Page 73 - MaterialsTrial-JapaneseArmy-1950

According to what Kitano said, the detachment had commenced experiments for the
purpose of ascertaining the susceptibility of human beings to infectious diseases. These
experiments were directed by a researcher in the detachment, Professor Kawakami Zen, a
specialist in pathology. These experiments had started with an analysis of the blood of
healthy Japanese and Chinese, but they had stopped owing to the death of Kawakami.

As far as I know from what Ishii and Kitano said, Detachment 731 engaged in the mass
production of means of bacteriological warfare: germsof different infectious diseases, and
also media of infection—fleas and mice.

I do not know in what quantities these were produced; at all events, they were
considerable.

Question: When was Detachment 731 formed?

Answer: Detachment 731 was formed by command of the Emperor of Japan Hirohito,
issued in 1936.

. . . The Emperor's command was printed and copies of it were sent to all the units of the
Japanese Army for the information of all the officers. I myself was shown this command and
the detachment's personnel list accompanying it, and certified the fact with my private seal.

After that I took part in recruiting the junior officer personnel of the detachment and in
examining the list of proposed senior officers which had been sent me by the Personnel
Administration of the Ministry for War.

The detachment's location was determined by the Kwantung Army Headquarters. Until
1941, the detachment had no number, but was called The Water Supply and Prophylaxis
Administration of the Kwantung Army, and also the Ishii Detachment, because it was the
custom in the Japanese Army to call army units by the names of their commanders.

The detachment was given the number 731 in 1941 by order of the Commander-in-Chief of
the Kwantung Army, who gave definite numbers to all army units and institutions.

This record was read to me in Japanese, my statements are recorded correctly.

Kajitsuka

INTERROGATORS

Military Prosecutor, Member of the staff

Lieutenant Colonel of the Office of the Ministry

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