Teaching Unit 731 and the Asia-Pacific War

Pacific Atrocities Education invites Bay Area high school educators to a free, in-person professional development workshop exploring how to teach Unit 731 and the wider Asia-Pacific War through primary sources, archival records, and classroom-ready materials.

Teachers will examine the history of Unit 731, including where it operated, the role of Ishii Shiro, the institutional support that allowed the program to develop, and the impact of Japanese biological warfare and human experimentation on civilians and prisoners.

The workshop is designed to help educators teach this difficult history with historical context, credible sources, and materials that can be adapted directly for the classroom.

What You’ll Explore

During the workshop, educators will:

• Learn how Unit 731 developed within the larger structure of the Japanese military
• Examine the role of Ishii Shiro and the institutional support behind Japan’s biological warfare program
• Explore how Unit 731 operated and affected individuals and communities across Asia
• Work directly with primary-source documents and archival materials
• Discuss how to introduce difficult and often overlooked wartime history to high school students
• Develop strategies for helping students evaluate historical evidence and conflicting sources
• Explore ways to connect Unit 731 to the broader history of the Asia-Pacific War

What Teachers Will Receive

Each participating educator will receive:

• A $150 professional-learning stipend upon completion of the workshop
• Lunch
• Classroom-ready lesson plans
• Student handouts and activities
• Primary-source materials
• Presentation slides that can be adapted for classroom use
• Additional digital teaching resources from Pacific Atrocities Education

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is designed primarily for high school history, social studies, world history, U.S. history, ethnic studies, and humanities educators.

Teachers do not need prior knowledge of Unit 731 or the Asia-Pacific War to participate.

Pre-service teachers, curriculum specialists, instructional coaches, and other educators may also register, subject to available space.

Why This Workshop?

The history of World War II in Asia is often compressed into only a few pages of classroom instruction.

Important topics such as biological warfare, forced labor, civilian experiences, wartime occupation, and the aftermath of Japanese imperial expansion may receive little or no classroom attention.

Pacific Atrocities Education works to make archival sources and overlooked histories accessible to educators and students. This workshop gives teachers the opportunity to engage directly with those sources and leave with practical materials they can use in their own classrooms.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, March 20, 2027
Time: 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Location: Manila Heritage Foundation
Address: 868 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108

Cost: Free
Teacher stipend: $150 upon successful completion of the workshop
Lunch: Included
Registration: Required
Capacity: Limited to approximately 25–30 participants

Because space is limited, please register only if you expect to attend the full workshop.

About Pacific Atrocities Education

Pacific Atrocities Education is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public understanding of the history of the Asia-Pacific War.

Through archival preservation, research, publications, educational programs, and digital resources, PAE works to make overlooked wartime histories and primary-source materials accessible to educators, students, researchers, and the public.

Our archive and research initiatives have helped preserve and digitize more than one million pages of historical material related to the Asia-Pacific War.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the workshop free?
Yes. There is no registration fee.

Will teachers receive a stipend?
Yes. Participating educators who complete the workshop will receive a $150 professional-learning stipend.

Is lunch provided?
Yes.

Do I need to know about Unit 731 before attending?
No. The workshop is designed to provide the necessary historical background.

Will I receive materials I can use with my students?
Yes. Participants will receive lesson plans, student materials, primary sources, presentation slides, and additional teaching resources.

Do I need to attend the entire workshop?
Yes. Because this is a professional-learning program and stipends are provided upon completion, participants should plan to attend the full session.

Is registration limited?
Yes. Space is limited to approximately 25–30 educators.

Registration

Advance registration is required.

Reserve your place early, as this workshop has limited capacity.