What really happened at the Tokyo War Crimes Trial after World War II—and why does it still matter today?
Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a ZOOM ONLY live conversation with historian Gary Bass, author of Judgment at Tokyo: World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia. Hosted by Glenn Flickinger, this program explores the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (1946–1948), where Japanese leaders were prosecuted in one of the most important—and least understood—war crimes trials in history.
Often overshadowed by the Nuremberg Trials, the Tokyo Trials shaped modern Asia, influenced international law, and raised enduring questions about justice, accountability, and “victor’s justice.” Bass brings the courtroom to life with vivid detail—introducing the judges, prosecutors, defendants, and the political tensions that defined the trial.
This program is part of VBC’s Greatest Generation Live, our ongoing series exploring World War II through the voices of historians, veterans, and witnesses to history.
Topics Covered:
- The Tokyo War Crimes Trial (IMTFE) explained
- Differences between Tokyo and Nuremberg Trials
- Key figures: Tojo, MacArthur, and Allied judges
- War crimes, justice, and international law after WWII
- How the Tokyo Trial shaped modern Asia
- Historical memory and controversy surrounding the trial
