The last person who participated in the Tokyo trial, Gao Wenbin, died of illness at the age of 99

  China News Service, September 7 (Xu Jing Yin Zhimin) A reporter learned from the China Democratic League Shanghai Committee and Shanghai Maritime University on the 7th that Gao Wenbin, a professor at Shanghai Maritime University, was the last person in the world to participate in the Tokyo trial. He passed away at the age of 99 at the Shanghai First People's Hospital at 3:10 am.

Photographed at Qiyuan's home during the Spring Festival in 1981.

Photo courtesy of China Democratic League Shanghai Committee

  The Tokyo Trial was a trial for Japanese war crimes in World War II conducted in Tokyo, Japan from 1946 to 1948. It is also the only Class A war criminals court.

Together with the BC-class war criminals courts held throughout the Asia-Pacific region after the war, it has profoundly affected the order in the Asia-Pacific region established after the Second World War and continues to this day, and has become the most critical legal cornerstone.

The Tokyo Trial affirmed the aggressiveness and injustice of the war launched by Japan from a legal point of view. It also publicly exposed the war atrocities of the Japanese militarists, especially the crimes committed in China during the 14 years of its invasion of China, through trials of major Japanese war criminals. .

  Gao Wenbin, born in December 1922, a native of Shanghai, a jurist, translator and historian.

Joined the China Democratic League in September 1985.

Graduated from Soochow University Law School in 1945.

From May 1946 to August 1948, Gao Wenbin participated in the Tokyo trial and served successively as a translator for the International Prosecutor's Office and secretary of the Chinese Prosecutor's Office.

Defense of 84-level master's thesis of East China University of Political Science and Law.

Photo courtesy of China Democratic League Shanghai Committee

  When serving as the secretary of the Chinese prosecutors, Gao Wenbin's main job was to translate and verify court records, and was responsible for the liaison between the International Procuratorate and the Chinese Prosecutors Team and the handling of documents.

During the trial, Gao Wenbin found evidence of the "Hundred People Killing Competition" and found the culprit of the "Hundred People Killing Competition".

In his later years, he repeatedly called for the establishment of the "Tokyo Trial Memorial Hall."

1989 Shanghai University Faculty Position Law Evaluation Group (third from right is Gao Wenbin).

Photo courtesy of China Democratic League Shanghai Committee

  Gao Wenbin tried his best to attend various activities to commemorate the victory of the Anti-Japanese War in China.

Before falling ill, he had been involved in the compilation of historical materials related to the Tokyo trial.

  Professor Cheng Zhaoqi, director of the Tokyo Trial Research Center of Shanghai Jiaotong University and a member of the alliance, said that seniors have participated in many activities of the center and are very concerned about the research work of the center.

In 2016, the 95-year-old Gao, despite his faltering steps, insisted on participating in the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Tokyo trial. At that time, he also proposed the establishment of the "Tokyo Trial Memorial Hall".

Gao Wenbin is in front of the wooden sign at the entrance of the Far East International Military Tribunal.

Photo courtesy of China Democratic League Shanghai Committee

  Gao Wenbin often said, "We must remember history, cherish peace, and unremittingly carry out patriotism education." He urged his students to remember that they are Chinese no matter what position they work in, and to maintain national dignity and peace. Benefits contribute; tell children abroad, "You can’t do anything harmful to the motherland. If you violate this article, I will sever the relationship between father and daughter."

  According to the NLD Shanghai Municipal Committee, on July 20 this year, a staff member of the NLD Shanghai Municipal Committee went to the hospital to visit Mr. Gao. Unfortunately, Gao Wenbin suddenly fell into a coma that morning and was lying peacefully on the hospital bed.

Gao Wenbin's resignation letter before going to Japan to participate in work related to the Tokyo trial.

Photo courtesy of China Democratic League Shanghai Committee

  In his later years, Gao Wenbin has always maintained the style of a Shanghai-style man, and spent his days living in his residence on the North Bund.

Wang Weiping, the former deputy chairman of the Pudong District Committee of the China Democratic League, recalled that every time he visited Lao Gao, he was in his 90s and he always dressed neatly and combed his hair meticulously.

In the hot weather, Mr. Gao deliberately took out small towels and iced drinks from the refrigerator to the guests.

Gao Wenbin likes coffee, wine tasting, music and photography.

Since the 1940s, he has taken photos whenever there is a chance, leaving a lot of precious photos for future generations.

  Mr. Jiang Zhiwei, the secretary-general of the Shanghai Maritime University Committee of the China Democratic League and the former executive vice chairman, recalled: “Lao Gao is an enthusiastic person. I interviewed him for the establishment of the school history museum. He can talk about it. He has suffered. The unfair treatment for a long time, but being able to get out of the shadows and integrate into society so quickly is something we have to admire.” (End)