohito,headofthearmyandnavy,havingconvincedhimselfof
the power of Soviet arms (and for Japan, the Soviet Union was target No. 1), and having
repeatedlysufferedcrueldefeatatthehandsofthetroopsoftheSovietUnion,whostaunchly
protectthepeacefullaboursoftheirpeople,issued,withtheobjectofcarryingoutaggressive
plans, a secret order—to manufacture bacteriological weapons and to equip his troops with
thistypeofweaponforthepurposeofemployingitinwaragainsttheSovietUnion,China,
theMongolianPeople'sRepublicandalsotheUnitedStatesandGreatBritain.
In the execution of this imperial decree two new military units came into being—
detachments731and100,unitsoftheKwantungArmy.
These detachments, particularly Detachment 731, gradually expanded their activities,
organizedbranchesandfinallycreatedtheirnucleiintheshapeofsub-unitsofarmyunits.
The 2nd Intelligence Division of the Kwantung Army Headquarters, which directed
sabotageactivities,didnotkeepalooffromthisbusiness.Itbegantoutilizetheachievements
andthepersonnelofthesedetachmentsforthecommissionofactsofsabotage.
In the Kwantung Army, great importance was attached to detachments 731 and 100 as
special combat units of the army. Because of this, both detachments were subordinated
directlytotheCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,GeneralYamada.TheMinister
forWarofJapankepthimselfconstantlyinformedabouttheactivitiesofthetwodetachments
andwasinformedabouttheirbeingreadyforaction.
Thus,theideaofwagingbacteriologicalwarfarearoseinthetopranksoftherulingclique
in Japan, was fostered by them, and by command of the Emperor of Japan found practical
applicationintheKwantungArmy,thechiefstrikingforceofJapaneseimperialism.
TracingthewholehistoryofthedevelopmentofthepreparationsmadeinJapantoconduct
bacteriologicalwarfare,itmustbeaffirmed,ComradesJudges,thatthechiefideologistsand
organizers of bacteriological warfare who should be not less but more answerable than the
accusedinthepresenttrial,remainbeyondthefrontiersoftheSovietUnion;wedonotsee
theminthedefendants'box.
ComradesJudges,todayyouaretryingthosewhoservedasthevehiclesandexecutorsof
393
thecriminaldesignsofJapaneseimperialism;youwilldeterminetheroleplayedbyeachof
theminthis,anddeterminethepenaltyofeachoftheminaccordancewiththedegreeofhis
guilt.
I, Takahashi's counsel for defence, do not dispute the facts, nor have I grounds for
disputing the proofs that have been collected and submitted to you by the prosecuting
authorities.
MyclientTakahashiisundoubtedlyguiltyofthechargesbroughtagainsthim.
Takahashihimselfhasnotdeniedanddoesnotdenyhisguilt.
Takahashi pleads guilty to having taken part in preparing the Kwantung Army for
conducting bacteriological warfare and for committing sabotage against the Soviet Union,
ChinaandtheMongolianPeople'sRepublic.
Takahashi pleads guilty to having directed the activities of Detachment 100, one of the
unitsthatweresubordinatedtohimasChiefoftheVeterinaryAdministration.
Takahashi has pleaded guilty to having facilitated the expansion of Detachment 100's
activities both in choosing the most effective bacteria and in increasing the detachment's
outputcapacity.
Takahashi pleaded guilty to having organized reconnoitring expeditions of a sabotage
character.
But Takahashi has denied and now denies that he knew of the cases of experiments on
humanbeingsperformedbyDetachment100.Whiledenyingthis,Takahashidoesnotdeny
theresponsibilityhebearsforthesecrimescommittedbyDetachment100.
OnthispointTakahashisays:
"Ilearnedabouttheexperimentsonhumanbeings
fromtheevidenceofwitnesses.Ididnotknowthat
experimentswerebeingmadeonlivingpeople,butI
donotdenyresponsibility,asDetachment100wassubordinatedtome."
Takahashi does not deny that Detachment 100 performed experiments on living people,
nor does he challenge the testimony of accused Mitomo and'of witnesses Fukuzumi and
Hataki,buthehimselfisnotguiltyofthis.
Irepeat,Takahashiassertsthathehadatthattimenoknowledgeofthisexperimentalwork
394
conductedbyDetachment100.IdwellonthiscircumstancebecauseIthinkitisofmaterial
importance in determining the role Takahashi played in this matter, for Art. 18 of the
Criminal Code of the R.S.F.S.R. imposes on you, Comrades Judges, the obligation to
determinetheroleplayed,andhence,thedegreeofpublicdangerrepresentedbyeachofthe
accusedand,ofcourse,totakethisintoconsiderationindeterminingthepenaltyforeachof
them.
ComradesJudges,youaretryingTakahashi,heisover60,andhiscareerisnotamatterof
indifferencetoyou.
Howdidhecometothisstate,howandwhydidTakahashipursueapaththatledhiminto
thedefendants'boxonthechargeofsuchheinouscrimes?
Takahashi was a man of talent, a wide road of honest [labour was open before him, he
couldhavedevotedhimselftothenobleaimofriddinghiscountryofvariouskindsofanimal
diseases,buthedidnottakethisgoodroad.
Whydidthishappen?
Takahashi studied at the Tokyo University, in the Veterinary Department of the Medical
School.WhenastudenthesucceededinobtainingastipendfromtheMinistryforWar,but
thiscarriedtheobligationtoentertheJapaneseArmyongraduatingfromtheuniversity.
After receiving a higher education Takahashi became a soldier, and the army command
singledhimoutfromamongtheirchargesasacapableandpromisingveterinarysurgeon.
A new road opened for Takahashi—the road of a military career, and he received rapid
promotion.In1942wealreadyseehimintherankofMajorGeneral,andlaterintherankof
Lieutenant General of the Veterinary Service. In that same year Takahashi was appointed
Chief of the Veterinary Administration of the Kwantung Army, the crack army of the
Japanesearmedforces.
Trainedinthespiritofblindobediencetoorders,guidedbytheonlylawoftheJapanese
Army—ArmyRegulations,Takahashiceasedtodistinguishbetweengoodandbad,between
thepermissibleandimpermissible,heforgotthelawsofhumanethics.
Takahashibegantocarryoutcriminalorders,heforgothisdutyasaveterinarysurgeon.
Ordersdrownedthevoiceofreason,thevoiceofhisconscience.
Recall, Comrades Judges, the evidence Takahashi gave during his interrogation by the
investigatoronNovember23,1949.Takahashisaidthen:
"In general, the idea had long existed among bacteriologists in the Japanese Army of
forming epizootic detachments for the purpose of preparing to conduct bacteriological
warfare;I was opposed tothis method because I regarded itas inhuman." Here, during the
Courtsession,Takahashiwasobligedtoadmitthatnotonlydidhefailtogiveutterancetohis
395
opinionanywhere,failtogiveitoutwardexpression,but,onthecontrary,concealeditand,
onreceivingthecriminalorderfromhissuperiors,hedidwhatatonetimehisconsciencehad
revoltedagainst.
Only now did Takahashi inform us of what he had thought many years ago. He talked
about it only now, when he saw the fruit of his labours, after he became convinced of the
monstrouscrimeshissuperiorshadcontemplated.
Takahashi's story of how he concealed his opposition to bacteriological warfare is to a
certaindegreecharacteristicandthrowslightontheenvironmentinwhichhefoundhimself:
his common sense and his conscience were overwhelmed by the general current of the
predatorypolicypursuedbytheJapaneserulingclique.
Comrades Judges, Takahashi's criminal activities were connected only with Detachment
100; and he came in contact with the work of Detachment 100 only in 1941, when in that
detachment, and in the Kwantung Army as a whole, preparations for conducting
bacteriological warfare were already in full swing. That was the time when he became an
accompliceinthecrimeshespokeaboutindetailinhisconfessions.
On these grounds, Comrades Judges, I deem it possible to draw the conclusion that
although Takahashi is guilty of crimes, he, nevertheless, cannot be classed among the
instigatorsandinitiatorsofthepreparationstoconductbacteriologicalwarfare.
ComradesJudges,youhaveheardthewordsofrepentanceTakahashiutteredbeforeyou;
heunreservedlycondemnedhimself,hemadenoattempttoshirkresponsibility.
In answer to the question I put to him as to how he appraised his activities in the
preparationstoconductbacteriologicalwarfare,hesaid:
"IthinkitwasveryinhumanandIrepentofhaving
hadanythingtodowithit.Irepentparticularlyofthe
factthat,undermydirection,youngJapanesecommitted
suchatrocities."
Takahashihasrealizedthewholeweightofthecrimeshecommitted,andhisconfession,
histestimony,whichexposedtheleadersofJapaneseimperialism,sufficientlyconfirmsthis.
I ask you to determine Takahashi's penalty only to the degree commensurate with his
deeds.
Iaskyou,ComradesJudges,todeterminesuchapenaltyforTakahashiaswillgivehim
hope of being able to devo the remaining years of his life to the service of mankind and
therebyexpiatehisguiltnotonlytowardsus,butalsotowardshisownpeople,towardsthe
396
wholeworld.
PermitmewiththistoconcludemyspeechindefenceofTakahashiinwhichIhavetried
asfaraswasinmypowertoexpressallthatmaymitigatethelotofmyclient.
PresidentoftheCourt:CounselBogachov,defendingaccusedSatoShunji,willnowspeak.
Counsel Bogachov delivers a speech, the text of which is appended to the record of the
Courtproceedings.Simultaneously,thespeechistransmittedinJapanese.
SPEECHBYCOUNSELBOGACHOV,P.Y.,
INDEFENCEOFACCUSEDSATO
ComradesJudges,
The evil deeds which have been the objects of your investigation have something in
commonwiththeatrocitiescommittedbytheGermanfascistsintheterritoryoftheSoviet
Union and of other European countries they temporarily occupied. They have the same
ideologicalbasis.
ThecrimesinvestigatedwerethedirectresultofthealliancebetweenimperialistJapanand
fascistGermany,theresultofthefactthattherulingcliqueofJapanwascarriedawaybythe
fascist ideas of world domination, of the racial superiority of the Japanese nation over the
othernationsoftheworldand,inparticular,ofconqueringtheFarEasternterritoriesofthe
SovietUnion.
The Japanese newspaper NipponTimesfrankly wrote in December 1944 that "the chief
aimsthatcompelledJapanandGermanytotaketoarmswerethesame."
