The
International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE), also known as the
Tokyo Trials, the
Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, or simply
the Tribunal, was convened on April 29, 1946, to
try the leaders of the
Empire of Japan for three types of
war crimes. "Class A" crimes were reserved for those who participated in a
joint conspiracy to start and wage war, and were brought against those in the highest decision-making bodies; "Class B" crimes were reserved for those who committed "conventional" atrocities or
crimes against humanity; "Class C" crimes were reserved for those in "the planning, ordering, authorization, or failure to prevent such transgressions at higher levels in the command structure".