May 3 marks the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, better known as the "Tokyo Trials." To honor the occasion, China released a series of books related to the transcripts of the proceedings in Shanghai last Thursday.
This is the first time for the transcripts to be published in the Chinese language. Family members of some of those who participated in the trials were at the official release, including the daughter and son of Judge Mei Ruao, who led the Chinese delegation during the trials.
The Tokyo Trials lasted two and a half years, from May 3, 1946, to November 12, 1948, and involved a group of 28 "Class A" defendants, who were major leaders in the military, and in the political and diplomatic spheres. But only 25 of them were fit to be tried. Seven of those were hanged, 16 got life in prison, while the final two were sentenced to 20 and 7 years respectively.