Toachievetheseaims,therulingcliqueofJapanstuckatnothing.Itactedontheprinciple:
"theaimjustifiesthemeans."
We, the Soviet people of the Stalin epoch, the vehicles of the great ideas of humanism,
brought up to respect human personality, find it hard to conceive of the employment of
bacteria for the wholesale extermination of human beings. We, the fellow countrymen of
Pushkin,TolstoyandMaximGorky,areaccustomedtoregardmanasthekingofnature,to
ourearsthereisaproudringintheword"man."
We wish to see men generous, self-sacrificing and imbued with a love for their country,
butwithanoblelovethatpromptsthemtogivethelastdropoftheirbloodforthebenefitof
mankind,foritsgloriousandhappyfuture.
We wish to see men resembling the youth Danko who tore his burning heart out of his
breastandheldithighabovehisheadtolightupthepathofthosewhohadlosttheirwayin
thedarkness.
397
Ourhistorycontainsthenamesofnofewmenofwhomweareproud.ThePatrioticWarof
1941-45 in particular revealed an exceptionally large number of heroes who, like Danko,
gavetheirheartstosaveothers,heroeswhoardentlylovedtheircountry,theirpeople,their
families,whowentouttofighttoliberatetheirnativelandfromthefascistyoke.Notonlyare
theirnamesinscribedinthepagesofourglorioushistory;wesacredlypreservetheminour
memoriesassymbolsofpatriotism,fearlessnessandcourage,asexamplestobefollowed.
Butatthistrialwe,onceagain,encounteredadifferentconceptionofthevalueofman,of
manintheimperialistworld.
Thatiswhy,beforespeakingindefenceofSato,Iwouldliketodwellonthecausesthat
madetheperpetrationofcrimesofthiskindpossible.
Inthecapitalistworldtheyworshipthegoldenidol,thatyellowdevilthathascastanevil
spelloverman.
"Thevilewizardry,"saidMaximGorky,"lullstheirsouls,makesthemflexibletoolsinthe
handsoftheYellowDevil,themetaloutofwhichHesmeltsunceasinglytheGoldthatisHis
fleshandblood."
Forthesakeofgold,peopleinthecapitalistworldarereadytocommitanycrime.There,a
man's life is appraised according to the profit that can be made out of it. There, man is a
commodity.
There, they have no conception of love of one's country; there, the concept "business"
reignssupreme.
An influential Wall Street financier, Jules Boche, said in justification of his actions:
"Abolishtheprofitmotiveandyouabolishallprogress."
IhavetoucheduponthismatterofprofitnotbecauseIwanttodistractyourmindsfromthe
case we are examining, from Sato, whom I am defending, but because this subject is of
materialimportanceforthecaseinhand,forthedefenceofSato.
Sato stands indicted, on a par with Yamada, as a leader, as a man who directed the
activitiesofthespecialbacteriologicalunits,andtookpartincarryingoutthecriminalplans
oftherulingcliqueofimperialistJapantolaunchawarofaggressionandinmanufacturing
bacteriologicalweaponsforthepurposeofexterminatingthecivilianpopulation.
Thechargeisagraveoneand,inthemain,substantiated,butIcannotagreetoSatobeing
raisedtothelevelofthetop-rankleadershipoftheKwantungArmy.FirsthewasChiefofa
detachmentandlaterChiefoftheMedicalServiceofthe5thArmy.Thatisfarfromthetop.
Hewasonlyasoldier,althoughofGeneral'srank.Hemerelyobeyedthewillofthosewho
were systematically imbuing the minds of the Japanese with the brutal ideology of race
hatred, of those who in 1945, in their impotent rage, gave the order to prepare to conduct
bacteriological warfare, thereby proving once again that they had not the interests of the
Japanesepeopleatheartindoomingthecountrytoincalculablesacrifice.
398
TheorganizersofthesecrimeswerethemonopolistassociationsofJapan,the"zaibatsu":
Mitsui,Mitsubishi,SumitomoandYasuda.
They were the heralds and ideologists of Japanese imperialism like General Araka, who
preachedtheideathatJapanwasamilitaristnation,who,likeGoering,rousedbloodthirsty
instincts in his subordinates, urged them to "kill ruthlessly," to "demonstrate the spirit of
Japan,ofAsiahostiletoEuropeandAmerica."
This preaching of murder did not remain without response, nor could it have been
otherwise,forthemachineryofstatewasputinmotiontocarryoutthisidea;toachievethis
object the ruling clique of Japan for decades trained the Japanese in the required spirit,
poisoned the minds of millions of people and played up Shintoism—that special system of
patriotismreducedtoreligion.
Satoisonlyahumanbeing.He,aDoctorofMedicalSciences,alecturerattheMilitary
Medical Academy, a specialist in pathology, was appointed Chief of a bacteriological
detachment. His consent was not asked for. He was a soldier. He received orders, and he
obeyed.
It is hard to say who initiated this monstrous mode of warfare. As far back as 1925, the
subject of bacteriological warfare was the subject of discussion at the Disarmament
Conference of the League of Nations. There, note was taken of the extreme difficulty of
combating the manufacture of bacteriological weapons, as was stated in the findings of the
experts,
"it would be wrong to hinder the development of bacteriology by putting a restriction on
experimentsthatbringvirulentculturesintoaction,fortheseresearches
leadprimarilytohumaneends...havinginmindthe
struggleagainstsomekindofpresumeddanger....
Everystatemustbeconsciousofthemoralresponsibility
thatspringsfromtheconductofbacteriologicalresearch
onitsterritory."
As is evident, prompted by these considerations, the Japanese imperialists transferred
bacteriological research to the territory of Manchuria. On the pretext of developing
bacteriology in general, they developed the military side of it, they utilized this humane
sciencefortheirbaseaims.
ColonelVauthier,inhis"works"onthissubject,oncereportedthepossibilityofdropping
bombs containing the germs of cholera, plague and small pox. We do not know what
399
pinnaclesofsuccesswerereachedbyVauthier'scannibal"works,"buttheJapaneserulers,in
thepersonofGeneralIshii,begantoputthemintopractice.
SatohaspleadedguiltytohavingdirectedthebacteriologicaldetachmentsNamiandEi,to
having directed their activities in preparing to conduct bacteriological warfare against the
U.S.S.R.andothercountries.Heperformedthisfunctionashismilitaryduty.
ItishardtosaynowwhetherSatofoughtabattlewithhisconsciencewhenhereceivedthe
assignment to manufacture bacteriological weapons, it is hard to say what his attitude was
towardsthisassignment,whichwasnotonlyfaroutsidetheboundariesoftheordinaryduties
ofanarmysurgeon,butactuallyconflictedwiththeseduties.
ItisdifficultnowtojudgeofSato'sactivitiesinthesepartsasdescribedintheindictment
and to which the State Prosecutor pointed. Certain thoughts arise in my mind on this
question,whichIdeemitnecessarytoinformyouof,ComradesJudges.
Inyourconsultingchamber,whenyouwillbedecidingSato'sfate,youwilltaketheminto
consideration.
Satoisapathologist;hewasalectureronthissubjectattheMilitaryMedicalAcademy;
thiswasthesubjectofhisdissertationwhenhetookhisDoctor'sdegree.Naturally,hislack
ofspecialknowledgeonbacteriology,ifitdidnothinder,atalleventsdiminishedhisactivity
indirectingthebacteriologicaldetachments.
Secondly,from1941to1945,thatis,tothedayhewastakenprisonerbytheSoviettroops,
Satodidnotreceiveasinglereward.Thisisaminordetail,butittoacertaindegreeindicates
alackofzealonSato'spartincarryingouttheassignmentgivenhim.
We know that as a rule important services are suitably rewarded, especially military
services,andexceptionallysecretservicesatthat.
Since there have not been any rewards it shows that there had not been any exceptional
service.
From the materials in the case it is evident that Sato was appointed Chief of the Nami
Detachment in 1941, that is, several years after the work of this detachment had been
organizedandarranged.
I do not say that this circumstance fully absolves Sato, but it does diminish his role and
responsibility.
In this connection, I take the liberty of reminding you that in the list of accused, Sato
occupies eighth place, coming after Nishi, Karasawa and Onoue, who are several degrees
lowerinrankthanheis.
Thisisbynomeansanaccident.Againstthebackgroundofbacteriologicalsabotageand
400
experimentsonhumanbeings,againstthebackgroundofthe3,000peoplewhoweretortured
todeathintheinnerprisoninDetachment731,Sato'sroleislessconspicuous.Ihavegrounds
forassertingthathishandsarenotstainedwiththebloodofthoseunfortunatepeoplewho,
falling into the "special consignments," were subjected to violence and tortured as
"experimental material." The indictment does not charge Sato with these atrocities, and I
agreewiththis.
After his appointment to the post of Chief of the Medical Service of the 5th Army in
February 1944, Sato, for a time, ceased to direct the bacteriological detachments and
activitiesconnectedwiththemanufactureofbacteriologicalweaponsingeneral.
ItwasnotuntilMay1945thatOnouecrossedhispathwiththerequesttocatchrodentsand
sendthemtotheHailinBranch643.
Inobediencetothisrequest,Satoissuedcorrespondingorderstotheunitsofthe5thArmy,
andinthiswayrenderedsomeassistanceinthemanufactureofbacteriologicalweapons.
During the Court investigation the depositions were read of the Chief of the Operations
Division of the Kwantung Army Headquarters, Matsumura, from which it was evident that
nearly all the land units of the Kwantung Army engaged in the catching of rodents.
Consequently, the assistance Sato rendered in this case was not active. He did not take the
initiative,hedidnotlead.Hedidwhateverybodyelsearoundhimwasdoing.
Inthelightofthesefacts,Iaskyou,ComradesJudges,todiscusswhetheritisrighttoclass
Satoamongthegroupofleadingcriminalswhoactivelyparticipatedinthecarryingoutofthe
criminalplansoftherulingcliqueofimperialistJapan.
CanSatobeplacedonaparwith,forexample,theCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantung
Army General Yamada, to say that they played an equal role, and to mete out the same
penaltytothem?
Iaskyou,ComradesJudges,realisticallytoweighupallthatSatoisguiltyofandhisfar
fromfundamentalroleinthepreparationstoconductbacteriologicalwarfare.
Irely,ComradesJudges,onyourhumanesentence.
Presidentof the Court: CounselBolkhovitinov, defending accused Nishi and Hirazakura,
willnowspeak.
