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Why were the Tokyo trials held after World War II?

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The Tokyo trials were held following World War II to prosecute Japanese officials for war crimes, fulfilling the Allies' stated intention to hold those responsible for atrocities accountable. The legal basis for these proceedings was established by the Potsdam Declaration of 1945, which addressed the punishment of war crimes committed by the Japanese government.1

To carry out these prosecutions, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East was established under a charter issued by U.S. Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur. This tribunal operated under the "Tokyo Charter," which closely mirrored the Nürnberg Charter used to prosecute Nazi leaders in Europe.1

The trials were a significant development in international criminal law, as they sought to hold individuals criminally liable for acts such as crimes against peace, conventional war crimes, and crimes against humanity. While critics dismissed the proceedings as "victor's justice," the trials established foundational principles—such as the rejection of official position as a defense—that continue to influence modern efforts to prosecute war criminals.12