U.S. Army tested biological weapons in Okinawa

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http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/12/national/u-s-army-tested-biological-weapons-in-okinawa/#.UtNflNKSzl8



Rice fungus released in at least two sites in early 1960s, documents show

U.S. Army tested biological weapons in Okinawa
Kyodo, Staff Report
Jan 12, 2014


The U.S. Army tested biological weapons in Okinawa in the early 1960s, when the prefecture was still under U.S. rule, according to U.S. documents obtained by Kyodo News.

In the tests, conducted at least a dozen times between 1961 and 1962, rice blast fungus was released over paddies to see how it affected production, the documents made available by U.S. authorities showed.

Rice blast disease causes lesions to form on the plant, threatening the crop. The fungus, which is known to occur in 85 countries, is estimated to destroy enough rice to feed 60 million people a year.

The U.S. government has previously disclosed information on chemical and biological warfare tests it held at sea and on land in such places as Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Utah.