CounselBolkhovitinovdeliversaspeech,thetextofwhichisappendedtotherecordofthe
Courtproceedings.Simultaneously,thespeechistransmittedinJapanese.
SPEECHBYCOUNSELBOLKHOVITJNOV,D.E.,
INDEFENCEOFACCUSEDNISHITOSHIHIDE
401
ANDHIRAZAKURAZENSAKU
ComradesMembersoftheMilitaryTribunal,
Duringthemanycenturiesofitsexistence,mankindhasbeenrepeatedlysubjectedtothe
upheavalsofwar.
The history of war, however, has no record of such a frightfully destructive weapon as
bacteriologicalwarfare.
Ashasbeenestablishedduringthepresenttrial,insecretlaboratoriessetupbydecreeof
theEmperorofJapan,Hirohito,theJapaneserulingcliqueaccumulatedfrightfulmeansfor
the mass extermination of human beings, namely, the deadly germs of plague, cholera,
typhoid,anthraxandotherinfectiousdiseases.
ThedeathfactoriessituatedinManchuria,closetoourfrontiers,inobediencetothewillof
the emperor, day after day increased their output capacity in the manufacture of lethal
bacteria.
Over our Motherland, over the troops and civilian populations of the Allied Powers,
hoveredthedangerofbacteriologicalwarfare.
There can be no doubt that the Japanese imperialists would have carried out this wicked
design.
But, by its swift offensive and utter defeat of the Kwantung Army, our glorious Soviet
Army, led by the military genius of Comrade Stalin, prevented the execution of this
villainousplan.
Comrades Judges, this trial is drawing to a close, and soon you will retire to your
consultingchamberwhereyouwilldecidethefateofthesepeople.
Our Soviet Court is the most just and humane Court in the world, and in determining a
penalty, is always guided by the degree of the accused's individual guilt proved during the
Courtsession.
Thereisnodoubtthatyourdecisioninrelationtoeachoftheaccusedwillalsobestrictly
individual,andwilltakeintoaccountthedecreeofguiltofandthepublicdangerrepresented
byeachoneseparately.
On this point, as a representative of the defence, individualizing the degree of guilt and
complicityinthecrimescommittedbymyclientsNishiToshihideandHirazakuraZensaku,I
willbrieflyexpoundmyviews.
It seems to me that, analyzing the guilt of each one of them, it will be right to say that
neither former Lieutenant Colonel of the Japanese Army Nishi Toshihide, nor former
402
LieutenantHirazakuraZensaku,canbeclassedinthegroupoforganizersandinstigatorsof
the crimes. On the contrary, it has been proved that their role was a secondary one. They
belongtothegroupwhichobeyedtheordersoftheirsuperiors;criminalordersitistrue,but
this is, undoubtedly, a circumstance that mitigates their guilt. Both my clients have fully
admitted their guilt. I have every ground for asserting that both are conscious of the
heinousnessofthecrimesthatwerecommittedbydetachments731and100.
Nishi Toshihide, former Lieutenant Colonel of the Medical Service of the Japanese
Kwantung Army, has admitted' his guilt fully, without any deviation from the charge
formulatedintheindictment.
DuringthepreliminaryinvestigationNishisaid:
"...Iamawarethatthewarthatwasbeingprepared
forwouldhavecausedgreatsacrificeoflifeamongthe
civilianpopulation,thattheseweaponsofbacteriological
warfareandthetestingofbacteriologicalweaponson
livingpeoplebyforcibleinfectionwerecriminaland
inhuman...."
DuringtheCourtsession,inanswertothequestionIputtohimastowhetherherealized
the utter criminality of the ultimate objectives of the work conducted by the detachment,
Nishisaid:"Yes."Healsosaidthatherepentsofwhathadbeendone.
Thisrepentancecannotbeaccidental,and.itseemstomethatitisquitesincere.
TobeconvincedofthisitisnecessarytorecallwhereandunderwhatconditionsNishihad
livedandhadbeenbroughtupbeforehewastakenprisoner.Fromhisearliestyouthhehad
dinnedintohismindtheideaofthedivineoriginoftheemperorandofimplicitobedienceto
allhiscommands,theideaofJapan'sspecialmission.
Day after day he breathed the fumes of chauvinism, of contempt for other nations,
includingthepeoplesofth§SovietUnion.
Hissuperiorsgavehimordersinthenameoftheemperor,andNishiblindlyobeyedthese
criminalorders.Allthishappenedbeforehewastakenprisoner.Asaprisonerofwar,Nishi
cameincontactwitheverydaypostwarrealitywhichcouldnotbuthaveaneffectuponhim,
could not but affect his mentality, cause profound changes in outlook and compel him to
revaluethevaluesthathadformerlyseemedtohimtobeimmutable.
403
It seems to me that in the light of this it is possible to believe that Nishi's repentance is
sincere.
As a subject of the crimes, Nishi cannot be classed in the category of initiators and
organizersofthecrimes.
We have established with sufficient clarity that the initiator in the organization of
Detachment 731 and its branches was none other than the Emperor of Japan Hirohito. The
directorganizersofDetachment731weretheMinistryforWar,theJapaneseGeneralStaff,
andtheCommandoftheKwantungArmy.
Detachment731washeadedbytheJapaneseideologistofbacteriologicalwarfareGeneral
IshiiShiro,andcanmyclient,ahumbleLieutenantColoneloftheMedicalService,beputon
aparwiththesinisterandcriminalexperimenteronhumanbeings,GeneralIshii?
Consequently,Nishicanbeclassedonlyinthegroupofexecutorsofthecriminalordersof
theJapaneseHighCommand,inparticular,theformerCommander-in-ChiefoftheJapanese
KwantungArmy.
Passingtomysecondclient,formerLieutenantoftheVeterinaryServiceoftheJapanese
KwantungArmy,HirazakuraZensaku,Imustobservethathetoohasfullyadmittedhisguilt,
and during the preliminary and the Court investigations gave frank and detailed testimony,
regrettedwhathadbeendoneandrepentedofthecrimethatwascommitted.Hirazakurawas
born,grewup,waseducatedandworkedunderconditionslikethoseofNishiToshihide,in
imperialist Japan, and only in the Soviet Union as a prisoner of war did he realize the
criminalityoftheworkhehaddoneinDetachment100.
According to the role he played in the group of accused, he, as a subject of the crimes,
mustalsobeclassedinthegroupofexecutorsoforders.
SucharemybriefviewsonthecircumstancesthatmitigatetheguiltofaccusedNishiand
Hirazakura.
ItseemstomethattheargumentsIhaveadducedinnowaycontradictthefacts,andthis
givesmegroundforappealingtoyou,ComradesJudges,forclemency.
PresidentoftheCourt:CounselProkopenkowillnowspeakindefenceofaccusedMitomo
Kazuo,KikuchiNorimitsuandKurushimaYuji.
CounselProkopenkodeliversaspeech,thetextofwhichisappendedtotherecordofthe
Courtproceedings.Simultaneously,thespeechistransmittedinJapanese.
SPEECHBYCOUNSELPROKOPENKO,G.K.,
INDEFENCEOFACCUSEDMITOMO,
404
KIKUCHIANDKURUSHIMA
ComradesJudges,
The whole world knows that for many years, the imperialist clique in power in Japan,
pursuing a perfidious, aggressive policy, harboured plans of aggrandizement in the Pacific
andEasternAsia.
Thiscliqueclungtoitsintentionsuntilitsuttercollapse.Itmadepreparationstocommita
mostheinouscrimeagainstmankind—toconductbacteriologicalwarfare,andadoptedasits
weapons for this billions of germs of the most frightful diseases—plague, cholera, gas
gangrene,typhoid,anthrax,andothers.
In the personnel of this new army, unknown in human history, were included insects—
fleasarmedwithdeadlyplaguegerms.
SucharethefactsthathavebeenestablishedbytheMilitaryTribunal.
ByvirtueofthegreatConstitutionofourStateandofmyprofessionalduty,itismytaskto
defend the following accused in the criminal proceedings taken against them: 1) Mitomo
Kazuo,2)KikuchiNorimitsu,3)KurushimaYuji.
Theyareindictedonthegeneralchargeofhavingbeenmembersofspecialbacteriological
units of the Japanese Army formed for the purpose of preparing and conducting
bacteriological warfare, and, as such, taking part in the criminal activities of these units in
manufacturingbacteriologicalweaponsforthemassexterminationofhumanbeings.
Mitomo, in addition, is charged with complicity in the murder of people by performing
inhuman experiments on them, and with having participated in bacteriological sabotage
againsttheU.S.S.R.
Permitme,ComradesJudges,tobeginwiththedefenceofaccusedKikuchi.»
KikuchiNorimitsuischargedwithhaving,asaprobationermedicalorderly,cultivatedthe
germs of typhoid, paratyphoid, tuberculosis and dysentery, tested culture medium and
perfectedmethodsofpreparingthemforthepurposeofbreedinggermsonamassscalefor
bacteriologi-
calwarfare.
KikuchiNorimitsuisaJapanesesubject.Underthelaw
ofcompulsorymilitaryservicehewasdraftedintotheranks
oftheJapaneseArmy.ImustsaythatserviceintheJapa-
neseArmydidnotdependuponKikuchi'swishes,hewas
obligedtoserve,buthe,ofcourse,shouldnothavecarried
outtheobviouslycriminalordersofhissuperiorstoperfect
themethodsofbreedinglethalbacteria.Inthiscasehe
405
wasanaccompliceofhissuperiors.
Thus,thedefence,andKikuchiNorimitsuhimself,admit
guiltandregardthedefinitionofthecrimeaccordingto
Art.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupremeSoviet
oftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943,ascorrect.
Asregardsthepenalty,IasktheMilitaryTribunal,
whendiscussingthisquestion,totakeintoconsideration
thatKikuchiwasbornandbroughtupincapitalistsociety.
Helivedaccordingtothejunglelawsofcapitalistso-
ciety.ThisideologywasfosteredinhismindbytheCom-
mandoftheKwantungArmy.
Iaskthatyoualsotakeintoconsiderationtheminor
degreeofhisguiltcomparedwiththatofthegeneralssitting
atKikuchi'sside(incidentally,thisisthefirsttimeinhis
lifethathehashadtheopportunityofsittingnexttotop-
rankgenerals).
