The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia
|
| Previous: Okuma Sadao | Table of Contents | Next: Old, William D. |
Okunoshima (132.992E
34.308N), a tiny island in the Inland Sea, was the location
of the principal Japanese chemical
weapons research and production center. The island was
appropriated by the Japanese Army in August 1927 and production
began in May 1929. Five types of poison gas were manufactured
here, including mustard and diphenylchlorarsine (sneezing gas.) At
its peak, in 1937-1944, the arsenal employed 6000 persons, and
monthly production capacity was 200 tons of mustard gas, 5 tons of
lewisite, 80 tons of diphenylcyanoarsine, 50 tons of hydrocyanic
acid, and 2.5 tons of chloroacetophenone.
The island is now known as Rabbit Island (Usagi Jima)
for its
large population of extremely tame feral rabbits. This has,
improbably, made it a significant tourist destination.
References
The
Japan
Times Online, 2005-8-11 (accessed 2008-6-19)
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2007-2008, 2013 by Kent G. Budge. Index
