World War II Database

During WW2, the Japanese forcibly relocated 39,000 Chinese to Japan for use as slave laborers. 3,765 of them were employed by the Mitsubishi Mining Corporation, working in its 10 coal mines; more than 700 of this group would perish before the end of the war, some from malnutrition, some from preventable accidents, while others killed by violent handlers.

In 2015, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, the direct successor of the WW2-era mining company, made a statement of apology to the few survivors and families of the former slaves, all of whom are living in Communist China today. In Jun 2016, a settlement was reached in which the Japanese company would compensate each survivor or each family CN¥100,000.

63 survivors or families rejected the settlement deal and filed a separate lawsuit.

For more information:
AP: Mitsubishi Materials, Chinese WWII slave workers reach deal
Asia Times: WW II Japan slave labor - What to make of Mitsubishi Materials' apology?


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