Ialsoaskyoutotakeintoconsiderationthemitigat-
ingcircumstances,forwhichprovisionismadebyour
law,particularlyhisfrankconfessionofguilt,hisrepentance
ofthecrimehecommitted,andtosentencehimtoaminor
penaltyinconformitywiththedeed.
ThedefencehasnodoubtthattheMilitaryTribunal's
sentenceonKikuchiNorimitsuwillbeajustone.:
AsregardsaccusedMitomoKazuo,whotoohasfully
admittedguilt,heischargedwithagravercrime.Inaddi-
tiontomanufacturinglethalbacteria,Mitomoperformed
experimentsnotonlyonanimals,butalsoonhumanbeings.
Inobediencetotheordersofhismasters,hekilledpeople,
andthendissectedthemtoseewhatchangeshadtakenplace
asaresultofpoisoning.Atthattimehedidnotthinkthis
wasacrime.SuchwastheideologyofthesoldierMitomo,
inculcatedinhimbythebellicosecliqueinJapan.
This was in the past, but today, ex-soldier Mitomo is a different man. He now speaks a
differentlanguage.Itakethelibertyofaskingyou,ComradesPresidentandMembersofthe
Military Tribunal, to verify the sincerity of the repentance Mitomo expressed at the
preliminaryandparticularlyatthisCourtinvestigation.
Mitomocondemnshispastcriminalactivities,admitsthathecommittedheinousdeeds.
406
Iaskyoutosentencehimtoapenaltythattakesintoaccountallthespecificfeaturesofthe
environmentwhichmadeMitomosuchashewasuptoAugust1945.
I ask you to pass a lighter sentence upon him because he was not an exceptionally
importantdetailinthedeadlyinfernalmachinesetupbytheEmperorofJapan,Hirohito.
Lastly,ImustdefinethedegreeofguiltandresponsibilityofaccusedKurushimaYuji.He
haspleadedguiltytohaving:
1.servedintheJapaneseArmy,inBranch162ofDetachment731;
2. in October 1944, taken part in the testing of bacteria shells in the region of Pingfan
Station;
3.fromNovember1944tothedayofJapan'ssurrender,performedthedutiesoflaboratory
assistant,cultivatedthegermsofcholera,typhoid,tuberculosisandotherdiseases,collected
rodentsandbredfleas.
The Court investigation has established that the only part Kurushima took in the
experimental manoeuvres that were carried out in the region of Pingfan Station to test
bacteria shells was that he, as a soldier in the Japanese Army, was on guard duty on the
proving ground while the shells were being tested. Secondly, he counted the fleas in the
boxes that were placed around especially for the purpose of determining the degree of
dispersionof the fleas thathad been dropped from aircraft. Lastly,he caught field rats and
mice.
KurushimaYujiwasdraftedintotheJapaneseArmyinJanuary1944.Convincedthathe
wasamemberofthe"divine"race,hedideverythinghewasorderedtodo.
Kurushimawasasoldier,andnothingmore.
I have no doubt that the Kurushima of 1944 no longer exists. Before you is a different
Kurushima,Kurushimawhosincerelycondemnshispast.
Let the instigators and organizers of the preparations to conduct bacteriological warfare
answerforthiscrime.
Therefore,ComradesJudges,IpleadfortheutmostclemencyinthecaseofKurushima.
President of the Court: Counsel Lukiantsev, defending accused Karasawa Tomio and
OnoueMasao,willnowspeak.
CounselLukiantsevdeliversaspeech,thetextofwhichisappendedtotherecordofthe
Courtproceedings.Simultaneously,thespeechistransmittedinJapanese.
407
SPEECHBYCOUNSELLUKIANTSEV,V.P.,
INDEFENCEOFACCUSEDKARASAWAANDONOUE
ComradesPresidentandMembersoftheMilitaryTribunal,
ThistrialoftheJapanesewarcriminalshasrivetedtheattentionandrousedtheinterestof
theentirepublicofourgreatMotherland.
It has been established in Court that the ruling clique in Japan made preparations to
conduct not an ordinary war, but one that would have had frightful consequences, a war
unprecedentedintheentirehistoryofmankind,theweaponsofwhich,invisibletothenaked
eye,weredeadlygermsofplague,cholera,anthrax,glanders,typhoidandotherdiseases.
TheanalysisofthematerialsintheCourtinvestigationshowsthatthechargeagainstthe
accusedofhavingpreparedtoconductbacteriologicalwarfareagainsttheSovietUnionand
othercountrieshasbeenproved.
ThechargesagainsttheaccusedhavebeenprovedinthecourseoftheCourtinvestigation
andIhavenogroundsfordisputingthesecharges.
Proceeding to perform my professional duty as counsel for defence in the present trial, I
wouldhavelikedtospeakbrieflyaboutthenatureofimperialistJapanasastate,aboutthe
ideologyoftherulingcliqueinJapan,aboutthespecificfeaturesofthedisciplinethatreigned
intheJapaneseArmy,becausethesemattershavedirectrelationtomyclientsKarasawaand
Onoue.MyfellowcounselfordefenceBelov,however,whohasspokenbeforeme,dealtin
detail in his speech with the principles and methods of organization of the Japanese
imperialist state apparatus and of the Japanese military machine. He spoke of the way the
Japanesepeoplewereoppressedandstupefiedbyreligiousandfeudalprejudices,oftheway
theirmindswerepoisonedwithbellicosenationalismandbrutalchauvinism,ofthewaythe
entire system of training and instruction converted the Japanese soldiers into mechanical
executorsofthewilloftherulingcliqueinimperialistJapanwhichwaspossessedwiththe
insaneideaofworlddomination.
Toavoidrepetition,Iwillnotdwellonthesematterswhichareofmajorimportanceforall
theaccusedinthepresentcase,includingmyclients.
Permitme,ComradesJudges,topasstotheconcreteexplanationsdirectlyconcerningmy
clients.
IndefenceofaccusedKarasawaTomioandOnoueMasao,Ihave,withyourpermission,
thefollowingviewsandargumentstoadvance.
YouarefamiliarwiththesubstanceofthechargeagainstaccusedKarasawaandIdeemit
inexpedienttodetainyourattentiononthedetailsofit.
Karasawa's guilt in taking a direct part in the preparations to conduct bacteriological
408
warfareagainsttheU.S.S.R.andothercountriesleavesnoroomfordoubt.Thelethalbacteria
thatwerecultivatedinmassquantitiesunderKarasawa'sdirectionwerein1940andin1942
scatteredinthefieldsofCentralChinabytheexpeditionarydetachmentsledbytheideologist
ofbacteriologicalwarfareGeneralIshii.
It has been proved that Karasawa cultivated lethal microbes for war purposes, that he
committedcrimesagainsthumanity.
Nevertheless,you,ComradesJudges,mustnotignorethefactthatinthiscaseKarasawais
not the principal and chief criminal. Being only a major in rank and subordinate to others,
KarasawaobeyedtheordersofformerChiefofthedivisionGeneralKawashima,offormer
Chief of the detachment General Ishii, of former Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung
ArmyGeneralUmezu,andlastly,heobeyedthewilloftheEmperorofJapan,Hirohito,allof
whom,itseemstome,oughttobechieflyanswerableforthemanufactureandemployment
ofbacteriologicalweapons.
Karasawa was an officer in the Japanese Army; to him military service was primarily
implicit obedience to military regulations and military orders. Consequently, accused
Karasawa'sroleinthepresentcaseisthatofexecutor,butnotofleaderandorganizerofthe
crime.
InviewofthefactthatKarasawawasasubordinateintheservice,thathewasunderthe
will and orders of his superiors which, having been brought up in the spirit of blind
obedience,he,ofcourse,couldnotdisobey,thedefencehopesthatyou,ComradesJudges,in
determining the penalty to be meted out to Karasawa, will take these circumstances into
considerationandappraisethemassuchthatconsiderablymitigatetheguiltofmyclient.
While not trying to dispute the charge against Karasawa, I cannot help drawing your
attention to one other argument, fundamental in my opinion, of the defence, namely, my
clientKarasawa'sconfessionofguilt.
Duringthepreliminaryinvestigation,Karasawafranklyconfessedhisguilt,toldaboutthe
crimescommittedbytheothersandtherebyhelpedtoexposetheevildeedscommittedbythe
rulingcliqueinJapan.Karasawasaid:
"IrealizethatDetachment731wasacriminalorganizationwhichmanufacturedmeansfor
exterminating human beings by barbarous methods, prohibited by international rules." And
further:
"Servinginthedetachment,Iwasaparticipantinthesecriminalactivitiesandcommitteda
crimeagainsthumanity,forwhichImustpaythepenalty.Realizingthis,Ihavetriedfrom
the very beginning of the investigation earnestly and objectively to reveal the detachment's
criminalactivitiesandthepartImyselfplayedinthem."
MyclientKarasawadid.indeedconsistentlyandhonestlyexposehisowncrimesandthose
ofhisaccomplices.
409
It seems to me that in passing sentence on Karasawa, the Tribunal must also take this
mitigatingcircumstanceintoconsideration.
IpasstothedefenceofOnoue.
Asisevidentfromthematerialsinthecase,OnoueMasaodevotedhisserviceasChiefof
Branch643ofBacteriologicalDetachment731mainlytotheorganizationofthecatchingand
breeding of rodents—rats and mice—and the breeding of fleas as a type of bacteriological
weapon.DuringtheinvestigationOnouetestified:
"I knew that Detachment 731 engaged in research and in the manufacture of large
quantitiesofbacteriologicalweaponsintendedforuseinbacteriologicalwarfareagainstthe
SovietUnion.Branch643,ofwhichIwasincharge,bredrodentsandfleaswhichweresent
toDetachment731,wheretheywereusedforthemanu
factureofbacteriologicalweapons."
AsisevidentfromOnoue'sowntestimony,hisbranchcaughtandbredover7,000ratsand
bredfleas,whichweresubsequentlysenttoDetachment731.Branch643receivedequipment
forcultivatingbacteria,and75tonsofmaterialsforpreparingtheculturemediumnecessary
fortheproductionoflethalbacteria.
This obliges me, counsel for defence, to agree with the charge brought against accused
Onoueandtoregardhisguiltashavingbeenproved.
ButinOnoue'scasetooIfindcircumstancesthatconsiderablymitigatehisguilt.
