The late Emperor Showa was "guilty of crimes against humanity," judges ruled Tuesday at the end of a mock trial on Japan's role in forcing women into sexual slavery for its military before and during World War II.
The Women's International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan's Military Sexual Slavery, held in Tokyo since Friday, also concluded that the Japanese government is legally responsible for the "comfort woman" system and is obliged to compensate the victims.
Tokyo has admitted its "moral responsibility" but claimed that its war-related legal obligations have been settled through government-to-government treaties since World War II.