Documents Reveal Japanese Army Conducted Animal-to-Human Blood Transfusion Experiments on 23 Subjects

Documents have been discovered confirming that the Imperial Japanese Army conducted "xenotransfusion" experiments—injecting animal blood into humans—during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), Kyodo News reported yesterday (June 21).

According to the report, an official journal of the "Army Medical Corps" was found containing a report presented by an instructor at the Army Medical School during a 1940 meeting, in which he stated that such xenotransfusion experiments had been repeatedly conducted.

Kyodo News reported that the experiments were allegedly carried out in China under the pretext of research to address blood loss on the battlefield, where it was difficult to secure large quantities of blood for transfusions.

Records indicate that there were 23 subjects for these experiments, all of whom remain unidentified.

It is reported that these individuals were subjected to experiments considered beyond the bounds of common sense due to the risk of adverse reactions.

Citing the documents, Kyodo News reported that the subjects were subjected to unethical experiments, such as receiving large-volume horse blood transfusions or having animal serum injected after blood flow to the neck was blocked through surgery.

The media outlet added that in addition to horses, blood from sheep and dogs was also used in the experiments.

Experiments were also reportedly conducted to investigate how long red blood cells would remain in the body by injecting chicken blood, which has a different red blood cell structure.

In the report at the time, the instructor stated, "We have experienced numerous cases of transfusions using animals as a blood source during this incident (the Second Sino-Japanese War)."

The date of the report is listed as the autumn of 1938, and the location was omitted, suggesting it had been censored. While the subjects were referred to as "patients," Kyodo News noted that there was no description of the circumstances requiring a transfusion or any indication that they were wounded Japanese soldiers.

Furthermore, the report stated that while such xenotransfusions caused side effects like high fever, there were no reported deaths, and it argued that the practice should be pursued as a full-scale research project.

The meeting where this report was discussed was the "Army Military Medicine Research Conference" held in March 1940, which was attended by numerous military medical officers and pharmaceutical officers, including the director of the Army Ministry's Medical Bureau, according to Kyodo News.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.