Business
Japan's Mitsubishi corporation has made a landmark apology for using US prisoners of war as forced labour during World War Two, reports the BBC.
A senior executive, Hikaru Kimura, expressed remorse at a ceremony in Los Angeles that prisoners had been put to work in mines operated by the firm. It is believed to be the first such apology by a Japanese company.
One of the few surviving former U.S. prisoners forced to work in Japan was present to accept the apology.
James Murphy, 94, said this was "a glorious day... for 70 years we wanted this."
"I listened very carefully to Mr Kimura's statement of apology and found it very very sincere, humble and revealing," he added. "We hope that we can go ahead now and have a better understanding, a better friendship and closer ties with our ally, Japan."
Relatives of other former prisoners were also present at the ceremony, held at the Simon Wiesenthal Centre.
Mitsubishi is acting independently of the Japanese government which has already issued a formal apology to American prisoners.
Japanese government officials say that it is an important gesture ahead of the 70th anniversary of the end of the war in August. "We hope this will spur other companies to join in and do the same." said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean at the Simon Wiesenthal Centre.
