Shiro Ishii came up with the idea of having Unit 731 built to keep up with the West since westerns were believed to be developing their own weapons of biological warfare. The Japanese government heavily invested in the Unit 731 facility in order for it to function fully. Masaji Kitano was a commanding officer of Unit 731. Another member of Unit 731 was Yoshimura Hisato, who was a physiologist. In addition, Yasuji Kaneko is also one of the alleged members of Unit 731.

Welcome to Forgotten History of Pacific Asia War Podcast Episode 4: Personnel of Unit 731.

Book Series on Unit 731

1. Unit 731: The Forgotten Asian Auschwitz

2. The Khabarovsk War Crimes Trial

3. Marutas of Unit 731

4. Ishii Shiro: Josef Mengele of the East

5. Seeking Justice for Biological Warfare Victims of Unit 731

References

1. https://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=537

2. http://www.lit.osaka-cu.ac.jp/user/tsuchiya/gyoseki/presentation/UNESCOkumamoto07.html

3. http://en.people.cn/n/2015/0828/c90000-8943204.html

4. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/01/AR2007030100578.html

5. http://articles.latimes.com/2004/sep/19/news/adfg-poison19

6. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/jul/31/japan.jonathanwatts

Episode 16: U.S. Pre-War Doubts on the Success of Biological Warfare

Forgotten History of Pacific Asia WarBy Pacific Atrocities EducationJun 29, 2020