Japanese Scholar Revisits WWII Chemical Weapons Factory to Preserve Wartime History

A Japanese researcher dedicated to uncovering the history of Japan's wartime chemical weapons program has revisited a former poison gas factory in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, as part of his ongoing efforts to document the past.

Harada Kazuaki, a scholar who has spent years investigating the Imperial Japanese Army's production and use of chemical weapons during World War II, toured the site of the Sone Manufacturing Plant. The facility was once a key production hub for poison gas shells, many of which were shipped to battlefronts and caused heavy casualties.

During the visit, Harada pointed out the specific buildings where different chemical agents were manufactured. He identified the main factory for producing mustard gas and Lewisite, as well as structures used for final processing and temporary storage. He also noted the location of a primary factory for producing diphenylcyanoarsine and diphenylchloroarsine.

Harada explained that while the military could produce small quantities of these agents on a laboratory scale, private companies were tasked with scaling up production. He added that Kitakyushu's location made it a convenient departure point for shipping chemical weapons, given that Japan's wartime targets included the Korean Peninsula and China.

The scholar emphasized that studying this chapter of history is not solely about revisiting the past. He expressed hope that drawing lessons from these events could help people reflect on how to prevent future conflicts and war.