"Mitsubishi Materials Apologizes to Chinese World War II Laborers," 1 Jun 2016

…Mitsubishi Materials apologized…to Chinese workers who were forced to work in its predecessor company’s mines during World War II, and it signed an agreement…to compensate three surviving former laborers. The agreement represents a rare step toward alleviating lingering anger over Japan’s brutal occupation of China…Nearly 40,000 Chinese men were taken to Japan in the final years of World War II and forced to work in slavelike conditions for 35 companies. Roughly one in five died because of maltreatment…The Mitsubishi Materials agreement is intended to be a template for future settlements…Mitsubishi Materials said in a statement that it “continues to seek a comprehensive and permanent solution with all of its former laborers and their families.” The company said it would set up a fund to build memorials at the site of the mines…The settlement was announced last year, before the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. China held numerous events last year to mark the anniversary of the end of the war, which some observers said was symbolic of the continuing rivalry between the two countries…[Also refers to Kajima Corporation and Nishimatsu Construction.]