prior to the Second World War the
Japanese militarists had occupied
northeast China and established the
puppet state of Manchukuo in order to
expand their Greater East Asia empire
the Japanese did much preparatory work
some of their least known activities
were the experiments on bacterial
weapons by the Manchurians 731 squadron
this squadron had many subsections they
were Helia
salut
Lin cow Moo Dan's Yang and the and our
rural Experimental Station
the headquarters of the 731 was situated
in the ping Fang district of Harbin it
covered a large area of land and the
existence of the headquarters was highly
classified surrounded by high tension
electric fences inside there were
extensive facilities and animal breeding
unit a crematorium a pathology
laboratory a jail an electrical
generating plant the Commandant's office
and other facilities for various
experimental projects in February 1945
the Japanese forces were suffering heavy
losses on all fronts in an effort to win
the war using biological warfare the
military headquarters reinstated a
leftenant general issue serum a medical
doctor to be the 731 squadron commander
yet the same person had previously been
relieved of this post on charges of
corruption at the same time a group of
young soldiers were sent to Harbin as
new recruits to the squadron
[Music]
I wonder when they'll come and pick us
up I'm freezing captain Takahara is gone
- by who I allow he said to collect our
new sergeant
he's been gone almost an hour where is
he why aren't we allowed to go - by wily
ow this place it's freezing cold it's as
bad as Chiba Prefecture I think this is
much colder than Chiba right Ishikawa it
really makes no difference to me we're
not going home anyway we're stuck here
look at him it's only been a few days
and Ishikawa already misses home Ishika
was just a mama's boy he even broke down
and cried when she said goodbye to him
you cried as well didn't you know I
didn't only my mother and my sister did
yeah my mom cried too although I didn't
cry whenever I still felt very bad it's
because my father died here in action so
did my father so did my father and
brother you're both killed here fighting
in China
here try this go on
ha
this kind of rice cakes hard to get even
in Japan mm-hmm don't you know that
he's so strange
[Music]
excuse me sir doctor a she's just
arrived at headquarters
would you please it's okay I'm coming
yes sir
[Music]
Ishikawa yeah catch dr. Ishii general
Kikuchi general
I see old friend you still look the same
you haven't changed at all since I saw
you last
same old 731 Ishii dr. Ishii is back
let's welcome him and another way dr. a
she's returned to the core yeah that's
right he just arrived today I'm
surprised they sent him back here catch
now listen up I'm your new section head
my name is sergeant kawasaki now you're
in the Kwantung army you're all members
of the seven three one squadron youth
corps do you understand
hey now if you get a chance to go to
Harbin whether you're on leave or a day
off you must change into your civilian
clothes when you return you must
remember to put your uniforms back on at
by while y'all if you meet other
Japanese or get stopped you mustn't
reveal your attachment to this squadron
is that clear
[Music]
like well it's almost three years now
since 1942 I'm glad you're back with us
to a brothers reunion thank you sir
Thank You general gentlemen although
I've been away from the squadron for the
last couple of years
I followed the research that's been done
so I'm up-to-date
now with reference to the research that
mr. Katona has been doing I believe that
he's focused too much on the theory I
think that what we need most is to
increase the quantity and quality of the
bacteria we have to use them in this war
to speed the victory of the Japanese
Empire
so gentlemen let's drink a toast victory
and gentlemen I would like to propose a
toast to dr. itchy to welcome him back
here to the 731 squadron to victory
excuse me sir
Lieutenant General Sir
lieutenant oh no military police
reporting for duty from the Kwantung
Army Command office that's right I'm
just Lieutenant General I could have
been a full general a long time ago if
it wasn't for those fools at military
headquarters who say army doctors can't
go higher than lieutenant general
they're ridiculous not one of them
recognizes our worth well now lieutenant
gone why don't you go and report me to
the military command I've just voiced a
criticism of the General Staff hmm go on
hold it do you have no respect for your
seniors
oshino let's forget about this if they
find us we'll be in trouble no I'm not
gonna forget it my brother gave me that
bull when I left Japan I must get it
back
[Applause]
get on your feet is she covering Haseeno
I don't know sir
I don't know either sir you don't know
