Page 14 - Marutas of Unit 731

Chapter 2

The Beginning of an Evil

Genius

As Japan began its modernization campaign, it relied heavily on science to
expand its empire. Born on June 25, 1982 to an established family in the

village of Chiyoda-Mura in the Kamo District of Chiba Prefecture, Ishii was

a product of his era. As a landowner, he lived a privileged childhood. His

primar y and secondar y schoolmates remembered him as “brash, abrasive,

and arrogant.” However, since he had a great memor y, he was a “teachers’
favorite.” Raised in the age of Japanese expansionist ambition, Ishii had an

ultra-nationalistic desire to be in the militar y. Less than a month aer

graduating from the Medical Dep artment of Kyoto Imper ial University at

age 28, Ishii began his militar y training as a probation officer in the ird

Regiment of the Imperial Guard Division and became a Surgeon-First
Lieutenant in less than 6 months. His favorite aer work related activity was

to visit the red light district of Tokyo for geishas under 15 or 16 years old.

Even with a First Lieutenant’s minimal pay, he never lacked spending

money. During his postgraduate studies at Kyoto Imper ial University, Ishii

networked eagerly and hustled to climb the career ladder. As a res earcher
sent to help cure an epidemic that had broken out in Japan, it was then he

[8]
invented a water lter that could be carried alongside the troops.