"Malaria Injected into Mentally Ill Soldiers"... Evidence of Human Experimentation by Japanese Army During Second Sino-Japanese War

Kyodo News Uncovers Wartime Medical Paper
"Ten Japanese Soldiers with Schizophrenia Intentionally Infected"

On August 17, Kyodo News reported that a research paper had been discovered, revealing that during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), a Japanese Army Medical School military doctor conducted human experimentation, infecting Japanese soldiers who were hospitalized with mental illnesses with malaria.

Mosquitoes that transmit malaria. Photo by The Asia Business Daily DB

According to the related paper confirmed by Seiya Matsuno, a researcher at Meiji Gakuin University’s Institute for International Peace Studies, in 1940, a military doctor at the Army Medical School carried out research intended to prevent the spread of malaria within Japan. The doctor prepared mosquitoes that had already sucked blood from Japanese soldiers infected with malaria and had them bite 10 Japanese soldiers who were suffering from schizophrenia. Malaria spreads when a mosquito that has bitten a person infected with the malaria parasite then bites another person.

Subsequent investigations into symptoms found that 5 out of the 10 subjects developed symptoms such as fevers exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, headaches, generalized pain, and loss of appetite—all linked to malaria infection. The doctor observed these subjects for a certain period of time and then administered medication.

It is presumed this research was conducted to prevent the spread of the disease in Japan after infected soldiers returned, as malaria infection was frequent among Japanese soldiers in China at the time.

Matsuno further noted that, in particular, Japanese soldiers suffering from schizophrenia—considered no longer fit for combat—appear to have been chosen as test subjects.

Matsuno pointed out, "It is possible that the soldiers who became test subjects were not fully aware of the nature or risks of the experiments," adding, "It exposes a ruthless logic that if someone cannot contribute to their country or to the conduct of war, regardless of their nationality, it is acceptable to use them as test subjects, and also reveals the tendency to view humans as mere resources for research."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.