A Terrifying Document Shedding Light on the Darkest Shadows of Postwar History
Fukiko Aoki's "731" by Seiichi Morimura, Writer
Among the world's two greatest war crimes, alongside Auschwitz, is the Kanto Army's Unit 731, known for its bacteriological warfare. This book is an unprecedented document that delves deeply into the life of its founder and first commander, Shiro Ishii. Until now, his post-war activities have been shrouded in mystery and left unexplored.
The discovery of Shiro Ishii's handwritten notes titled "Memo at the End of the War, August 15, 1945," and "Memo at the End of the War, January 11, 1946," found at the house of a woman who worked for the Ishii family, sheds light on a previously dark part of postwar history.
This book focuses on these notes, tracing Ishii's life from his upbringing, the creation and operations of Unit 731, to his activities after the war. It also examines the dealings between GHQ (General Headquarters) and Ishii, the interests of the United States, the movements of the Soviet Union, and the fate of the military doctors of Unit 731. It even follows the lives of Ishii's family and the American investigators like Saunders and Thompson, who led the investigations.
Aoki, as if haunted by Unit 731, thoroughly researched numerous documents and materials, conducting extensive interviews with many involved parties. This meticulous, grassroots investigation resulted in a chilling document that unravels one of the greatest mysteries of postwar history.
A highlight of the book is the introduction of the "Nine Secret Clauses" from the Kamakura Conference, considered one of Ishii’s biggest post-war enigmas. Popular accounts of the Kamakura Conference suggest three main points:
1. English and American officials and Ishii himself sat together and discussed matters.
2. A farewell party for Saunders.
3. Ishii himself did not attend, and it was hosted by the politician Kanichiro Kamei.
The presence of Kanichiro Kamei, referred to as a "prominent Japanese politician" by Dr. Fell, the reporter of the Fell Report, is spotlighted in this book. Kamei is speculated to have orchestrated the Kamakura Conference to handle Unit 731's postwar issues. Chapter ten of this book focuses on Kamei, the Kamakura Conference, and Ishii’s connections.
It was previously believed that Ishii made deals with the Americans for his and his executives’ survival. However, Ishii’s daughter, Harumi, testified that “the condition of the Kamakura Conference’s secret agreement was that not a single one of his subordinates would be prosecuted as war criminals. He was determined to save them all.” Consequently, except for those who were captured by the Soviets on the Soviet-Manchurian border, none were prosecuted as war criminals in the Tokyo Trials. This new perspective highlights Kamei's significant, albeit ironic, achievement.
Furthermore, the note dated December 4, 1945, mentioning Ishii negotiating severance pay for his former subordinates with MacArthur, showcases his monstrous persistence even after his downfall. References to buying cigarettes, distributing milk, and planning the menu and calories for the March 11 ration reflect a figure once at the center of the Japan-U.S.-Soviet storm now struggling for basic sustenance. This, too, is a tragic outcome of the war.
Shiro Ishii died on October 9, 1959, at the National Tokyo Daiichi Hospital, a place deeply connected to him. He was 67 years old. The second commander of Unit 731, Masaji Kitano, served as the chief mourner. The book does not confirm whether Ishii is enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine, but it is likely. This book, by exploring the downfall of the Ishii family, shines a light on the darkest shadows of postwar history.