MyclientOnoue,likeKarasawa,servedintheKwantungArmy,themostaggressiveand
in all respects the most prepared army. This army was the striking force of Japanese
imperialism, the pride of the Japanese Imperial Headquarters, on whose banner was
inscribed:"WaragainsttheSovietUnionandtheConquestoftheSovietFarEast,Siberiaand
theUrals."
For the Kwantung Army, the Japanese Emperor Hirohito, the General Staff and the
MinistryforWarofJapantrainedthestaunchestcadresofsoldiersandofficersmostdevoted
to the empire. For the purpose of cultivating these qualities in their soldiers, not only the
MinistryforWar,butalsotheMinistryforEducation,atonetimeheadedbythatideologist
ofwaragainsttheSovietUnion,Araki,resortedtodeception,rousedamongthesoldiersand
civilianpopulationofJapanblindhatredforotherpeoples,preachedthenecessityofimplicit,
blindobediencetosuperiors,exceptionaldevotiontotheJapaneseEmperor—God'sVicaron
earth,cultivatedthesamuraispirit,inhumantreatmentofenemies,andsoonandsoforth.
In other words, the officers and men of the Kwantung Army received special training.
They were imbued with the lust to seize alien territory and with the ideas of Nazism and
fascism.IntheJapaneseArmyrangthesong:JapanWillConquertheWholeWorld.
410
It was no accident that in 1937, during Japan's war against China, when Japanese troops
werebeingsenttoChina,Japanesesoldierscouldbeseenontherailwaystationswithsashes
acrosstheirshouldersbearinginscriptionslikethefollowing:"I,Nakamura,amgoingtowar
tovanquishandtoconquer."
Onoue,liketheotherofficerssenttotheKwantungArmy,receivedsuchatraining,took
themilitaryoathandsworetobeloyaltoEmperorHirohito.
Withouttheslightestreflection,Onoueblindlyobeyedtheordersofhissuperiors,hewasa
livingtoolinthehandsofhisrulers,hisownegodidnotexist.
Thus, in the present trial Onoue is far from being a principal figure. Like my client
Karasawa, he merely obeyed another's will, put into execution the criminal ideas of his
criminalsuperiorsandofthecriminalrulingcliqueinJapan.
This enables me to ask you, Comrades Judges, to take these circumstances into
considerationandtoappraisethemassuchthatgreatlymitigateOnoue'sguilt.
Ialsohopethatyou,ComradesJudges,indeterminingthedegreeofresponsibilityofeach
oftheaccused,willtakeintoconsiderationasamitigatingcircumstancethefactthataccused
Onoueconfessedhisguiltinthecrimeshecommitted.
Heobeyedtheprecept:"Follownaturalpromptingsandobeythelawsofthestate."Butthe
lawofthestateofJapanwasthewilloftherulingclique,thewilloftheimperialists.Onoue
wasmerelytheirservant.
Comrades Judges, I am firmly convinced that you will pass sentence in conformity with
thelaw,forthesakeofthepeaceandwelfareofpeace-lovingmankindandthat,atthesame
time, in determining your sentence on my clients Karasawa and Onoue, you will take into
accounttheargumentsofthedefence,andthatthepenaltywillbejustandhumane.
THEACCUSED'SLASTPLEAS
PresidentoftheCourt:Ideclaretheargumentofthepartiesfinished.
AccusedKawashima,pleasestepuptothemicrophone.Youmaymakeyourlastplea.
ACCUSEDKAWASHIMA:
Withyourpermission,Iwillmakemylastplea.BeforeIarrivedintheSovietUnionfor
the first time, I had a totally wrong opinion about it. This was due only to lack of
understanding,andonlywhenIarrivedintheSovietUnionafterIwastakenprisonerbythe
SoviettroopsfollowingJapan'ssurrenderdidI,forthefirsttime,realizethatmyviewswere
mistaken.
ThefirstthingIfelt,andIfeltitverydistinctly,wasthehumanetreatmentaccordedmeby
411
theSovietpeople.
IponderedoverthereasonforthistreatmentofmebytheSovietpeopleandIrealizedthat
it was not accidental, that it was due to the fact that there is no national animosity in the
SovietUnion,thattheSovietUnionisademocraticcountrywhichcaresforthewelfareofthe
peopleandstandsonguardforpeace.
Thismademerealizetheentiredepthofmycrime.Itcompelledmetoaltermyviews.
IrealizedthatthecrimesIhadcommittedwereshamefulnotonlyforme,butforthewhole
ofmycountry,andIrepentedofthem.
It made me realize that my former opinion about the Soviet Union had been mistaken. I
begantounderstandthatafterthesurrenderJapanmustdevelopasademocraticcountry,and
thatinorderthatshemaydoso,alltheoldevilsmustbeexposedanduprooted.
WhatIhaverelatedwasmyrepentance,itwasmyconfession.Thatiswhy,fromthevery
beginningofthepreliminaryinvestigation,Itoldthefactsaboutthecriminalactivitiesofthe
detachmentinwhichIhadserved.Thiswasadifficultandpainfultaskforme.
ThehumanewayIwastreatedbytheinvestigationauthoritieshelpedmeintimetofind
therightwayoutofthisdifficultsituation
IfullyrealizethatthecrimeIcommittedwasaveryheinouscrimeagainsthumanity.
ThisisnotthefirsttimeIthinkso,thesethoughtsarenotnewtome,buthere,inthiscourt,
Ibecameparticularlystrengthenedinthesethoughtsandfeelings.
IamreadytoaccepttheseverestsentencetheCourtmaypronounce.
President of the Court: Please sit down. Accused Karasawa, please step up to the
microphone.Youmaymakeyourlastplea.
ACCUSEDKARASAWA:
Already in 1946, at the time the preliminary investigation in the case of the chief war
criminals was being conducted by the Tokyo International Tribunal, I was examined as a
witness.
IexposedallthecrimesIandDetachment731hadcommitted.Now,asaplainman,asan
ordinaryperson,Iwillsayallthathasaccumulatedinmyheart.
MymotherisnowlivinginJapan,sheis80yearsold,inadditiontherearemywifeand
twochildren.
412
Formerlytheylivedonmypay.ButIrealizethefullgravityofmyguiltandIrepentofthe
crimesIcommitted.
I promise to be an entirely different man in the future. I beg the Court to pass a just
decision,
President of the Court: Please sit down. . .. Accused Yamada, please step up to the
microphone.Youmay.makeyourlastplea..
ACCUSEDVAMADA:
FirstofallIthanktheCourtforprovidingmeandtheotheraccusedwithdefencecounsel.
IwanttogeneralizeallthetestimonyIhavegivenandtomakemypositionclear.
Iwasborninamilitaryfamily.FrommyearlyyearsIservedinthearmyandwastrained
toobeyordersandtobeconsciousofmymilitarydutyandresponsibility.
After I was appointed to the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army, I
faithfullyandconsistentlycarriedoutalltheordersandinstructionsoftheMinistryforWar
andtheGeneralStaffofJapan,therebystrivingtoincreasethefightingpreparednessofthe
KwantungArmy.
I admit my responsibility for increasing the preparedness to conduct bacteriological
warfare.
As for the monstrous crimes that were committed for the sake of preparing to conduct
bacteriological warfare, I realize that responsibility for this rests upon the chiefs of
detachments 731 and 100 and upon all the Commandersin-Chief of the Kwantung Army,
endingwithmyself.
But I want to say that all those who were connected with these detachments acted in
conformitywithorders,inobediencetothewillofthechiefsofthesedetachmentsandofthe
Commanders.
Aboutthecrimesthatwerecommittedbythesedetachments,ingeneralaboutthecrimes
that were committed for the sake of preparing to conduct bacteriological warfare, accused
Kawashimahasjustspoken.Ihavenothingtoaddtowhathesaid.Thereisnojustification
forthesecrimes.
As I have said already, I admit my guilt in all the crimes that were committed by these
detachmentsforthesakeofpreparingtoconductbacteriologicalwarfareduringtheperiodin
whichIwasCommander-in-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,thatis,fromJuly1944toAugust
1945.
Irealizethewholegravityofmyguilt.IrealizethewholeweightofmycrimesandIgive
413
nothoughttothequestionastowhetherthepenaltywillbesevereorlightforme.
Thisisall1havetosayinmylastplea.
PresidentoftheCourt:Pleasesitdown.AccusedNishi,pleasestepuptothemicrophone.
Youmaymakeyourlastplea.
ACCUSEDNISHI:
I express my gratitude to the Court for having provided me with defence counsel at this
trial.
Ihavenothingmoretosay.InowawaitthejustsentenceoftheSovietCourt.
President of the Court: Please sit down. Accused Kajitsuka Ryuji, please step up to the
microphone.Youmaymakeyourlastplea.
ACCUSEDKAJITSUKA:
Ipleadguiltytothechargesagainstmeandamreadytobearanypenalty,howeversevere.
Iamgiventheopportunitytomakealastplea,butIdonotintendtojustifymyself.
Iwillonlyexpressmyfeelings.
Ibegantostudymedicineinordertoimprovetheprotectionofpublichealth,toworkfor
the benefit of mankind. I think it shameful to myself that I, a physician, a member of a
humaneprofession,insteadofperformingmysacredduty,thedutyofamedicalman,tooka
differentpath,thepathofpreparingtoconductbacteriologicalwarfare,inwhichbacilliare
usedasweapons.Iregardthisasshamefultomyselfasaphysician.Irepentofhavingbeen
implicatedinthesecrimes.
IfeelguiltytowardsthepeopleforthecrimesIcommitted.
PresidentoftheCourt:Pleasesitdown.AccusedSato,pleasestepuptothemicrophone.
Youmaymakeyourlastplea.
ACCUSEDSATO:
From1941Iwasthechiefoftwobacteriologicaldetachmentsandwasindirectchargeof
preparationstoconductbacteriologicalwarfare.Furthermore,asChiefoftheMedicalService
ofthe5thArmy,Ifacilitatedthepreparationstoconductbacteriologicalwarfare.
ThecrimesIcommittedruncountertothedutyofaphysician,runcountertotheethicsof
themedicalprofession.Thesecrimeswerecommittedagainsthumanity.Myactivitieswere
414
directedagainstallthatisgood.
Now,mCourt,IfullyrepentofthecrimesIcommitted.Ithankcounselfordefence,andI
must say that I felt ashamed that a lawyer was defending a criminal like me. I think I am
unworthyofthis.
NowIaskforajustsentencethat.willfullycorrespondtothecrimesIcommittedandmy
guilt.
