An exhibition titled “Khabarovsk Trial” opened on July 31st at the Novosibirsk Local Lore Museum, focusing on the trial of Japanese military personnel following World War II. The exhibition aims to recreate the atmosphere of the court session that exposed the horrifying experiments conducted by detachments No. 731 and No. 100.

The trial, which took place from December 25th to 30th, 1949, involved twelve Japanese citizens accused of human experimentation and the development of bacteriological weapons. The open trial drew reporters and city residents, with photographs capturing the event’s global attention. The exhibition offers visitors a glimpse into the trial’s setting through stands and audio recordings of speeches in Japanese with Russian translations.

While the exhibition relies heavily on reading materials, it includes exhibits from the archives of the Novosibirsk Local Lore Museum, supplementing materials related to the Khabarovsk Trial. The museum aimed to secure physical items from the Khabarovsk Museum, but was unable to do so, however, they were able to enrich the exhibition with local archival materials.

The exhibition is timed to coincide with the Day of Military Glory on September 3rd and the Day of Victory over Japan on August 15th. Quotes highlighting the significance of the Khabarovsk Trial and descriptions of the laboratory atrocities are featured on the stands.

Despite the severity of the crimes, the exhibition reveals that Emperor Hirohito remained in power and many of the convicted Japanese military personnel, initially sentenced to 25 years, were released after approximately 7 years under amnesty. Some went on to have successful lives.

Tickets to the “Khabarovsk Trial” exhibition cost 400 rubles, with a reduced price of 300 rubles for eligible visitors. The ticket also grants access to other expositions on the museum’s second floor, including a recently opened exhibition dedicated to the 1980 Olympic Games, “Olympic Style,” which runs until September 21st.

Guided tours of the “Khabarovsk Trial” will be available starting August 20th, requiring advance registration. Individual tours are priced at 1000 rubles, while group tours (3-30 people) cost 200 rubles per visitor, in addition to the entrance ticket. Free tours are scheduled for August 23rd and 30th at 14:00, requiring only the purchase of an entrance ticket.