Former Allied prisoners of war who were forced to work for a company run by Prime Minister Taro Aso's family during World War II said they were placed in extremely dangerous conditions with very little food or clothing.
Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Yukihisa Fujita released transcripts Friday afternoon of recent phone interviews he conducted with three Australian POWs who worked for Aso Mining Co. Fujita urged Aso to recognize their hardships and to apologize.
One of the POWs, John William Hall, 90, said beatings in the mines were "common."