✨ 80 years ago, a historic courtroom opened its doors in Tokyo, forever changing the course of international justice. The International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE) convened on May 3 1946, and after two‑and‑a‑half years of intense proceedings, it delivered 25 convictions—including seven death sentences—signalling that aggression would no longer be tolerated.
Fast‑forward to 2026: the 80th anniversary of the Tokyo Trials. To see how people in Russia view Japan’s World II brutality, a CGTN stringer hit the streets of Moscow and asked locals what they knew about those dark chapters. 📸
Journalist Andrei Murtazin was quick to point out a gap in the textbooks. “While the Nuremberg Trials get a lot of classroom love, the Tokyo Trials often get left out,” he said. “Most Russians only hear about a couple of horrific events: the Nanjing Massacre in the Chinese mainland and Japan’s bacterial and biological weapons experiments on the Chinese.”
“These crimes have been clearly identified as crimes against humanity,” Murtazin emphasized. “We must remember history and condemn those who inscribed themselves into world history through inhuman acts.”
💡 Why does this matter today? Remembering the past 80 years helps us understand how far international law has come—and reminds us that justice can still win. It’s a lesson for every generation: those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
🌍 Whether you’re a student, a traveler, or just someone who loves a good story, the echoes of the Tokyo Trials still resonate. They show that even in times of conflict, there’s a path toward accountability and peace. 🇯🇵⚖️🇷🇺
Reference(s):
We Talk: Tokyo Trials at 80 | How Russians see Japan's WWII brutality
cgtn.com
