The poster of movie Evil Unbound Photo: Screenshot from Evil Unbound's official Sina Weibo account

Evil Unbound, a Chinese movie that revisits the horrific World War II-era human experiments conducted by Japan's notorious bacterial warfare Unit 731, is set for global screenings. The movie has attracted attention and discussion in Japan, although according to official poster, among multiple foreign countries it will be screened,  Japanese market is not among them.

On Sunday evening, the Chinese Embassy in Japan posted a bilingual Chinese-Japanese message on X, sharing the poster for the film Evil Unbound. The post included the caption, "Starting from September 18, the film Evil Unbound will be released in multiple countries around the world." This has sparked heated discussion, with some Japanese netizens calling for the film to be released in Japan.

"Please add subtitles and screen the film in Japan," @bayadere2018 commented in Japanese. @kanekings1 said in Japanese that they want to watch the film and called it to be screened in Japan too.

"I'd like to watch it, but it's probably unlikely to be screened here in Japan... I think there should be a clearer recognition in Japan about Unit 731. Without acknowledging not only the suffering from the atomic bombs but also the history of Japan's aggression toward other countries, peace education remains incomplete," @mizuni555 commented in Japanese, which gained over 100 likes, comments and retweets.

@1969peaceful, who appeared to have watched the film trailer, said in Japanese that "The Empire of Japan was no different from the Nazis. It must be screened in Japan as well. Just watching the trailer makes one want to turn away from its brutality — yet like Germany, Japan must confront and accept its own horrifying history."

@river_mikey commented in Japanese that he/she heard about Unit 731 just a few days ago. The netizen added that "Japan should establish a Unit 731 memorial or museum — to ensure we never descend into madness again, and to prevent war from ever repeating."

2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-­Fascist War. The release date of Evil Unbound coincides with the anniversary of the September 18 Incident in 1931, which marked the start of Japan's 14-year aggression of China.

According to the movie's official Sina Weibo account on Sunday morning, the movie will open in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday (September 18), coinciding with its release in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. The movie is also scheduled for release in the US and Canada on Friday, with screenings in South Korea in November. Additional releases in Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, Britain, Germany and France are also planned. 

During a recent exclusive interview with Hideo Shimizu, a former member of Unit 731, in his hometown Nagano Prefecture, Japan, the Global Times reporters showed him the film trailer. He told the Global Times that "Such cruelty, once committed, can never be forgotten for a lifetime." In March 1945, Shimizu, not yet 15 years old then, was sent to Harbin as one of the last teenage recruits of the Japanese Imperial Army's Unit 731. Seventy-nine years later, the 94-year-old Shimizu returned to Harbin to repent and apologize in 2024. 

A slew of WWII-commemorative movies has been and is scheduled to be on screen this summer in China including Mountains and Rivers Bearing Witnesses on August 15, Evil Unbound on September 18, and Dead to Rights on July 25.

However, instead of reflecting its country's aggression history, some Japanese media outlets including Nikkei Shimbun, has labeled the related WWII films in China as "anti-Japanese."

Also, last Thursday, the Japanese Embassy in China issued a security advisory to Japanese nationals in China, urging them to "exercise particular caution around historically significant dates related to China-Japan history, as heightened anti-Japanese sentiment may be observed." 

The embassy claimed that, citing the upcoming anniversary of the September 18 Incident and the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War, a series of related films, television dramas, and various commemorative events have been and will continue to be held. The embassy continued to claim that "When going out, please remain vigilant of your surroundings, including any suspicious individuals approaching, and take necessary measures to ensure your safety." 

80 years after the WWII, on the issue of how to reflect on wartime history correctly, Japan appears to have sent contradicting message to the world.

On August 15, which marks the 80th anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender in WWII, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent a ritual offering to the infamous Yasukuni Shrine, Kyodo News reported.

Also at Japan's national memorial ceremony on the same day, Ishiba said Japan would "keep in mind" its "remorse" over WWII as it continues its pursuit of peace 80 years since its surrender, becoming the first premier in over a decade to use the term at the event, Kyodo News reported.

However, Chinese experts noted that Ishiba's administration broke with precedent by not issuing an official statement marking the 80th anniversary, instead intending to release his personal views, while some cabinet members visited the notorious Yasukuni Shrine - moves seen as reflecting strong resistance from right-wing conservative forces in Japan.

Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei stated on August 28 at a press conference that "As we mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist war, Japan once again faces questions about its past and present. We urge Japan to face history squarely, reflect deeply upon its crimes of aggression, make a clean break with militarism and pursue the right path of peaceful development, good neighborliness and friendship."