On December 11, 2025, the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army unveiled a 38-minute video featuring Tsuruo Nishijima, a former member of the notorious unit.
In the footage, recorded in 1997 by Japanese scholar Fuyuko Nishisato and donated to the hall in 2019, Nishijima recalls how Unit 731 used meteorological data to carry out bacterial dispersal tests 🦠 and frostbite experiments ❄️.
The exhibition hall, located in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province in the Chinese mainland's northeast region, stands on the site of Unit 731's former headquarters. It offers a sobering reminder of the atrocities committed under the guise of scientific research.
Nishijima describes how scientists monitored weather conditions to expose human subjects to sub-zero temperatures, studying tissue damage and survival limits. He also explained trials aimed at understanding how airborne pathogens could spread, using controlled releases guided by precise weather records.
As we reflect on this rare testimony over 80 years after WWII, the video emphasizes the importance of remembering history to prevent such horrors in the future. 📽️🕊️
Stay curious, stay informed, and let these stories guide us toward compassion and peace.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