where are they I don't know
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
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give me that
[Music]
that showed a total lack of discipline
nothing like this must ever happen again
the training of the youth core is
important not only because we're short
of staff it's mainly because what we
require here are people of the highest
integrity and loyalty headquarters only
recognizes the importance of bacterial
weapons in this war they fail to realize
that biological and chemical weapons are
also very important they'll affect the
outcome of this war in the future of
Japan I believe they'll play a crucial
role so we have to speed up these
experiments sorry that incident was a
Sheena was really unexpected security
and discipline must be stepped up it's
late I'd better leave you two thank you
sir right let's go
good night sir rabbie please sit down so
sure what's happening back in chiba hmm
there's a shortage of everything people
have suffered a lot in the last couple
of years but the families managing I see
well brother I think we can only do our
best under the circumstances now then
how's everything here for instance what
about the men's morale it's alright the
men don't really complain oh yes we
managed to find out about that incident
which got you relieved it was due to an
informer you were right it's Colonel
Nakatomi the idiot he even ridiculed the
effectiveness of your water purifier he
did did he
damn Nagato be
lieutenant colonel Nakatomi have you
hear anything present
generally she would like you to
please forgive me sir
kawasaki any absent ease unfortunately
sir machine have had an accident last
night
kawasaki I want you to treat these
youngsters well the youth core is
important
thank you sir Kushina was electrocuted
by his own hand and now all of you are
behaving like a bunch of schoolgirls
idiots what kind of soldiers are you
stop acting like kids you want to get
another for Chiba then you must start
acting like real men close up dad down
prom business and crawl
ha boom boom it made enough come on beau
Thank You hurry come on hurry all right
go on come on come on on your feet I
said come on meet you too
hey you know I just heard there's a
rumor going around that the Fighting's
very heavy on the southern front a whole
army could be wiped out
it sounds very serious there's no other
way we've got to speed up these
experiments more logical weapons are the
only way we win the war hey what did he
say
it sounds like Japan will be finished
soon
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hasten the Raptor say the we should
conserve the Muruga this one can be
stuffed and mounted it won't be wasted
[Music]
this is real tough but fortunately the
money is quite good and also we can
study is that right
Ishikawa do you send money home No so
does that mean that you spend it all
here I don't
mom said we must save it up for the war
effort this is a nice place it's similar
to my home in Chiba Camryn she must at
this cold this place is just like a
hospital no I don't think so a hospital
to their patients but we only have dead
bodies this place is more like a medical
school no I don't think so medical
schools don't have soldiers everywhere
and they're not heavily guarded like
this I don't care what you think it's
okay by me I eat well and they pay me a
lot of money the only problem is that
fat sergeant Kawasaki he's too much he's
always looking for trouble
look is that his she knows ball let's
get it back come on
[Applause]
[Music]
but she knows ball wasn't like this how
are you what are you doing here he must
be a mute
[Music]
Hey
are you okay sir
what's wrong with he's been here for
over a month but he still hasn't managed
to adjust sir he vomits every time he
comes and works on these experiments
when he gets like this we have no
alternative but to let him take a break
I think sir it'll take him a while to
get used to it don't worry about it I'm
sure he'll soon get used to it his job
is very important we rely on the colors
to determine the results of these
experiments as you know we can't just
depend on black and white pictures so
take care of him and get him back to
work sir excuse me sir sir I'm sorry sir
I've been transferred to the southern
front by direct order of the quanto nany
commander congratulations the situation
in the south is very serious I think
that a patriotic soldier like yourself
should be able to achieve great things
especially as you have such a close
relationship with the general HQ that's
good you should sacrifice yourself sir I
suppose that this was all your doing
sir this Marotta has been injected with
bubonic plague three times but still no
symptoms have appeared so we've decided
to conduct a live dissection on him
that's good
to collect accurate data we're dependent
