International Military Tribunal for the Far East

Author: Mei Rugu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Mei Rugu—The only Chinese judge who presided over the Tokyo Trial, the only person to personally witness the entire process of the trial of Japanese war criminals. He began writing "The International Military Tribunal for the Far East" in 1962 and continued until 1965, a three-year effort, leaving the manuscript unfinished before his death due to injustice. It reveals the little-known behind-the-scenes of the trial: · The controversy over the judge's seat that boosted the spirit of our nation; · Tojo Hideki's suicide scandal; · Four arrest warrants issued by the Allied Headquarters; · The selection of twenty-eight defendants as war criminals; · Indictments against major Japanese war criminals. This book provides a detailed description and summary of the Tokyo Trial process, containing many valuable historical facts and stories, accompanied by numerous historical photographs. Mei Rugu wrote in the book, "I am not a revenger, and I have no intention of writing the blood debt owed by Japanese militarism on the accounts of the Japanese people. However, I believe that forgetting past suffering may lead to future calamities." The Tokyo Trial is a historical summary of the Anti-Japanese War, a trial and punishment of the main villains who started the war, ensuring that justice was fully upheld. Mr. Mei's efforts in the Tokyo court upheld the dignity of the Chinese nation. Against highly unfavorable circumstances, he ensured that these war criminals received the punishment they deserved, a feat truly admirable. Mr. Mei Rugu played a significant role in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. As the only Chinese judge in the Tokyo Trial, Mei Rugu was the core figure in the Tokyo court, personally experiencing the entire process of the trial. The judge's conference, which played a decisive role in the trial process, was held in secret. Except for the Soviet judge, who was allowed to bring translators due to his lack of English proficiency, no one else, including journalists, was permitted to attend. Therefore, only judges could know the discussions of the conference. Mei Rugu was the only Chinese person who could participate in this conference and the only judge who could speak on behalf of China's interests and stance. Over the course of two and a half years and 818 sessions, Mr. Mei consistently adhered to legal principles with courtesy and propriety. At critical moments such as the "controversy over the judge's seat," "drafting the judgment," and "insisting on the death penalty," he used his wisdom, courage, and knowledge to uphold the dignity of his country and the interests of its people, earning worldwide admiration and respect. In 1962, Mei Rugu began writing "The International Military Tribunal for the Far East," but was forced to stop in 1965. The book was planned to have seven chapters but was ultimately only completed in the first four. In 1973, with regret over not being able to finish "The International Military Tribunal for the Far East," Mei Rugu passed away in Beijing at the age of 69. His unfinished work, "The International Military Tribunal for the Far East" (this book), was edited by his heir Mei Xiaogu and published by the Legal Press in 1988, with a second edition in 2005. The book also includes an article written by Mr. Mei in 1962, "On Koshjiro Koshiki, Ishikawa Shinko, and the Nanjing Massacre," to expose the resurgence of Japanese right-wing militarism.