President of the Court: Please sit down. Accused Hirazakura, please step up to the
microphone.Youmaymakeyourlastplea.
ACCUSEDHIRAZAKURA:
Withyourpermission,Iwillmakemylastplea.Firstofall,atthistrial,thecriminalplans
of international reaction to prepare to conduct bacteriological warfare have been utterly
exposed.ThiswaspossibleonlybecausetheSovietArmyhadintimeshatteredalltheplans
ofJapanesemilitarism,whichwaspreparingtoconductbacteriologicalwarfare.
Stern punishment of us, the participants in the preparations to conduct bacteriological
warfare,.willbeawarningandalessonforthosecriminalswhoarenowtryingtoprepareto
conductasecondbacteriologicalwar.Ihopethatthosewhoareguiltyofpreparingtoconduct
bacteriological warfare and bear most responsibility for these preparations, namely, the
Japanese Emperor Hirohito, General Ishii and General Wakamatsu, will be severely
punished.
I am sure, I hope, that the criminals guilty of preparing to conduct bacteriological
warfare,.whoarenotatpresentinthedefendants'box,willbeseverelypunished.
President of the Court: Please sit down. Accused Mitomo, please step, up to the
microphone.Youmaymakeyourlastplea.
ACCUSEDMITOMO:
AtthetimeIwasservinginDetachment100Ididnotrealizethefulldepthofmywicked
deeds and crimes, but having lived in the Soviet Union for four.years, and also, and
particularly,havingbeeninthisCourtforthepastfewdays,Ideeplyfeelthewholeweightof
thecrimesIcommitted.
Here,forthefirsttime,IlearnedthetruthabouttheSovietUnion,Ilearnedtoknowthe
Sovietpeople,Isawthattheyarehumaneandnoble.
Ifullyrealizemyresponsibility.Irepentofhavingparticipatedinthecrimes.
President of the Court: Please sit down. Accused Takahashi, please step up to the
microphone.Youmaymakeyourlastplea.
415
ACCUSEDTAKAHASHI:
IfirstlearnedwhattheSovietUnionreallyisonlyafterIhadseenwithmyowneyeshow
theSovietUnionisliving.
WhataccusedKawashimasaidinhislastpleaabouttherebirthofanew,brightJapan,is
absolutelycorrect.Ifullyagreewiththisandhavenothingmoretoadd.
I express thanks for the defence counsel that was provided me, I thank him for the kind
wordshefoundtosayaboutme,IdeeplyrepentofthecrimesIcommitted.Ihaverealized
thefulldepth,thefullweightofthesecrimes,buttodayIwanttobegforclemency.Iaskfor
ajustsentenceinorderthatImaydevotemystrengthtothebenefitofmankind.
President of the Court: Please sit down. .. . Accused Kikuchi, please step up to the
microphone.Youmaymakeyourlastplea.
ACCUSEDKIKUCHI:
FrommyearliestchildhoodIwastaughttobedevotedtotheJapanesestate,tobedevoted
totheJapaneseEmperor.IthoughtthatbymyworkIwouldservethewelfareofmypeople,
butIwasdeceived.
Here,duringthefouryearsIhavebeenintheSovietUnion,thankstothehumanewayI
andtheotherJapanesehavebeentreatedbytheSovietauthorities,IrealizedhowmuchIhad
been deceived, how false and wrong had been the upbringing I had received from my
childhoodinmyowncountry.
IbecameconvincedbyexperiencethattheSovietUnionisright.Iunderwentachangeof
heartthatIcouldnothaveundergoneallmylife,andnowIwanttorectifyallmymistakes.
Here,inCourt,Iregretthatthechiefcriminals,thechief.organizersandchiefinstigators
ofbacteriologicalwarfarearenotinthedefendants'box.
Iamfilledwithhatredanddisgusttowardsthem.
ThepaththatImusttakeiscleartome.
WiththisIconcludemylastplea.
PresidentoftheCourt:Pleasesitdown.
AccusedKurushima,youmaymakeyourlastplea.
ACCUSEDKURUSHIMA:
416
I realize the gravity of my guilt, the weight of the crimes I committed as a member of
Branch162ofDetachment731,whichengagedinthemassproductionofbacteriaintended
forthepurposeofexterminatingmanypeople.Ifullyadmitmyguiltandrepentofthecrimes
Icommitted.
Iamfilledwithinfinitehatredforthemilitaristswhodraggedmeintothiswickedbusiness
—participation in preparations to conduct bacteriological warfare. From childhood I was
broughtupinafalseenvironment,broughtupontheprinciplesofadecayedideology.But,
asmycounselfordefencesaid,IamnotthesameKurushimathatIwasfouryearsago..
Inconclusion,IexpressthanksforthekindwayinwhichIandtheotherprisonersofwar
herehavebeentreated.
I express thanks for the fact that in the Soviet Union we were treated without race
discrimination.IexpressthanksforthehumanewayIhavebeentreatedhere,andforhaving
beenprovidedwithalawyertodefendme.
PresidentoftheCourt:Pleasesitdown.
AccusedOnoue,youmaymakeyourlastplea.
ACCUSEDONOUE:
Duringthepreliminaryinvestigation,andhereinCourt,Isincerelyadmittedmycomplicity
in the crimes that were committed by me and by all the members of Detachment 731 in
general.
Once again I express repentance of the crimes in which I was implicated and which I
myselfcommittedasChiefofabranchofthisdetachment.
I thank the Court for providing me with competent defence. I realize the gravity of my
guilt, I realize that I was not just a rank and filer, I was a leading officer, the Chief of the
branch,andIrepentofthecrimesIcommitted.
Iwillstriveinfuturetodevotemystrengthtothefightagainstsuchinhumanacts,tothe
fightforpeace.
Inconclusion,IbegtheCourtforclemency,iftheCourtdeemsthispossible.
PresidentoftheCourt:Pleasesitdown.
TheCourtretirestoconsideritsverdict.
At16.20hours,theCourtretiredtoconsideritsverdict.
At 21.30 hours, the Court pronounced its verdict, after which the verdict was translated
intoJapanese.
At23.45hoursthePresidentdeclaredtheCourtsessionclosed.
417
President:CHERTKOV
Secretaries:KORKIN
VARAVKO
418
TheVerdictoftheMilitary
Tribunal
VERDICT
INTHENAMEOFTHEUNION
OFSOVIETSOCIALISTREPUBLICS
TheMilitaryTribunalofthePrimoryeMilitaryArea,consistingof:
President—MajorGeneralofJurisprudenceChertkov,D.D.,andMembers:Colonelof
JurisprudenceI1nitsky,M.L.andLieutenantColonelofJurisprudenceVorobyov,I.G.,
and Secretary, Senior Lieutenant K o r k i n, N. A., with the participation of the State
Prosecutor, State Counsellor of Jurisprudence of the Third Class, S rn i r n o v, L. N., and
DefenceCounsels:ComradesBorovik,N.K.,Be1ov,N.P.,Sannikov,S.E.,Zvery
ev,A.V.,Bogachov,P.Y.,Prokopenko,G.K.,Lukian.tsev,V.P.,andBo1
khovitinov,D.Y.,inanopenCourtsession,intheCityofKhabarovsk,onDecember
25-30,1949,heardthecaseagainsttheJapanesewarcriminals:
l.Yamada Otozoo, born 1881 in the city of Tokyo, a Japanese, General, formerly
Commander-in-ChiefoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy;
2.KajitsukaRyuji,born1888inthetownofTajiri,a*Japanese,LieutenantGeneralofthe
MedicalService,DoctorofMedicalSciences,formerlyChiefoftheMedicalAdministration
oftheJapaneseKwantungArmy;
3. Kawashima Kiyoshi, born 1893 ttr the-Prefecrtnre" of Chiba, Sanimu County, the
villageofHasunuma,aJapanese,MajorGeneraloftheMedicalService,Doctor"ofMedical
Sciences, formerly Chief of the Production Division of Detachment 731 of the Japanese
KwantungArmy;
4.NishiToshihide,born1904inthePrefectureofKagoshima,SatsumaCounty,thevillage
of Hfwaki, ai Japanes'e", Lieutenant Colonel of the Medical Service, physician and
bacteriologist,formerlyChiefoftheTrainingandEducationDivisionofDetachment731of
theJapaneseKwantungArmy;
5.KarasawaTomio,born1911inthePrefectureofNagano,ChisagataCounty,thevillage
ofToyosato,aJapanese,MajoroftheMedicalService,physicianandbacteriologist,formerly
sectionchiefoftheProductionDivisionofDetachment731oftheJapaneseKwantungArmy;
6. Onoue Masao, born 1910 in the Prefecture of Kagoshima, Izumi County, the town of
Komenotsu,aJapanese,MajoroftheMedicalService,physicianandbacteriologist,formerly
ChiefofBranch643ofDetachment731oftheJapaneseKwantungArmy;
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7.SatoShunji,born1896inthePrefectureofAichi,thetownofToyohashi,aJapanese,
Major General of the Medical Service, physician and bacteriologist, formerly Chief of the
MedicalServiceofthe5thArmyoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy;
8. Takahashi Takaatsu, born 1888 in the Prefecture of Akita, Yuri County, the town of
Honze, a Japanese, Lieutenant General of the Veterinary Service, chemist and biologist,
formerlyChiefoftheVeterinaryServiceoftheJapaneseKwantungArmy;
9.HirazakuraZensaku,born1916inthePrefectureofIshikawa,thetownofKanazawa,a
Japanese,LieutenantoftheVeterinaryService,veterinarysurgeon,formerlyaresearcherin
Detachment100oftheJapaneseKwantungArmy;
'10.MitomoKazuo,born1924inthePrefectureofSaitama,ChichibuCounty,thevillage
of Haraya, a Japanese, Senior Sergeant, formerly a-member of Detachment 100 of the
JapaneseKwantungArmy;-•
11. Kikuchi Norimitsu, born 1922 in the Prefecture of Ehime, a Japanese, Corporal,
formerly probationer medical orderly in Branch 643 of Detachment 731 of the Japanese
KwantungArmy;
12.KurushimaYuji,born1923inthePrefectureofKagawa,ShoozuCounty,thevillageof
Noo, a Japanese, formerly laboratory orderly in Branch 162 of Detachment 731 of the
JapaneseKwantungArmy;
all twelve—charged with having committed crimes covered by Art. 1 of the Decree of the
PresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943.