on continuous experimentation so all the
Marotta that we use not only do they
have to be alive but they have to be fit
than in good general condition
experimenting on live subjects is a rare
chance sir that is a man sir you tell me
what that is
he's a Chinese man you tell me what that
is sir
he's a very bad Chinese man take it out
now remember that is called I'm a Rooter
it's a log for the fire or for making
coffins it's material for experiments it
is called a Marotta now tell me what it
is Morita sir
I can't hear what you're saying Maruti
tell me what it is
[Music]
all right what is this
[Applause]
[Music]
we must do all we can to collect
evidence and then get it out of here
the outside will must know what's going
on in here this is the only thing we can
do listen why go through all the trouble
we have no chance of getting out of here
alive you have no backbone and youto
stand up like a man don't copy this
chicken he's a disgrace to the Chinese
that is now the lessons on experiments
will start tomorrow so work hard and
learn well is that clear come on let's
go please sir please please let her take
it with her she thinks it is her child
[Music]
general please
[Laughter]
quickly now hurry up and get changed now
hurry up come on let's go
all right then let's go
they go
[Laughter]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
this is the culture medium production
room
this is where the bacteria are killed at
high temperature
[Music]
this way please here they are
transferring the bacteria
you must learn all this as soon as
possible
here we're doing a cold injuries test
the marutas been at minus 35 degrees for
ten hours
it's 15 degrees now
[Music]
all right
what you've seen now is a quick freezing
experiment at minus 196 degrees
[Laughter]
finished chewing your Apple and then I
want you to spit it out just like I have
remember this don't swallow it this way
you can eliminate germs from your oral
cavity you understand all right then I
want you to go tell your sergeant that
I'd like you to be my guest this Sunday
we can all have a drink together thank
you Oh
marita you're invited too you want to
join us sure it's all just a question of
humanitarianism don't you understand
no this concerns the rise and fall of
our great Empire listen the Sheik our
they're human beings just like us they
have parents too don't you understand
what I'm saying that's all nonsense
they're prisoners how can you say that
Oh joking come on this is Sunday let's
not discuss business here
come on let's eat okay everybody this
fruit was brought over specially from
Japan please help yourselves Oh madam
you mustn't carry heavy things let me
help you
thank you maybe you can tell me the
difference between the child that mrs.
tan amaura's going to have an emeritus
child what's that oh you should not have
said that how can you compare we
Japanese people to a Marotta we don't
speak the same language I have nothing
more to say to you I'm sorry sir please
excuse me
Ichikawa
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
kawasaki pushed him and he fell down the
stairs he hurt his leg we're gonna do
something to get back at that pig
kawasaki and we want you to do something
to help us as members of the 731 youth
course we should obey our officers just
forget it we have to abide by
regulations here you're just a damn
coward chicken you got no guts
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
those goddamn murderers what the hell
are they up to now
hey specs what do you think they're
gonna be doing to us now
what was that injection this morning
I've had no reaction at all I don't know
what it was why didn't these people get
it
be careful of contamination the last
accident costs sakagami oh no honey
their lives so I'll be careful everyone
inject those people first yes sir let's
go sir according to the previous test
results it'll be quite difficult to
produce a strain of bubonic plague that
is more than 60 times as infectious as
the standard type now we're doing the
seventh experiment and here here are the
results of the last few tests mm-hmm
sir I heard that the Germans are
performing similar kinds of tests using
the Jews as subjects and they've
achieved good results
so can't we approach them before the war
dr. itchy collected data on this project
in Europe for two years according to him
the German research in experiments in
this area are far behind our own
compared to them our equipment and
facilities are more sophisticated what
they've achieved so far may not be of
any use to us at all come on now and
don't feel discouraged you keep up the
good work and report to me at once when
the experiments are completed yes sir
sir I heard that Lieutenant Colonel
Nakatomi died in action on the southern
front is that right hmm it's true dr.
