Japan appeals against forced labour ruling

The Japanese Government is appealing against a court ruling which ordered the authorities to pay compensation to the family of a Chinese man used as forced labour during the World war II.

A court in Tokyo ruled earlier this month that the family of Liu Lianren should receive $160,000 after he was taken from China in 1944 and forced to work in a mine on the northern island of Hokkaido.

It is thought to be the first time that a Japanese court has awarded compensation to those used as forced labour during the war.

Mr Liu escaped from the mine in 1945 and spent 13 years hiding on Hokkaido, apparently unaware that the war was over.

He died last year, but his family continued his claim for compensation.

Thousands of Chinese were shipped to Japan to work as labourers, mainly in mines and ports.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service