Chinese forced laborers suit rejected by Japan

A Japanese court has rejected a damages suit filed by a group of 6 Chinese forced into hard labor during World War II.

The Yamagata District Court admitted the six were illegally brought to Japan and forced to work at the Sakata Kairiku Unso Company. But it ruled their right to demand war reparations was abandoned under the 1972 Japan-China joint communique.

The plaintiffs say they will appeal the ruling. Last year, Japan's Supreme Court dismissed another lawsuit over forced labor as well as a damages suit by Chinese forced to be comfort women during the Second World War.