ish II really shouldn't have gone so far
as he did hmm
I suggest we keep out of that it's
nothing to do with us you just
concentrate on your own career you know
the medical department is awaiting your
return the future of Medicine in Japan
is in the hands of people like you
so in other words the success of the 731
decides the survival of the Empire so
today we really should Harbor no more
illusions about the Kwantung army the
quantum army other than relying on our
bacterial warfare has no other way of
winning the war
I've always believed that chemical and
biological weapons are a far more
effective way of waging war than bombs
and guns and right now we must regroup
and mobilize our forces so gentlemen I
must entreat you to work doubly hard in
order that we can win final victory we
have to get ourselves well prepared for
the coming bacterial war offensive
gentlemen please speak up if you have
any questions please go ahead we have
managed to successfully produce a
mutated plague bacteria which is 60
times more lethal than the norm the
amount we have cultivated according to
our calculation sir is very enough to
wipe out all of mankind at the same time
we have increased the number of mutated
plague infected rats to 3 million we've
also produced 300 kilograms of fleas
this is equivalent to about 1 billion
fleas if 1 billion of these plague
infected fleas were all released
simultaneously it's not hard to imagine
the situation on the war front will be
drastically changed
we'd be assured that the Empire would
win the war our bacterial weapons are
crucial the fate of the Japanese Empire
lies in our hands it's up to us one
thing it's been proved that the metal
casing holding the fleas gets very hot
during the firing and the majority of
the flea since I get killed consequently
these bacterial bombs have failed to
produce the results that we expected
it's proved to be quite a difficult
problem
weapons Department
does anyone have any other questions sir
there's been a strong reaction to
Kawasaki abuses of the youth core it's
getting quite serious there's a lot of
tension and unrest among members of the
core transfer kawasaki immediately out
of the youth core oh no I want you to
replace him sir excuse me please enjoy
the food
ha genrih seems her swords not rusted
yet out you - yes
[Laughter]
all right all those who've been hit or
touched by the fragments put your hands
up gentlemen this thing is my latest
invention and I've called it the
low-temperature porcelain bacterial bum
[Applause]
to the Empire
[Applause]
be careful don't break them
[Music]
take off your clothes
[Music]
[Laughter]
[Music]
hey there Kawasaki hmm I want you to
find me a healthy young fella do you
think you could do that a healthy young
fellow what do you need that for we know
that's not much use to you but it's very
important for us you know come on now
you can find us a healthy man Kawasaki
if you can help us find a healthy young
guy for this experiment then I'll buy
you a few drinks
oh yeah we're all about your drink how
about that don't worry about it
Kawasaki is good at that I'm sorry I
can't help you with this you left a fun
one oh he means he's only good at
fighting young women hey kono saki
really help us out on this you can do it
come on
give us a hand okay I'll see what I can
do please let my daughter go I'll do it
but I'll do whatever you want
doesn't matter about me but let my
daughter go please please let my
daughter go she's so young please let
her go she's she didn't do anything I'll
do anything you wanted anything at all
anything but let my daughter go my
daughter please let her go he would
right you can do whatever you please
thank you I thank you
[Music]
[Applause]
[Laughter]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
you've been here a while
are you used to it yes I am sir oh good
army life is like that you know how
things are my boy why are you still
seeing that Chinese mute no sir not
often why do you ask
oh I just wondered if you could find me
that's
sir here's the mute that you asked me to
bring the other day thank you well done
now come on go with him oh okay don't
worry come with me come on Eddie
bring him in down sir hey hey come on
come here come come come now you go in
there understand
Ishikawa you wait here
you can take him back again only when a
surgery is finished what surgery be
quiet no more questions it's not your
business keep out of it sir come here go
on
[Laughter]
Ishikawa where are you going the
surgery's finished you can take him away
yes sir
are you all satisfied well then you have
now got the heart and you've got the
liver and you've got the brain that you
needed all these organs from a living
boy in puberty are difficult to come by
