Memory of bloodshed: Former member of Unit 731 testifies to behaviors and duly apologizes in Harbin

Hideo Shimizu, a former member of Unit 731, the Japanese germ-warfare detachment during the Japanese invasion of China, arrived at the Exhibition Hall of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army in Pingfang, Harbin this morning (Aug.13) to testify to their behaviors and duly apologize.

Hideo Shimizu is 94 years old. He was recruited by the Japanese army at the age of 14 and assigned to the headquarters of Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army in Harbin. He fled to Japan along with the Japanese Army on Aug. 14, 1945.

Jin Chengmin, the curator of the Exhibition Hall of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army, contended that Shimizu Hideo is likely to be the last original member of Unit 731 to come to Harbin to duly apologize for their notorious behaviors.

Hideo Shimizu has previously written an article saying, "Historical facts can never be covered up. I am determined to go to the former site of Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army in Harbin and express my deepest apologies to the Chinese people who have been hurt. I hope to arouse more people to reflect on past tragedies, cherish the hard-earned peace, and avoid the recurrence of wars."

It is reported by CCTV-13 that he has witnessed a variety of tragic and heinous atrocities committed by Unit 731 in Harbin.

He said, "I was taken to the specimen room. What shocked me was that there were all kinds of human specimens inside, including parts of human bodies, among which I could see babies inside the bellies. There were also specimens of various organs such as hearts, stomachs, and lungs, and specimens of human heads sawn open from the center. I wondered why such a cruel thing was done when I saw the specimen of a human head split in the middle."

"Many innocent Chinese people were dissected for the experiments. I think that our apology can not atone for what we have done. I feel very sorry for the Chinese people who were killed. I would like to duly apologize to them though the Japanese government doesn't apologize for these behaviors."

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