Japan Overview:
In 1935, Dr. Shiro Ishii, A Japanese army officer and bacteriologist, convinced the Japanese government to develop a chemical and biological weapons program. By 1937, the infamous Unit 731 was built, which was responsible for the research and development of Japans chemical and biological weapons before and during World War II.
Highlights:
- Headed by Ishii, Unit 731 concentrated their studies on anthrax, as well as typhus, plague, cholera, botulism, smallpox, tularemia and encephalitis. Bacteria were grown in massive amounts in huge aluminum tanks scattered throughout the site. It is estimated that by 1940, Unit 731 manufactured over five tons of anthrax for placement into bombshell casings.
Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/correspondent/1796044.stm
The exterior remains of Unit 731
- To provide Japanese agents the ability for close, covert contact with targets, Unit 731 developed anthrax-infected chocolates and chewing gum, as well as fountain pens, hatpins and umbrellas tipped with the deadly disease. In addition to anthrax-filled artillery shells, Unit 731 experimented extensively with hot-air balloons filled with the deadly disease.
- The Japanese invasion of China and Manchuria involved the use of both chemical and biological weapons. The Japanese attacked Chinese troops with mustard gas, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, plague, anthrax and a blistering agent called Lewisite.
- Japan used prisoners-of-war and capture civilians as guinea pigs. Primarily Chinese and Koreans, these people were exposed to a variety of lethal pathogens under a variety of conditions. From these experiments, the Japanese acquired invaluable information on which weapons worked best under which conditions.
- After the war the United States pardoned the senior members of Unit 731. Some people suggested that the US agreed to this deal in exchange for information that could be gleaned from Unit 731’s research, which could be used in the fight against the Soviet Union. Recently declassified documents, however, discredited this assertion.
Sources:
http://www.zkea.com/archives/archive10002.html
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=25220
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/61/67268.htm