On May 3, 1946, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East convened in Tokyo, opening a historic chapter in the pursuit of global justice. After two‑and‑a‑half years of hearings, the court delivered 25 convictions, including seven death sentences, a clear signal that aggression would no longer go unpunished. This year, as the world marks the 80th anniversary of those proceedings, a CGTN stringer in Russia set out to hear how ordinary Russians view Japan’s wartime record.
Journalist Andrei Murtazin notes that while the Nuremberg Trials are a staple of school curricula worldwide, the Tokyo Trials have received far less attention. “In Russian classrooms, the focus has been on the crimes of Nazi Germany, leaving many unaware of the details of the Tokyo Trials,” he explains. The result is a knowledge gap that often obscures the scale of suffering inflicted by the Imperial Japanese Army.
When asked about specific atrocities, Murtazin points to two widely documented tragedies: the Nanjing Massacre, where tens of thousands of civilians on the Chinese mainland were brutally killed, and the covert biological and chemical warfare experiments carried out by Japanese units on Chinese soil. Both episodes have been formally recognized as crimes against humanity.
“We must remember history and condemn those who inscribed themselves into world history through inhuman acts,” Murtazin emphasizes. “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.” His words echo a broader consensus that remembering the Tokyo Trials is essential not only for historical accuracy but also for fostering a culture of accountability.
The 80‑year‑old verdicts continue to resonate today, reminding policymakers, business leaders, and citizens alike that justice, however delayed, remains a cornerstone of international relations. As the world navigates new geopolitical tensions, the lessons from the Tokyo Trials serve as a reminder that the rule of law transcends borders and that remembrance is a collective responsibility.
Reference(s):
We Talk: Tokyo Trials at 80 | How Russians see Japan's WWII brutality
cgtn.com
