Masaji Kitano
Encyclopedia
Masaji Kitano was a medical doctor, microbiologist and the lieutenant general of the Imperial Japanese Army
. He was the 2nd commander of Unit 731
, a covert biological
and chemical warfare
research and development unit responsible for some of the most notorious war crimes carried out by Japanese personnel
.
in 1919 with a medical doctor degree. In 1921, he was commissioned lieutenant as an army surgeon. In 1932, he worked in the First Army Hospital in Tokyo
. He later left the hospital service transferring to the Army Surgeon School. In 1936, he was dispatched to Manchukuo
, part of the Empire of Japan
and became a professor of Manchu School of Medicine, teaching microbiology.
In 1942, he was appointed the 2nd commander of Unit 731
. His predecessor was Shiro Ishii
. In April, 1945, he was promoted to lieutenant surgeon general and appointed commander of the 13th Army Medical Corps. After Japanese surrender, August 1945, he was detained in a POW camp in Shanghai. Like all involved with Unit 731
or Japanese biological warfare
, he was repatriated to Japan in January 1946.
After he came back to Japan, he worked for Green Cross
, a Japanese Pharmaceutical company. In 1959 he became head of the plant in Tokyo and the chief director of that company. He was the chief funeral commissioner of Shiro Ishii
, a fellow Unit 731
member.
Kitano died in Tokyo in 1986.
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
. He was the 2nd commander of Unit 731
Unit 731
was a covert biological and chemical warfare research and development unit of the Imperial Japanese Army that undertook lethal human experimentation during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. It was responsible for some of the most notorious war crimes carried out by Japanese...
, a covert biological
Biological warfare
Biological warfare is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi with intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war...
and chemical warfare
Chemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
research and development unit responsible for some of the most notorious war crimes carried out by Japanese personnel
Japanese war crimes
Japanese war crimes occurred during the period of Japanese imperialism, primarily during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. Some of the incidents have also been described as an Asian Holocaust and Japanese war atrocities...
.
Biography
Kitano graduated from School of Medicine, Tokyo Imperial UniversityUniversity of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
in 1919 with a medical doctor degree. In 1921, he was commissioned lieutenant as an army surgeon. In 1932, he worked in the First Army Hospital in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. He later left the hospital service transferring to the Army Surgeon School. In 1936, he was dispatched to Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
, part of the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
and became a professor of Manchu School of Medicine, teaching microbiology.
In 1942, he was appointed the 2nd commander of Unit 731
Unit 731
was a covert biological and chemical warfare research and development unit of the Imperial Japanese Army that undertook lethal human experimentation during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. It was responsible for some of the most notorious war crimes carried out by Japanese...
. His predecessor was Shiro Ishii
Shiro Ishii
was a Japanese microbiologist and the lieutenant general of Unit 731, a biological warfare unit of the Imperial Japanese Army responsible for human experimentation and war crimes during the Second Sino-Japanese War.-Early years:...
. In April, 1945, he was promoted to lieutenant surgeon general and appointed commander of the 13th Army Medical Corps. After Japanese surrender, August 1945, he was detained in a POW camp in Shanghai. Like all involved with Unit 731
Unit 731
was a covert biological and chemical warfare research and development unit of the Imperial Japanese Army that undertook lethal human experimentation during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. It was responsible for some of the most notorious war crimes carried out by Japanese...
or Japanese biological warfare
Biological warfare
Biological warfare is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi with intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war...
, he was repatriated to Japan in January 1946.
After he came back to Japan, he worked for Green Cross
Green Cross (japan)
Green Cross Corporation was one of the premier pharmaceutical companies in Japan. The company merged into Yoshitomi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. on April 1, 1998, and renamed to Welfide Corporation on April 1, 2000. Finally Welfide Corp. and Mitsubishi-Tokyo Pharmaceutical Inc...
, a Japanese Pharmaceutical company. In 1959 he became head of the plant in Tokyo and the chief director of that company. He was the chief funeral commissioner of Shiro Ishii
Shiro Ishii
was a Japanese microbiologist and the lieutenant general of Unit 731, a biological warfare unit of the Imperial Japanese Army responsible for human experimentation and war crimes during the Second Sino-Japanese War.-Early years:...
, a fellow Unit 731
Unit 731
was a covert biological and chemical warfare research and development unit of the Imperial Japanese Army that undertook lethal human experimentation during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. It was responsible for some of the most notorious war crimes carried out by Japanese...
member.
Kitano died in Tokyo in 1986.