The Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal was a military trial convened on April 29, 1946, to try the leaders of the Empire of Japan for “Class A” crimes, which were reserved for those who participated in a joint conspiracy to start and wage war.

Twenty-eight Japanese military and political leaders were charged with waging aggressive war and with responsibility for conventional war crimes. More than 5,700 lower-ranking personnel were charged with conventional war crimes in separate trials convened by Australia, China, France, the Netherlands, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The charges covered a wide range of crimes including prisoner abuse, rape, sexual slavery, torture, ill-treatment of labourers, execution without trial and inhumane medical experiments. China held 13 tribunals, resulting in 504 convictions and 149 executions.

Japanese Emperor Hirohito and all members of The Imperial Family were not prosecuted for involvement in any of the three categories of crimes.