rki.news | Sources Xinhua
TOKYO: Japan’s Okunoshima Island, now known as a popular tourist destination famous for its wild rabbits, carries a largely forgotten wartime history as a major Imperial Japanese Army poison gas production center.
Located in the Seto Inland Sea, the small island housed a secret facility that manufactured chemical warfare agents during World War II. Japan maintained strict security around the site and reportedly removed Okunoshima from maps to conceal its activities.
Historical researchers say several types of poison gas were produced there, while much of the stock was transported to China and used during the war. Abandoned chemical weapons in China have continued to pose risks to people and the environment.
Following Japan’s surrender in 1945, the facility destroyed stockpiles and burned documents, according to historical accounts. Ruins of former storage facilities remain on the island today.
Japanese researchers and students who recently visited Okunoshima said its wartime history receives limited attention in Japan. They called for greater public awareness and education about Japan’s chemical warfare activities and their consequences.
Researchers stressed that preserving historical evidence and informing younger generations are essential to preventing such tragedies from being repeated.
Okunoshima’s Poison Gas History Remains Hidden from Public
