Hideo Shimizu, 94, a former member of the notorious Unit 731, traveled to China to apologize for the horrific atrocities committed by the Japanese military. Unit 731 is infamous for conducting brutal human experiments during World War II.
Shimizu visited the site of Unit 731 in Harbin, China, yesterday, where he expressed his remorse for the Japanese actions.
He recalled that he joined Unit 731 as a “junior soldier” at the age of 14 in 1945. Shimizu recounted encountering various human organs preserved in formaldehyde in the specimen lab and receiving orders to collect the bones of prisoners used as test subjects.
He also revealed that just before Japan’s surrender, Unit 731 eliminated the evidence by burning the bodies and blowing up the facility. He participated in carrying bombs and collecting the remains.
Shimizu stated, “I overcame many contemplations to visit China because I hope the Japanese authorities will confront history, safeguard peace, and avoid repeating the mistakes of the war.”
In 2016, he publicly acknowledged his past as a member of Unit 731. Since then, he has spoken about Japan’s atrocities through lectures and interviews.
Before the visit, he wrote in an article, “I have decided to return to the site of Japan’s invasion to express my deepest apologies to the Chinese people who suffered.”
He emphasized his hope to inspire more people to reflect and raise awareness about the importance of cherishing the hard-won peace to avoid repeating the tragedies of war. He shared that seeing his grandchildren always reminded him of the infant specimens he encountered in the lab, evoking feelings of pain and guilt.
This marks the first time Shimizu has set foot in China since returning to Japan 79 years ago.
Jin Chengmin, director of the crime evidence exhibition hall at Unit 731 in Harbin, noted, “It is highly likely that Shimizu is the last member of Unit 731 to come to Harbin and express repentance.”
Unit 731 served as a secret biological and chemical warfare research base established by the Japanese Kwantung Army in Harbin during the 1930s. It functioned as a center for biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia during World War II. From such atrocities, at least 3,000 people died from the human experimentation conducted by Unit 731, and over 300,000 people in China died as a result of Japan’s biological warfare.
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