A+Japanese+officer+in+the+Kwangtung+ArmyBlock+D+Sem+II+2011

= **Kurono Kei** =




 * Name:** Kurono Kei


 * Age:** 26


 * Gender:** male


 * Occupation:** Imperial Japanese Army officer


 * Appearance:** Young, not too tall, and well built body


 * Location:** Hsinking, Manchukuo

Strongly believes everything that happens in this world has reason and meaning.
 * Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits:**

1. Father (Kurono Takashi) 2. Mother (Haraoun Seika) 3. Younger brother (Kurono Hiyashi)
 * Family:**

1. Rikugun Shikan Gakkou (High School) 2. Imperial Japanese Army
 * Education:**


 * Languages you speak:** Japanese and some Chinese

__Diary Entry #1 (November 6th, 1939 Battle of Nomonhan):__ It has been few years since Kwantung Army was formed in 1919 and exactly 1 year since I came to Manchukou as an officer of Kwantung Army. Even it only has been a year, many things happened since then. I participated in Battle of Lake Khasan in 1938 and lost most of my soldiers. Unlike any battles fought in past decades of us Japanese history, that battle was worst. Soviet Union wasn’t like China at all. We were out numbered badly and there wasn’t that much technical differences in our and their weaponry either. So in the end, we had to retreat. During that battle, my Infantry Division perished and there was only few survivors. It was like a night mare that I never want to remember again. I was assigned in IJA 23rd Infantry Division at Hailar, under general Michitaro Komatsubara. Every thing seemed okay at this point. However, in the same year when I am reorganized into 23rd Infantry Division,1939, we were again forced to fight with Soviet Union because we were so called “well-experienced soldiers” from the Battle of Lake Khasan. We have fought for few month in the small villige located between border of Manchuria and Mongolia. During those few month, human lives were nothing more than numbers on some desk in HQ. Few soldiers I knew died during the battle as well. They were all survivors from the Battle of Lake Khasan just like me. Their names are Hiroto, Kiyoshi, Makoto, Hiroki, Kazuki, Kenta, Isamu, and Masahiro. All of them were younger than me and loved their families. They and I were just talking to each other in the night on day and there was an assault from Soviet Union with hundreds of BT-7 tanks and countless infantries behind tanks. It was fierce battle. Just before we were over ran by tanks, reinforcements came from the HQ and drived Soviet Union’s troops back. By the time when I returned to my position, none of them survived. I couldn’t say anything for a while. I just stood infront of their corpse. I remember Hiroto had only few month left to finish his service in military and I felt sorry for all that’s happened and for being only survivor again. After that night, everyday was same as always. I t was either we attacked them, or they attacked us. Now I think of it, this battle was just a payback for what happened during the Battle of Lake Khasan. However, the results were the same. It was crushing defeat for us, Imperial Army. I still remember cries of wounded soldiers left in the battle. None of us weren’t in any condition to aid them.

__Diary Entry #2 (May 18th, 1940. Unit 731):__ Just a day before I departed, I was called to communication center. In the communication center, I received command from general Michitaro Komatsubara to change my unit to unit 731, officially known as “Epidemic Prevention and Water Purification Department of the Kwantung Army.” At first, I neither knew why he gave this command nor what that place is. The only thing I knew about that place is that place is some kind of research facility for the Imperial Japanese Army. It is maybe because of my failure during the previous two battles. But one thing i’m unsure about is: why would general personally gave his command to me? even he and I didn’t get to talk face to face, it is very rare for someone that high rank to send command to me directly. So, on may 18th, 1940, I took a military truck and moved to the research center. While on the way to the research center, I met a young soldier from Korea who seemed to be forced to join military. We didn’t talk much to each other. The only thing I figured out about him until we were there was his name and age. He is 18 years old and his name is Jong Kyu Jung and Japanese name is Kenji. When we arrived, I was positioned to the east of the facility, where POWs are. In there, I again met Kenji who is now under my command. So, since I was the highest officer in that area, I gathered everyone and told them not to let their guard down because this place is likely to be attacked because it was close to Soviet Union. After that short speech, I looked around the place to get familiar with structure of research center. When I was walking around the residential area for POWs, I wondered why POW camps are here. By 1 o’clock, I witnessed something that I shouldn’t. I found a big whole not too far away from the Unit 731 research center that seem like to be gigantic grave yard for POWs. That was the time when I realized that this place is not ordinary research center. It was human experimentation research center. In another mean, biological research center. However, I didn’t feel anything. I strongly believed that in times of war, anything is okay if it means to win. I personally think even genocide could be justified if it can save our own people. I didn’t actually participate in the research. Every second in every day seems forever. It has been long time since last I saw my family in Japan. I wonder how does all these wars are going to end and when I can go back.......

__Diary Entry #3 (July 28th, 1942. Unit 731)__ Wow.... I stayed here for long time now but experimental rate is getting much cruel and violent as us Empire of Japan expands. Early this month, I heard there was an attack on Pearl Harbor from our navy and the USA is now fighting in world war 2 also. Therefore, today was the worst I think. We placed hundreds of people 1m away from each other. It was just like a big chess board on the empty plain. Then we tested various bombs and weapons on them to see it's range and how effective it can kill people. Like i mentioned, they were all POW and some civilians. Also, there was few attempts to escape which eventually failed and soldiers and officers like me had to kill them all. This is not war. This is simply hunting. Rather then wasting time in here, I think it is better to go fight with the United States. But... I some how feel uneasy to see experiments go on in this facility. Today, I led new POWs that are transported from somewhere in China to their prison. I do not care about who they are because they will end up dying anyway but today was some what different. Some silly looking guy from Britain, William, and some poor looking high school student from Canada, Billy, talked to me like they want to get rid of fear by talking. I didn’t respond since it would be hard for me when I notice one day that they died. I do not know what happened to them afterward. Perhaps they are going through experiment right now, right at this moment while I’m writing diary.

__Diary Entry #4 (March 5th, 1948 Tokyo)__ War ended about three years ago, April 29th, 1945, after emperor announced unconditional surrender on the radio. It was the worst moment in entire Japanese history. Every one cried. I cried. It is not because of emperor himself surrendered to Americans. I cried because all the sacrifice we have made until now, death of my friends, and soldiers under my command, is wasted. Their death is nothing more than number of people killed in action. I was shamed my self for being alive. However, some of the soldiers and officers refused to surrender and fought until they died........ Well, I guess that doesn’t matter anymore. Not long ago, I have heard on the radio about someone from Unit 731 like me was arrested by American troops for responsible for the human experimentation during the war. The investigation began last year, May 6th, 1947, when General Arthur wrote letter to the president about human experimentation in Kwangdong army. Everyone who are not arrested yet right now are busy to make some connections with someone in the government to save themselves. But I didn’t. Even I do not think what I did was wrong because it was all-out war, I still felt un easy while I was in Unit 731. So some part of me was telling me to accept the way things are and atone my sin. I want to see my family for the last time.... I don’t know why I am thinking about my family right now even I almost forgot about them for a past few years. Soon, they will eventually find me in this room. And I will face up and will try to atone my sins.

__Source__: http://www.warandgamemsw.com/blog/533751-kwantung-army/

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/325844/Kwantung-Army

https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/kent-csi/vol6no2/html/v06i2a08p_0001.htm

http://www.ww2incolor.com/japan/Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-12300__China__Kantonesische_Truppen.html

http://evaluations.uml.edu/Rigas/GlobeSecretHistory/shenware.virtualave.net/his_unit731.shtml

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200208/14/eng20020814_101430.shtml