Will repent and apologize! Former Unit 731 member Shimizu Hideo arrives in Harbin
2024-08-13
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On the evening of August 12, Hideo Shimizu, a former member of the "Boy Team" of Unit 731 of the Japanese Army who invaded China, arrived in Harbin by flight. Next, he will go to the former site of Unit 731 of the Japanese Army who invaded China to confess and apologize.
Shimizu Hideo is 94 years old this year. In March 1945, at the age of 14, he was drafted into the army as a young soldier and was sent to the headquarters of the Japanese Army's Unit 731 in Harbin. During this period, he witnessed the brutal and heinous atrocities committed by the Japanese Army's Unit 731.
Hideo Shimizu always felt that he was deeply guilty.A few years ago, he broke his silence and exposed the atrocities committed by the Japanese invaders in China to the world through speeches and other means.
Shimizu Hideo, a former member of Unit 731, published an article on page 16 of the People's Daily on August 12, 2024. The full text is as follows:
Historical facts cannot be concealed
In 1945, I was 14 years old. In March of that year, I was recommended by my school teacher to join the Japanese Army Unit 731 located in the suburbs of Harbin and became a "young soldier". In August, Japan was defeated and surrendered, and I returned to Japan with the unit. After that,I learned the truth about Unit 731's biological warfare and human experiments, and I deeply regretted having been a part of it.
After returning to Japan, we were asked to conceal our experience of serving in Unit 731, and we were not allowed to hold government positions or have any contact with the unit. Therefore, for a long time, I did not tell anyone about my experience of serving in Unit 731. It was not until 10 years ago that I met Yoshizawa Akira, deputy representative of the "Thinking Iida City Peace Memorial Hall Association" at an anti-war exhibition. The exchange with him made me start to think about the war in a new way. Later, I talked to Yoshizawa Akira about the situation of Unit 731 for the first time.Finally, he decided to continue to remain silent and to tell his personal experiences and what he saw and heard through public speeches and interviews, exposing the numerous crimes committed by Unit 731 in China and making that dark history known to more people.
When I was in the "Youth Team" of Unit 731, my superior officer told me that if I wanted to become a "surgeon", I had to dissect at least three bodies. I clearly remember that there were many infant specimens in the specimen display room of Unit 731. Over the years, whenever I see my grandchildren, I will think of the infant specimens I saw in the specimen display room. Every time I think of it, I feel extremely painful and guilty. On the eve of Japan's surrender in August 1945,In order to cover up the evidence of their crimes, Unit 731 blew up prisons and other facilities before fleeing China, massacring the prisoners and burning their bodies. I participated in carrying the bombs and picking up the burned bodies.
Many years ago, I decided to publicly exhibit the only photo of Unit 731 and related testimony that I had kept. In June 2022, when the Iida City Peace Memorial Hall was preparing to move the display board about Unit 731 into the exhibition hall of the Iida City Peace Memorial Hall, the city's Board of Education suddenly notified me thatIt stated that photos and testimonies related to Unit 731 must not be exhibited in the museum, and the term "Nanjing Massacre" must be changed to "Nanjing Incident."This caused strong dissatisfaction among many people. Under pressure, the Iida City Education Committee held a seminar in February 2023 to discuss the issue of the display board of Unit 731.However, the conclusion of the seminar was that "the content of the original exhibition board was too cruel and exceeded the scope of Japanese school textbooks."To this day, my testimony has not been accepted by the Iida City Peace Memorial Hall exhibition hall.
Now, the Japanese government is denying the fact that Unit 731 conducted germ warfare and is more inclined to evade responsibility for the war. The current Japanese government has not only failed to seriously reflect on past war crimes, but also failed to assume historical responsibility as a war perpetrator.The crimes committed by the Japanese invaders in China were inhumane and innumerable, and they should sincerely apologize to the victims. I firmly oppose the Japanese government's continuous undermining of the peace constitution, increasing military spending, and expanding armaments.We do notWar is necessary; Japan cannot go back to its old path of war.
calendarHistorical facts cannot be concealed.I am determined to return to the former site of the Japanese Army's Unit 731 during my lifetime to express my deepest apologies to the Chinese people who were harmed. I also hope to arouse more people's reflection and vigilance, cherish the hard-earned peace, and avoid the recurrence of war tragedy.
Source: CCTV News Client, People's Daily