FromthematerialsofthepreliminaryandCourtinvestigationstheMilitaryTribunalofthe
Areahasestablished:
OveranumberofyearstherulingcliqueofimperialistJapanwaspreparinganaggressive
waragainsttheUnionofSovietSocialistRepublics.
ItwasestablishedatthetrialofthechiefJapanesewarcriminalswhichendedinTokyoin
1948thatanaggressivewaragainsttheU.S.S.R.wasoneofthebasicelementsofthepolicy
oftheJapaneserulingcircles,whosetthemselvestheobjectiveofseizingSovietterritories.
TheJapanesemilitarists,obsessedbytheinsaneideaofthesuperiorityoftheJapaneserace
andofcreatinga"GreaterEastAsia"undertheaegisofJapan,andhavingsetthemselvesthe
objective of establishing world domination jointly with Hitler Germany by unleashing
aggressivewars,didnotstopatanycrimesagainstmankind,howevermonstrous,toachieve
thisobjective.
In their criminal plans for aggressive wars a'gainst peaceloving nations the Japanese
imperialistsplannedtoemploybacteriologicalweaponsforthemassexterminationoftroops
and the civilian population, including old people, women and children, by spreading lethal
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epidemicsofplague,cholera,anthraxandothergravediseases.
Withtheseaimsinview,specialformationsfortheproductionofbacteriologicalweapons
weresetupIntheJapaneseArmy,andspecialarmysquadsandsabotagebandsweretrained
tocontaminatewithgermstownsandvillages,watersourcesandwells,livestockandcrops
ontheterritoryofthestatessubjectedtoJapaneseaggression.
Asearlyas1931,aftertheJapanesehad.seizedManchuriaandturneditintoaspringboard
for an attack on the Soviet Union, a bacteriological laboratory with the code name of the
Togo Detachment, headed by Ishii Shiro, one of the ideologists and organizers of inhuman
bacteriological warfare, was set up in the Japanese Kwantung Army for the purpose of
preparingbacteriologicalwarfare.
In 1936, when Japan's military preparations for war against the Soviet Union were
intensified,theGeneralStaffoftheJapaneseArmy,inlinewithadecreeissuedbyEmperor
Hirohito, developed on the territory of Manchuria two large bacteriological institutions
intended not only for evolving methods of waging bacteriological warfare but also for
producingbacteriologicalweaponsonascalesufficientfullytosupplytheJapaneseArmy.
These were top-secret institutions, and for purposes of disguise were given the names:
"WaterSupplyandProphylaxisAdministrationoftheKwantungArmy"and"HippoEpizootic
AdministrationoftheKwantungArmy."Subsequentlytheywererenamed"Detachment731"
and"Detachment100."
Bothdetachmentshadnumerousbranches,whichwereattachedtounitsandformationsof
the Kwantung Army and were located in the sectors of the main blows envisaged by the
JapaneseoperationsplanforawaragainsttheSovietUnion.
These branches were actually combat units, prepared at any moment to employ
bacteriologicalweaponsatordersfromthecommand.
Detachment731and100,aswellastheirbranches,weresubordinatedtotheCommanderin-ChiefoftheKwantungArmy,asiscorroboratedbyanorderissuedonDecember2,1940,
byGeneralUmezuYoshijiro,formerlythearmy'sCommander-in-Chief,ontheformationof
fournewbranchesofDetachment731,whichorderisappendedtothecase.
Detachment 731 was quartered in a specially-built and strictly-guarded military
cantonmentinthevicinityofPingfanStation,20kilometresfromthecityofHarbin,andwas
a high-capacity institute for the preparation of bacteriological warfare, with a personnel of
about 3,000 scientific and technical workers, and laboratories equipped with the latest
machineryandperfectedapparatus.
The functions and practical activity of this detachment followed from its structure. It
consistedofseveraldivisions,ofwhichonlythe3rdDivision,locatedinthecityofHarbin,
occupieditselfwitharmywatersupplyproblems.
The functions of the 1st (research) Division included research in, and the breeding of,
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lethalbacteriamosteffectiveforemploymentasweaponsofbacteriologicalattack.
The2nd(experimental)Divisiontestedonlivingpeopletheactionofthegermsevolvedas
a result of the researches, devised types of shells and special sprayers for transferring the
germstotheenemy'sside,andbredfleasinfectedwithplagueforthepurposeofspreading
plagueepidemicsontheadversary'sterritory.Thedivisionhad4,500incubatorsforbreeding
fleas on rodents. Scores of millions of plague fleas could be bred in these incubators in a
short space of time. For conducting its criminal experiments the 2nd Division had at its
disposalaspecialprovinggroundinthevicinityofAntaStationandanairunitwithspecially
equippedplanes.
The 4th (production) Division was designated for propagating the germs evolved by
laboratorymethods,andwasasortofgermfactoryofsevereinfectiousdiseases.
This division possessed high-capacity technical equipment calculated for the mass
propagationofgermsonthescalenecessaryfortheprosecutionofbacteriologicalwarfare.
Thedivision'sproductioncapacityenabledittobreedupto300kg.ofplaguegermsper
month.
The 5th (training and "education") Division trained cadres capable of employing
bacteriological warfare weapons and of causing epidemics of plague, cholera, anthrax and
othergravediseasesbydisseminatinggerms.
Thus, Detachment 731 engaged in the preparation of a vast quantity of germs of severe
infectiousdiseasesdesignatedforemploymentasbacteriologicalweaponsforlayingwasteto
entiredistrictsandkillingthecivilianpopulation.
Accordingtothefindingsofthemedicolegalexperts,thebreedingofgermsonsuchascale
wascalculatedfortheprosecutionofactivebacteriologicalwarfare.
Detachment 100 was located in the small town of Mogatong, 10 kilometres south of the
cityofChangchun,andengagedinthesamecriminalactivityasDetachment731.
The Production Division of Detachment 100 had six sections, which prepared: the lst
Section—anthraxgerms;the2ndSection—glandersgerms;the3rdand4thsections—germs
causing other infectious livestock diseases; the 5th Section engaged in the cultivation of
microbes for the infection and destruction of cereals; the 6th Section—the pathogenes of
cattleplague.
AshasbeenestablishedatthepreliminaryandCourtinvestigations,twosecretformations
designated for the preparation of bacteriological weapons, under the code names of Ei
DetachmentandNamiDetachment,werealsosetupintheJapaneseforcesoperatingonthe
territoryofCentralandSouthChina.Theiractivitywasanalogoustothatofdetachments731
and100.
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Takingintoconsiderationthefactthatemploymentofbacteriologicalweaponswasfraught
with the danger of infecting their own troops, the Japanese Command formed in all the
battalionsandregimentsantiepidemicdetachmentssubordinatedtothechiefsofthemedical
administrations of the armies. This was a component part of the general plan of
bacteriologicalwarfarepreparations.
The research which was conducted in detachments 731 and 100 on ways and means of
waging bacteriological warfare was accompanied by criminal, inhuman experiments to test
theeffectofbacteriologicalweaponsonlivingpeople.Inthecourseoftheseexperimentsthe
Japanese fiends brutally killed thousands of victims who had fallen into their hands. For
severalyearsdetachments731and100performedexperimentsininfectingpeoplewiththe
germs of plague, cholera, typhus, anthrax and gas gangrene which were cultivated in the
laboratories.Themajorityofthepeopleinfecteddiedinhorribleagony.Thosewhorecovered
wereagainsubjectedtoexperiments,andfinallytheywerekilled.Thepeopledesignatedfor
agonizingannihilationweredeliveredtothespecialinnerprisonwhichexistedinDetachment
731 by the Japanese Gendarmerie, which had the code name of "special consignments" for
these operations. These victims of the Japanese fiends were Chinese patriots and Soviet
citizens suspected of anti-Japanese activity and doomed to annihilation. The exceptional
cynicismoftheJapanesemurderersexpresseditself,inparticular,inthefactthatthey
euphemistically called "logs" the people confined in the prison and designated for criminal
experiments.
As established by the testimony of the accused Kawa shima, no less than 600 prisoners
werekilledannuallyinDetachment731alone,andfrom1940tothedaytheJapaneseArmy
surrenderedin1945,nolessthan3,000personswereputtodeath.
Criminal experiments were also conducted on entire groups of prisoners. At the proving
groundinthevicinityofAntaStation,peopleweretiedtoironstakesandthenbacteriashells
filledwiththegermsofplague,gasgangreneandothergravediseaseswereexplodedintheir
directproximityforthepurposeofinfectingthem.
Thus, at the end of 1943, with the participation of accused Karasawa, an experiment in
infecting ten Chinese citizens with anthrax was conducted at the proving ground. In the
springof1944,alsowithhisparticipation,agroupofpeoplewereinfectedwithplaguegerms
attheprovingground.InJanuary1945accusedNishitookpartininfectingtenpeoplewith
gasgangreneatthatsameprovingground.
Analogous inhuman experiments on living people were also carried out in Detachment
100,whichwasunderthegeneraldirectionofaccusedTakahashi.
Thus, in August-September 1944, Detachment 100 infected, through food, eight Chinese
andSovietcitizens,whodiedsoonafter.
Inadditiontocriminalexperimentsininfectingpeoplewiththegermsofsevereinfectious
diseases, Detachment 731 conducted experiments in freezing the limbs of prisoners. In the
majority of cases these brutal experiments ended in gangrene, the amputation of the limbs,
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andthedeathoftheunfortunatevictims.
The testing of bacteriological weapons was not limited to the experiments carried out
inside detachments 731 and 100. The Japanese imperialists employed bacteriological
weaponsinthewaragainstChinaandinsabotageraidsagainsttheU.S.S.R.
In 1940 a special expedition of Detachment 731 commanded by General Ishii was
despatchedtothetheatreofhostilitiesinCentralChina,where,bydroppingplague-infected
fleasfromaircraftwithspecialapparatus,itcausedaplagueepidemicintheNimpoarea.
This criminal operation which brought in its wake thousands of victims among the
peacefulChinesepopulationwasfilmed,andthisfilmwaslaterdemonstratedinDetachment
731 to representatives of the High Command of the Japanese Army, among them accused
Yamada.
In 1941 Detachment 731 sent an analogous expedition to the Changteh area, which was
alsoinfectedwithplaguegerms.
