In May 1936, Emperor Hirohito of Japan issued a decree to establish two special forces in Northeast China by the Japanese Kwantung Army. In August 1936, the "Kwantung Army Epidemic Prevention Water Supply Unit" and the "Kwantung Army Horse Epidemic Prevention Factory" were established in Harbin and Changchun respectively, specializing in research on preparing for bacterial warfare. These were Unit 731 and Unit 100.











