Archival Footage Unveiled
On December 11, 2025, the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army released a 38-minute archival video featuring former member Tsuruo Nishijima. The footage offers a rare firsthand account of the notorious germ-warfare units methods during World War II.
Inside the Video Testimony
In the recording, Nishijima describes how Unit 731 scientists used meteorological dataincluding temperature, humidity and wind patternsto optimize bacterial dispersal tests. He also recalls frostbite experiments, where human subjects were exposed to subzero temperatures to study tissue damage and recovery.
More than 28 years after it was recorded in 1997 by Japanese scholar Fuyuko Nishisato, and six years after its donation to the exhibition hall in 2019, the video brings to light the meticulous planning behind these inhumane trials.
Remembering History in Harbin
Located in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province in the Chinese mainland, the exhibition hall stands on the former site of Unit 731s headquarters. By preserving survivor testimonies and archival materials, the site underscores the global importance of confronting past atrocities to prevent future ones.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