In1942bacteriologicalweaponswereagainemployedontheterritoryofChina.Thistime
an expedition of Detachment 731, in the preparation of which accused Karasawa and
Kawashitnatookpart,operatedjointlywiththeEiDetachment,whichatonetimewasunder
the command of accused Sato. It disseminated the germs of severe infectious diseases on
territorywhichtheJapanesetroopswereforcedtoabandonunderpressurefromtheChinese
Army.
Over a period of a number of years Detachment 100 systematically sent bacteriological
groups, of which accused Hirazakura and Mitomo were members, to the borders of the
U.S.S.R. These groups carried out bacteriological sabotage against the Soviet Union by
contaminatingwatersourcesontheborder,inparticularintheTryokhrechyearea.
Thus, the preliminary and Court investigations have established that the Japanese
imperialists prepared to employ bacteriological weapons extensively in an aggressive war
unleashedagainsttheU.S.S.R.andotherstates,andtherebyplungemankindintotheabyssof
newcalamities.
Incarryingoutpreparationsforbacteriologicalwarfaretheystoppedatnocrimes,putting
todeaththousandsofChineseandSovietcitizensinthecourseoftheirCriminalexperiments
in the employment of bacteriological weapons and spreading epidemics of grave diseases
amongthecivilianpopulationofChina.
The Military Tribunal considers the following established with regard to each of the
accusedinthepresentcase:
1.YamadaOtozoo,asCommander-in-ChiefoftheJapaneseKwantungArmyfrom1944to
the day of Japan's surrender, supervised the criminal activity of detachments 731 and 100,
subordinatedtohim,inpreparingbacteriologicalwarfare,encouragingthebrutalmurderof
thousands of people in these detachments during the performance of all manner of
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experimentsintheemploymentofbacteriologicalweapons.
Yamada took measures to keep detachments 731 and 100 in full preparedness for
bacteriological warfare and to have their productive capacity able to supply the army's
requirementsinbacteriologicalweapons.
2.KawashimaKiyoshi,asChiefoftheProductionDivisionofDetachment731from1941
to 1943, was one of the detachment's executive personnel, took part in the preparation of
bacteriologicalwarfare,wasinformedabouttheworkofallthedetachment'sdivisions,and
personally directed the breeding of lethal germs in quantities sufficient fully to supply the
JapaneseArmywithbacteriologicalweapons.
In1942Kawashimatookpartinorganizingtheemploymentofbacteriologicalweaponsin
military operations on the territory of Central China. Throughout the entire period of his
serviceinDetachment731Kawashimapersonallytookpartinthemasskillingoftheinmates
ofthedetachment'sinnerprisoninthecourseofcriminalexperimentsininfectingthemwith
thegermsofgraveinfectiousdiseases.
3. Karasawa Tomio held the post of Chief of a section of the Production Division of
Detachment 731. He was one of the active organizers of the work to create bacteriological
weaponsandaparticipantinthebacteriologicalwarfarepreparations.
In 1940 and 1942 Karasawa took part in organizing the expeditions sent to spread
epidemicsamongthecivilianpopulationofChina.
Karasawa himself repeatedly took part in the experiments in employing bacteriological
weaponsasaresultofwhichimprisonedChineseandSovietcitizenswerewipedout.
4. Kajitsuka Ryuji as far back as 1931 was a supporter of the employment of
bacteriologicalweapons.In1936,asheadofadivisionintheMedicalAdministrationofthe
JapaneseWarMinistry,hehelpedtosetupandstaffaspecialbacteriologicalformation,at
the head of which, upon his recommendation, was placed Colonel Ishii, subsequently a
general.
From1939onwardKajitsukawasChiefoftheMedicalAdministrationoftheKwantung
Army and directly supervised the work of Detachment 731, supplying it with all the
requisitesfortheproductionofbacteriologicalweapons.
Kajitsuka regularly visited Detachment 731, was fully informed about its activity, knew
aboutthevillainouscrimescommittedduringtheexperimentsininfectingpeoplewithgerms,
andapprovedthesevillainies.
5.NishiToshihideheldthepostofChiefofBranch673ofDetachment731inthetownof
SunyufromJanuary1943tothedayofJapan'ssurrender,andpersonallytookanactivepart
inthepreparationofbacteriologicalweapons.
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Being at the same time Chief of the 5th Division of Detachment 731, Nishi trained
bacteriologicalwarfarepersonnelforspecialgroupsinarmyunits.
HehimselftookpartinkillingconfinedChineseandSovietcitizensbyinfectingthemwith
thegermsofsevereinfectiousdiseases.
In order to conceal the criminal activity of the branch and of Detachment 731, in 1945,
whentheSovietforcesweredrawingnearthetownofSunyu,Nishiorderedallthebuildings
ofthebranchandtheequipmentanddocumentstobedestroyedbyfire,whichwasdone.
6. Onoue Masao, as Chief of Branch 643 of Detachment 731 in the town of Hailin,
engaged in research on new types of bacteriological weapons and in the preparation of
materialsforDetachment731.
Underhissupervisionspecialpersonnelforbacteriologicalwarfarewastrained.
Onoue knew about the mass killing of prisoners in Detachment 731, and by his work
furtheredthesemostheinouscrimes.
OnAugust13,1945,withtheobjectofcoveringupthetracesofthecriminalactivityof
the branch, Onoue himself destroyed by fire all the buildings of the branch, the stocks of
materialsandthedocuments.
7.SatoShunjiwasfrom1941onwardChiefofthebacteriologicaldetachmentinthecityof
Canton which had the code name of Nami, and in 1943 he was appointed Chief of the
analogousEiDetachmentinthecityofNanking.AsheadofthesedetachmentsSatotookpart
inthecreationofbacteriologicalweaponsandthepreparationofbacteriologicalwarfare.
Later, as Chief of the Medical Service of the 5th Army of the Kwantung Army, Sato
supervisedBranch643ofDetachment731,and,awareofthecriminalnatureoftheworkof
thedetachmentandthebranch,renderedthemassistanceintheproductionofbacteriological
weapons.
8.TakahashiTakaatsu,asChiefoftheVeterinaryServiceoftheKwantungArmy,wasone
of the organizers of the production of bacteriological weapons, directly supervised the
criminal activity of Detachment 100, and bears personal responsibility for the practice of
inhumanexperimentsininfectingprisonerswiththegermsofsevereinfectiousdiseases.
9.HirazakuraZensaku,whoservedinDetachment100,personallyconductedresearchin
thefieldofdevelopingandemployingbacteriologicalweapons.
He repeatedly took part in special reconnoitring operations on the borders of the Soviet
Union with the object of ascertaining the most effective means of bacteriological attack on
the U.S.S.R., duringwhich operations he contaminated water sources, in particular, in the
Tryokhrechyearea.
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10.MitomoKazuo,whoservedinDetachment100,tookadirectpartinthepreparationof
bacteriological weapons and personally tested the action of germs on living people, killing
thembythisagonizingmethod.
MitomowasaparticipantinthebacteriologicalsabotageoperationsagainsttheU.S.S.R.in
theTryokhrechyearea.
11. Kikuchi Norimitsu, serving as a probationer medical orderly in Branch 643 of
Detachment 731, took a direct part in the research work on new types of bacteriological
weapons and in cultivating typhoid and dysentery germs. In 1945 Kikuchi took a special
courseattheclasseswherepersonnelforbacteriologicalwarfarewastrained.
12.KurushimaYuji,whoservedasalaboratoryassistantinabranchofDetachment731
andwhohadhadspecialtraining,tookpartincultivatingthegermsofcholera,typhusand
otherinfectiousdiseasesandintestingbacteriashells.
OnthebasisoftheaforesaidtheMilitaryTribunaloftheAreahasestablishedtheguiltof
alltheenumeratedaccusedinhavingcommittedcrimescoveredbyArt.1oftheDecreeof
thePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietoftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943,and,guidedbyArts.
319 and 320 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the R.S.F.S.R., taking into account the
degreeofguiltofeachoftheaccused,
HASSENTENCED:
Yamada Otozoo, on the basis of Art. 1 of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme
Soviet of the U.S.S.R. of April 19, 1943, to confinement in a labour correction camp for a
termoftwenty-fiveyears.
Kajitsuka Ryuji, on the basis of Art. 1 of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme
Soviet of the U.S.S.R. of April 19, 1943, to confinement in a labour correction camp for a
termoftwenty-fiveyears.
TakahashiTakaatsu,onthebasisofArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupreme
Soviet of the U.S.S.R. of April 19, 1943, to confinement in a labour correction camp for a
termoftwenty-fiveyears.
KawashimaKiyoshi,onthebasisofArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupreme
Soviet of the U.S.S.R. of April 19, 1943, to confinement in a labour correction camp for a
termoftwenty-fiveyears.
Nishi Toshihide, on the basis of Art. 1 of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme
Soviet of the U.S.S.R. of April 19, 1943, to confinement in a labour correction camp for a
termofeighteenyears.
Karasawa Tomio, on the basis of Art. 1 of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme
Soviet of the U.S.S.R. of April 19, 1943, to confinement in a labour correction camp for a
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termoftwentyyears.
OnoueMasao,onthebasisofArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupremeSoviet
oftheU.S.S.R.ofApril19,1943,toconfinementinalabourcorrectioncampforatermof
twelveyears.
SatoShunji,onthebasisofArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupremeSovietof
the U.S.S.R. of April 19, 1943, to confinement in a labour correction camp for a term of
twentyyears.
HirazakuraZensaku,onthebasisofArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupreme
Soviet of the U.S.S.R. of April 19, 1943, to confinement in a labour correction camp for a
termoftenyears.
Mitomo Kazuo, on the basis of Art. 1 of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme
Soviet of the U.S.S.R. of April 19, 1943, to confinement in a labour correction camp for a
termoffifteenyears.
KikuchiNorimitsu,onthebasisofArt.1oftheDecreeofthePresidiumoftheSupreme
Soviet of the U.S.S.R. of April 19, 1943, to confinement in a labour correction camp for a
termoftwoyears.
Kurushima Yuji, on the basis of Art. 1 of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme
Soviet of the U.S.S.R. of April 19, 1943, to confinement in a labour correction camp for a
termofthreeyears.
The sentence may be appealed in the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the
U.S.S.R.within72hoursfromthedayacopyofithasbeenhandedtotheconvictedpersons.
President:MajorGeneralofJurisprudence
D.CHERTKOV
Members:ColonelofJurisprudence
M.ILNITSKY
LieutenantColonelofJurisprudence
/.VOROBYOV
m
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