World War II is one of the most devastating time periods in human history. A prominent figure in the midst of all the death and destruction is imperial Japan, a power directly contrasting with its “cute” pop culture image today. However, as many are aware, imperial Japan posed a direct threat to the U.S., committing countless war crimes including the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the threats of atomic bombs, and more. Nevertheless, not many know much of the other crimes against human bodies, the biological warfare waged against innocent people at the time. Much of this is swept under the rug, and it is time that we uncover the brutality of imperial Japan from a bioethical, but also non-western perspective.
Before diving into the legacy of imperial Japan, it is important to define biological warfare as a concept. In facing the current global pandemic, people have experienced first-hand the effects of global pandemics, diseases, and death. Now imagine that highly fatal diseases like anthrax, smallpox, haemorrhagic fever are purposefully utilized as an arsenal of weapons. Once described as “the poor man’s atomic bomb” by Block in American Scientist, biological weaponry is used to gain power over others. It’s an invisible, yet deadly threat, effective and affordable to those who wield it. With rapid progress in scientific innovations, countries are able to “stockpile” these diseases in advance as if they were bullets for guns. Although this sounds like a novel and futuristic method of approaching war, it has been in existence long before the medical technologies we see today. It was during World War I when mustard gas use was prevalent that biological weaponry became a common concern. Bioweapons programs have existed in many countries like the U.S. and Soviet Union, and continue to serve as a source of threat.
When one thinks of Japan, many see the technological advancements, the scientific achievements and new milestones achieved. Although its days of the rising sun, the symbol of imperial Japan, are in the past, its effects are persisting through the lives and families of the victims. Among one of its worst crimes to humanity was Unit 731, a secret biological weapons program to experiment on human bodies that put in action throughout Northeast China by Japan. The man behind these atrocities, Shiro Ishii, was a radical nationalist. Born in 1938, this program began action by experimenting with not only Chinese prisoners and civilians, but also US POWs and victims across Asia. Twenty-six centers of experimentation were set up, employing as many as 5,000 people. Although the exact number of casualties is unknown, it is said that thousands, maybe tens of thousands of lives were taken in the name of “research.”
Unsuspecting victims were put through brutal trials where they were exposed to aerosolized anthrax, mice infected with the bubonic plague, cholera and typhus infected water wells, plague ridden fleas spread over Chinese towns by plane, and even trials studying the effects of frostbite on the body. These are only a few of the atrocities carried out by Unit 731, stripping victims of their humanity. Referred to as “Maruta,” or “wooden logs,” the prisoners were not seen as people, maybe even seen as less than a guinea pig. Some experiments are too gruesome to even imagine, seeing as the treatment of humans at Unit 731 acted almost as the playthings of the officials who ran and approved of these trials. To say that these lives were used as laboratory subjects is an understatement.
Although it was kept in secrecy, horrifyingly, the program received support from universities, hospitals, and medical schools, providing the program with scientists who would help further these tragedies. Even the aftermath of Unit 731 makes one question how it is possible to have such little regard for humanity in the name of science and nationalism? Unit 731 was shut down in 1945, though Chinese citizens experienced the program’s effects for decades to come. All the facilities were burned down, infected animal specimens were released into towns, and very few have admitted their guilt. Unfortunately, even fewer were convicted of war crimes, and some of the most vile minds behind the operations went on with their lives to become revered medical figures in their communities. No justice was received to the victims as the government denied its existence, parallel to the “comfort women” and sexual slavery that was also administered by imperial Japan at the time.
Although it is common to see war as black and white, there is and was no true “good guy” during the war. The United States, which condemned the actions of imperial Japan, insteading of seeking justice, sought to reap the benefits of the cruelty of Unit 731. In exchange for the details of the experiments, Japanese officials were allowed to escape prosecution by American officials. The sadistic reality of how innocent lives were thrown away makes one question where humanity is and whether it is really there. Especially in times of war, much is excused while the citizens carry the burden and pain of their undeserved history. It is the sickening truth that makes it hard to maintain hope. However, our duty as citizens of the world is to listen to these stories and stay informed. We must make sure these lives are respected so that we may hope to fight against something like this happening ever again.
References:
Frischknecht, Friedrich. “The History of Biological Warfare. Human Experimentation, Modern Nightmares and Lone Madmen in the Twentieth Century.” EMBO Reports, Nature Publishing Group, June 2003, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1326439/.
“Japan: Biological Weapons Program.” Biological Weapons Program - Japan, https://nuke.fas.org/guide/japan/bw/.
Shwartz, Mark. “Biological Warfare: an Emerging Threat in the 21st Century.” Biological Warfare: An Emerging Threat in the 21st Century: 1/01, Stanford University, 11 Jan. 2001, https://news.stanford.edu/pr/01/bioterror117.html.
“Unit 731.” Unit 731: Japan's Biological Warfare Project, https://unit731.org/.