Hideo Shimizu, a Japanese veteran who served in the notorious Japanese germ-warfare Unit 731 during World War II, offered an apology on Tuesday in front of a monument at the unit's former headquarters in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.
Shimizu identified the crimes of the Japanese aggressors in China at the site where he served 79 years ago.
Now 94, Shimizu was among the last Unit 731 Youth Corps members sent by Japan to Harbin, China, where he spent more than four months witnessing the war crimes committed by the unit, including the cultivation of pathogens, human dissections and human experiments. He fled China with the retreating Japanese forces on August 14, 1945.
On Tuesday morning, Shimizu arrived almost half an hour earlier than scheduled. He visited buildings at the former headquarters of Unit 731, including the sentry post, the specimen room and the office of the unit commander, while admitting to the crimes of the Japanese aggressors at site.
According to Shimizu, the strong scent of formalin in the specimen room remains fresh in his memory.
"At that time, when I entered the room, the pungent smell of formalin was so strong that it kept bringing tears to my eyes. I only took a quick glance around. My sight was obscured by the tears that kept falling. I don't remember anything else," he told Jin Chengmin, curator of the Museum of Evidence of War Crimes by Japanese Army Unit 731.
He also recalled that in the specimen room, he had seen a variety of dissected human organs soaked in formalin-filled bottles.
"There were specimens of pregnant women with children in their bellies, human hands, gastrointestinal organs and brains," he said.
Shimizu then visited the site of a bacteriological laboratory, a special prison and a frostbite laboratory, which he identified by comparing the derelict buildings to old photographs.
Shimizu then went to the Monument of Atonement and Peaceful Non-War where he bowed to the monument, approached to touch it, and then apologized for the atrocities the unit committed.
"I'm really sorry. I offer my condolences to the deceased victims, as our atrocities have brought great sufferings to the Chinese people, and we are deeply sorry for that," he said.
This visit is Shimizu's first return to Chinese soil in 79 years.
In 2016, Shimizu revealed his identity as a former Unit 731 member and began to expose the atrocities of the Japanese aggressors through public speeches and interviews, aiming to tell historical truths. Unit 731 was a covert biological and chemical warfare research and development unit that engaged in lethal human experimentation and biological weapons manufacturing in China during World War II. The unit is estimated to have killed between 200,000 and 300,000 people. It was based in the Pingfang District of Harbin, the largest city in the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo (now Northeast China, formerly named Manchuria) and had other detachments posted throughout China and Southeast Asia.
Unit 731 was responsible for some of the most notorious war crimes committed by Japanese troops. It routinely conducted tests on people who were dehumanized and internally referred to as "logs". Experiments included disease injections, controlled dehydration, biological weapons testing, hypobaric pressure chamber testing, vivisection, organ procurement, amputation, and standard weapons testing. Victims included not only kidnapped men, women, including pregnant women, and children but also babies born from the systemic rape perpetrated by the staff inside the compound.
Former member of Japanese germ-warfare unit apologizes for past war crimes in China
Former member of Japanese germ-warfare unit apologizes for past war crimes in China
Former member of Japanese germ-warfare unit apologizes for past war crimes in China
The golden hues of autumn, from natural scenery to harvest scenes and rural attractions, have not only added a bright splash of color across China but also sparked a boom in rural tourism during the country's week-long National Day holiday.
The Sumushan National Forest Park in Ulanqab City of north China's Inner Mongolia has become a prime spot for tourists to bask in the golden sea of birch trees. These towering trees, adorned in their autumn glory, drew visitors from all directions to marvel at the vivid display of fall.
The park's high-altitude areas even offered a unique spectacle of frost mingling with golden leaves, creating a stunning mix of gold and silver, prompting countless tourists to stop and snap photos.
Heading west, the poplar forests in Jinta County of northwest China's Gansu Province also entered their prime season, with the golden landscape drawing in tourists from all over the country, eager to capture its beauty.
Photographers were especially drawn to the scene, with many visitors donning traditional regional attire to capture the attraction's striking backdrop in their photoshoots.
"I stumbled upon photos of Jinta's poplar forest online, and I was amazed by its beauty. The park even provides photoshoot services, and the photos turned out great," said Li Min, a visitor.
Meanwhile, Shapotou, a unique location in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region where the Tengger Desert meets the Yellow River, has emerged as another top destination.
Known for its stunning combination of desert, river, mountains and oases, Shapotou whose literal meaning is "high sand dunes", offers a range of activities, including camel rides, zip-lining, and sheepskin raft rides, a traditional mode of transportation along the Yellow River.
"The contrast of the desert and the Yellow River is something you rarely see. It's a striking combination. My favorite part was the sheepskin raft ride because it felt like I was truly connecting with the Yellow River," said Song Yiwei, a tourist.
In the first four days of the holiday, Shapotou received over 110,000 visitors, and by the end of the holiday, the site is expected to host more than 160,000 people.
The National Day holiday also aligns with the harvest season in many regions, further enriching the tourism experience.
A small town known as Ledao in Shuangliao City of northeast China's Jilin Province draws tourists to its 4,000 mu (about 266 hectares) of golden rice fields.
One of the town's most popular features is a small train that runs through the sprawling fields, offering tourists a scenic ride. Originally running hourly, the train now operates continuously due to the high demand.
Visitors to Ledao can also climb a tower to admire intricate rice paddy art from above or participate in traditional craft activities like weaving with rice stalks or painting gourds.
"The vast expanse of rice fields is truly awe-inspiring. There's so much to see and plenty of scenic spots for photos. It's a fantastic spot for tourism," said Zhao Yimeng, a tourist.
Ledao is expected to welcome over 6,000 visitors during the holiday, marking a 10 percent increase year on year. The growing cultural and tourism sector has boosted the local economy, creating around 4,000 jobs and generating an estimated 4.2 million yuan (about 598,000 U.S. dollars) in income.
Ningling County of central China's Henan Province welcomed tens of thousands of visitors each day to its 220,000 mu (around 14,667 hectares) of pear orchards. The golden pears hanging from the trees provided the perfect harvest backdrop for tourists exploring the orchards. Many also visited the Pear Museum. The local tourism revenue reached 5 million yuan (about 712,408 U.S. dollars) during the holiday.
In Ningbo City of east China's Zhejiang Province, the ripened crops of corn and sorghum painted the countryside in shades of red and yellow. Visitors not only admired the harvest but also indulged in fresh local produce and unique cultural products at nearby rest stops.
Artificial golden landscapes have also proved popular. In Qu County of southwest China's Sichuan Province, idle houses in rural areas have been transformed into golden-hued guesthouses, perfect for the growing demand for laid-back and scenic escapes. Wooden cabins, surrounded by leaves, set the stage for visitors to relax and savor leisurely meals with friends in the countryside.
During the holiday, over 20 rural tourism spots in Qu County attracted more than 10,000 daily visitors, marking a 40 percent increase compared to regular days. A range of rural tourism products, blending local culture with leisure and relaxation, offered visitors a vibrant and festive holiday experience.
The National Day holiday, which runs from Oct 1 to 7, marks a peak period for travel and tourism in China.
Golden landscapes, vibrant rural tourism light up China during National Day holiday
