According to a report by the Japanese Kyodo News on June 21, a report presented at a military medical conference of the Japanese Army in March 1940 indicated that during the war against China, the Japanese army allegedly conducted repeated experiments involving the administration of animal blood to humans, known as 'transfusion with different species'.
An instructor from a military medical school in Tokyo reported at a meeting that during the Chinese invasion, several cases of "blood transfusion using animals as blood sources" were accumulated. The purpose of this experiment was to "study how to deal with blood loss on battlefields where it is difficult to obtain sufficient plasma for blood transfusions."
This is a new exhibit of evidence and historical materials released by the Exhibition Hall of the 739th Unit of the Japanese invading army during the Chinese invasion (photographed on August 13, 2025, material photo). Xinhua News Agency
The report indicates that the experiment took place in the autumn of 1938. The location of the experiment was apparently concealed after review. The subjects were 23 individuals with unknown gender, age, and nationality. Although the report refers to the subjects as “patients,” it does not mention why blood transfusion was required or whether the subjects were battlefield casualties.
The report indicates that this experiment clearly violates ethical principles, including the use of large amounts of horse blood, which is considered against common sense due to the potential for rejection reactions, as well as treatments unrelated to the issue, such as injecting serum after blocking the blood flow in the neck during the surgery.
The name of the above meeting was “Army Medical Research Association”. The then Director of the Medical Bureau of the Japanese Army Ministry of War, along with many military doctors and pharmacy officers, attended the meeting.
According to Kyodo News, it is well known that the Japanese army tried to destroy evidence of human experiments after their defeat. Kyodo News discovered this report in the official journal of the Japanese “Army Medical Corps”.
