Confessions of Japanese war criminals

Editor's note: To offer a clearer picture of history, the State Archives Administration released a large number of files on 45 Japanese war criminals who were tried and convicted in China after World War II. The special military tribunal of the Supreme People's Court held public trials, sentencing the criminals to between eight and 20 years in jail. China Daily is publishing abstracts of the criminals' confessions.

Hiroshi Hara

Born in Okayama prefecture, Japan, in 1895, Hara went to Northeast China in March 1933 to take part in Japan's invasion of China. He served as guard division chief of the inspection department, and major general and chief of staff of the railway security police forces in "Manchukuo". He was arrested in September 1945.