▲ The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders (The photo above is not related to the content of the article.)
Documents confirming that the Imperial Japanese Army conducted "xenotransfusion" experiments—injecting animal blood into humans—during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) have been identified, Kyodo News reported on Sunday (June 21).
According to the report, an official journal of the "Army Medical Corps" was found containing a report from an instructor at the Army Medical School, who stated during a 1940 military conference that such xenotransfusion experiments had been repeatedly conducted.
Kyodo News reported that the experiments were allegedly carried out in China under the pretext of research to address blood loss on the battlefield, where it was difficult to secure large quantities of human blood for transfusions.
According to the records, there were 23 subjects in these experiments, all of whom remain unidentified.
It is reported that they were subjected to experiments considered beyond the bounds of common sense due to the risk of adverse reactions.
Citing the documents, Kyodo News reported that the victims were subjected to unethical experiments, such as receiving massive transfusions of horse blood or having animal serum injected after blood flow to the neck was blocked through surgery.
The media outlet added that in addition to horses, blood from sheep and dogs was also used in the experiments.
Experiments were also reportedly conducted to investigate how long red blood cells would remain in the body by injecting blood from chickens, which have differently shaped red blood cells.
In the report at the time, the instructor stated, "We have experienced numerous cases of transfusions using animals as a blood source during this incident (the Second Sino-Japanese War)."
Kyodo News noted that the date of the report is listed as autumn 1938, and the location was omitted, suggesting it had been censored. While the subjects were referred to as "patients," there was no description of the circumstances requiring a transfusion or any indication that they were wounded Japanese soldiers.
Furthermore, the report stated that while such xenotransfusions caused side effects like high fever, there were no reported deaths, and it argued that the practice should be pursued as a full-scale research project.
The conference where this report was discussed was the "Army Military Medicine Research Meeting" held in March 1940, which was attended by numerous military medical officers, including the director of the Army Medical Bureau, and pharmaceutical officers, according to Kyodo News.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.