that was very successful and thanks to
color my pleasure buy you a drink this
evening this chicawa what's wrong now
take the card away
[Music]
do that
[Music]
hey draw the curtains okay that fat-ass
is a bastard it's a real animal yeah hey
that mute wasn't a Muruga so why'd he
kill him I really despise him yeah I
can't stand him either right let's think
of a way to fix him
is she I want to kill him if there's any
problem I'll take the responsibility no
we're in this together yeah
come on hurry up now get ready for
disinfection
the
[Music]
what do you think you're doing get back
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
a small rat can beat a cat please and
Jerome's can defeat bombers and guns
this is the basic theory behind 731 but
it's also my philosophy so big tree we
must take the strongest and groom them
and the same philosophy should apply to
the 731 Squadron youth course to
understand that sergeant
[Music]
[Applause]
stony with
listen you must get out of here alive no
matter what happens we must get the
evidence out Stoney quick Let Go you
bastard your head is still in the sand
Stoney I'll never get out your way you
only get killed if he goes out your way
doors open
[Applause]
sorry No
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
you idiot
many marui sir are dead this is a
serious matter you know that your job is
to keep them healthy so they can survive
longer but you've neglected your duty
with serious consequences this is
intolerable do you understand that
it's unforgivable all our Morita a
precious experimental material today
they mean more than ever before you had
no right to kill any of them the
russo-japanese war will soon be upon us
but still some of our tests are not yet
conclusive 731 squadron is our last hope
we have the power to turn the war in our
favor and save the Empire
alright get up I hope you won't forget
all of you were brought here by me from
Chiba you are the core of 731 squadron
Tamara the and our rural station is
preparing for the final porcelaine bomb
test soon they'll need Morita so have
you sent them off yet yes sir they left
very early this morning
[Music]
it's back said that what you did was
very stupid we can't get out anyway the
more resist the quicker we'll get killed
he said we must try to get the evidence
out of here that's all he can do we must
let the world know about this hellhole
that's the only way we have of getting
back at these bastards
dr. Ishii I'm told we're running out of
time the situation on the battlefront is
very bad looks like the final battles
coming this tryptophane TN is extremely
important so you mustn't worry about
things here thank you
good luck
general Kikuchi I rely on you to look
after things sir Kolya Corps they can go
the target site is ready all right I'm
sorry sir
but we haven't got through them yet oh I
see
all right keep trying go sir
oh yes go ahead and find the signal do
it now yes sir
[Music]
we need the Marotta urgently all right I
just want to know from you whether
they're on their way or not excuse me
sir sir
urgent telegram thank you
August 9th Nagasaki was bombed the
Russians have declared war Manchu seven
three one squadron retreat independently
we must get dr. Ichi back here at once
yes sir hello canceler Marotta airfield
come in airfield a field that field
come an airfield come in give me that
airfield
come in come in airfield sorry
the marutas are trying to escape there
look
do it for them we get letter any of them
get away get in the car quick
[Music]
run out run quickly
[Music]
come on we must get the evidence out of
here let's go
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
run
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
cover him up too
[Music]
oh boy
I own a room now call room by
excuse me sir I'm sorry to disturb you
sir sir an urgent telegram from the High
Command the Russians have declared war
Nagasaki was bombed
now the High Command has ordered all
troops to retreat independently what do
you think sir we feel you should come
back the Russians have declared war on
us all troops to organize retreat sir
what do we do
gentlemen we have received a telegram
saying that the Americans have bombed
Hiroshima and Nagasaki it seems that
both cities have been completely
destroyed and also the Russians have
declared war I'm afraid to say that our
fate is sealed we received orders from
High Command to retreat but I personally
think that the work of 731 squadron
involves highly classified information
so now I'm requesting the following from
you firstly we must exterminate all
remaining Marotta every facility in his
compound must be destroyed nothing is to
remain the engineers will be in charge
