Several lawyers and their firms have agreed to offer legal assistance to former Chinese World War II laborers including Tian Chunsheng.

This is first time lawyers have tried to seek redress in China rather than courts in Japan, said Tong Zeng, who is director of the group who assist victims.

Tian was forced to work in Japanese mines along with his father. On the way to Japan and during his time there he and others were tortured and his father died, according to Tian. At the end of 1945 Tian was released and returned to China.

"More and more Chinese WWII victims are aware of their rights nowadays since the federation began to claim compensation from relevant Japanese bodies in 1990," Tong said.

"But most of the compensation claims have been rejected by the Japanese courts," Tong said, explaining why victims like Tian had now chosen to file lawsuits in China.

Several other of WWII victims and their relatives have also contacted the federation about using Chinese courts to claim compensation from Japanese companies and government.