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

Documents confirming that the Imperial Japanese Army conducted "cross-species" blood transfusion experiments, injecting animal blood into humans during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), were identified, Kyodo News reported yesterday (June 21).

According to the report, a journal of the "Army Medical Corps" contains records from a 1940 meeting held by the Japanese Army, where an instructor at the Army Medical School reported that such cross-species transfusion 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 human blood for transfusions.

According to the records, there were 23 subjects in these experiments, all of whom remain unidentified.

It is reported that they were subjected to experiments considered beyond the bounds of common sense due to the risk of rejection reactions.

Kyodo News, citing the documents, reported that the subjects were subjected to unethical experiments, such as receiving large-volume transfusions of horse blood or having animal serum injected after their neck blood flow 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)."

Kyodo News noted that the date was recorded as the autumn of 1938, and the location was omitted, suggesting the document had been censored. While the subjects were referred to as "patients," 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 side effects such as high fever occurred due to these cross-species transfusions, there were no reported deaths, and it argued that this 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, attended by numerous military medical officers and pharmaceutical officers, including the Director of the Medical Bureau of the Ministry of War, according to Kyodo News.

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