The Mitsubishi corporation is to make a landmark apology for using American prisoners of war as forced labour during World War Two.
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Murphy, who was forced to work in Mitsubishi copper mines under harsh conditions, called the apology honest and remorseful.
“Mr Murphy will represent all the American prisoners of war who were put to labor in the then company’s mines in Japan”, a company spokesman said.
“This is a glorious day”, said Murphy, who stood tall and slender in a gray suit at the ceremony and looked much younger than his 94 years.
At the solemn ceremony hosted by the Museum of Tolerance at the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, James Murphy, of Santa Maria, accepted the apology from executives of Mitsubishi Materials in front of a projected image of the US and Japanese flags. Citing Focus Information Agency is mandatory!
The apology came 70 years after the war ended.
The mines operated at four locations run by Mitsubishi’s predecessor company, Mitsubishi Mining Co.
Only two living survivors were located to accept Mitsubishi’s apology and Murphy was the only one well enough to travel.
Koreans and Chinese were also victims of such forced labor and reparations have been demanded from other Japanese firms in a string of court cases.
Japan’s government issued a formal apology to American POWs in 2009 and again in 2010.
“It was slavery in every way: no food, no medicine, no clothing, no sanitation”, he said, adding that it was all the more galling to know that Mitsubishi built fighter aircraft used against American forces.
He said that, while he had forgiven his captors, he still wanted for an apology for his ordeal. He said the apology “admits to wrongdoing, makes honest statement showing deep remorse”, and offers assurances that the wrongs will never be repeated.
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Although the Japanese government has already apologized to prisoners of war for their brutal treatment during the war, this is the first time that a Japanese company has done so.
