Film On Unit 731 Stirs Anti-Japan Sentiment in China

Sep 19, 2025 | News On Japan

BEIJING, Sep 19, 2025 (News On Japan) - Marking the 94th anniversary of the Mukden Incident that sparked the Manchurian Incident, China released the film '731' on September 18, which centers on Unit 731, a former Japanese military unit allegedly engaged in the development of biological weapons.

Reports say ticket sales have already reached around 4 billion yen. The date also marks one year since a male student at a Japanese school in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, was attacked and killed on his way to school. Japanese schools in China are heightening precautions, including switching to online classes.

Directed by Zhao Linshan, the film depicts gruesome scenes of human experimentation, including the deliberate infection of victims with bacteria and their suffering being recorded as scientific data. The tone is described as unflinching, combining elements of historical drama with horror to emphasize the cruelty of wartime atrocities.

The production, with a reported budget of 380 million yuan and a runtime of about 125 minutes, features a cast including Jiang Wu, Wang Zhiwen, Li Naiwen, and Sun Qian. It has been rated for adult audiences in China due to its graphic content. Promotional materials bear the slogan “Never forget,” underscoring its role as both a cinematic and political statement.

Source: テレ東BIZ

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