of this job second all buildings must be
razed to the ground I want nothing left
third collect all data and documents I
want them all destroyed at once nothing
is to remain at all fourth the youth
corps retreats to Tung wah fifth all
units commit suicide also families and
dependents will commit suicide as well
in other words everything must be
destroyed no evidence must be left
behind
doctor the squadron consists of some
very highly qualified people it seems
such a waste to order them to die really
there's no need for such meaningless
sacrifices I'm fully aware of that
general but we have got to ensure the
secrecy of this facility excuse me
doctor
if you commit suicide then we'll join
you doctor ishi
these soldiers and their families to
have followed you all the way from Japan
to Manchuria so it's your duty to at
least try and get them home that's
reasonable that's hitter the 731 you're
responsible for them you should be
concerned for their welfare
you can't just simply order your
subordinates to commit suicide
I hope doctor Ishii you'll see just
where your responsibility is the general
is right we should all return to our
homeland and bring our data with us
it may be possible but still we must be
prepared in case we're captured no
matter what happens the results of our
experiments must not fall into the
enemy's hands in that case we each carry
a bottle of cyanide then if we're
captured all right we die
all right then that's what we'll do go
ahead and arrange it I will personally
direct the retreat and I'll arrange for
the transport I'm very happy I think
you've made the right decision I'm sure
everybody will be grateful to you
what are you doing why are you throwing
out our children's clothes the dot is
more important please keep this with you
at all times it is to come on dance
order if you're captured you must
swallow it well it was prepared by your
husband it's so late where are you going
at this hour I'm going to get more data
oh come on my dear the war is over we're
going home we don't understand why you
want to take this be quiet what do you
know all right it's true I may not know
much about anything but at least I know
that now we're going home you're a woman
and you know nothing at all
I agree oh well we doesn't know anything
and she certainly doesn't know how to
make poison enough how dare you speak to
me like that don't go don't go yet
please
stop that what do you think you're doing
this is important Donna you can't burn
it damn it stop right now stop it you
burn anymore and I'll shoot you down I'm
not making idle threats burn it all sir
listen this is an order you must burn it
all nothing must be left behind sir we
can't destroy this this is our whole
reason for being here and for our
presents years of hard work to amass
this data we've all had to sacrifice a
great deal and sir
Japan will need it one day if you wish
to destroy it then kill me first
thank you very much sir I think Mickey
come here
[Music]
it's worth money
take some more
Hey look at that ridin oh yeah hey get
up we're gonna blow it
[Applause]
let's go
[Music]
all right get out of there get out
hurry up come on let's go
[Music]
[Laughter]
[Music]
hey where do you think you're going go
back I'm sorry Don
[Music]
excuse me sir
all the buildings are cleared a carnita
schedule
[Music]
mr. Nomura
can you hold on just animal are you all
right mrs. Tanner Mora is going into
labor can she ride in the car is that
possible hey the cars cool enough to
need two things
no she can't
dr. well the train is leaving in another
five minutes would you like to address
the men
yes I would
well gentlemen I could tell you this is
not the end the Japanese Empire has not
yet been defeated our base may have been
destroyed but our work will continue I
know we're now going home I trust all of
you will realize the secret nature of
this base has got to be safeguarded at
all times no contacts between squadron
members is allowed furthermore under no
circumstances will you reveal the nature
of your work here and also you are
disbarred from taking out government
posts if any one of you contravenes any
of these conditions you will be severely
punished I hope that's clear
larita who's that who is he he's not one
of us who is he I I don't know who he is
that's my route
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
man behind the Sun a chilling movie
which lays bare the most inhumane and
horrifying scandal in the history of
mankind the true story of the use of
live prisoners in grisly medical
experiments conducted by Japanese
scientists in search of biological
weapons during World War two this film
is based on information kept a closely
guarded secret for more than one
[Music]