Ōkunoshima Poison Gas Museum, Military museum in Takehara, Japan.
The Ōkunoshima Poison Gas Museum is a memorial facility on an island near Takehara with two exhibition rooms containing wartime artifacts and documents. The collection displays protective equipment and objects that document chemical weapons production during this period.
The island was the site of secret chemical weapons manufacturing by the Imperial Japanese Army from 1929 to 1945, where mustard gas and tear gas were produced. Operations were revealed after the war, and the site later became a memorial.
The museum serves as a memorial to the people who experienced the effects of chemical weapons production, with displays showing personal objects and accounts from workers and those affected. These items help visitors understand how daily life unfolded on the island during this period.
Access to the museum is by ferry from Takehara to the island, with the facility open daily. Visitors should prepare for windy conditions on the island and expect basic exhibition facilities.
The site preserves the physical remains of artillery batteries, power stations, and storage facilities that were directly connected to weapons manufacturing. These structures show visitors how large and organized the secret operations actually were.
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