Comment on a Letter from the Relatives of Japanese War Criminal Sakakibara Hideo [1] (February 21, 1957)  To be handled by Zhou [2]. This individual, along with other war criminals suffering from serious illnesses, should be released.
Mao Zedong February 21  Printed from the manuscript.
Notes  [1] Refers to a letter written at the end of 1956 by Sakakibara Hideo’s daughters, Sakakibara Kimiko and Sakakibara Takako, and his wife, Sakakibara Fusako, to Mao Zedong.
The letter stated: On November 20, 1956, a reporter from the Asahi Shimbun reported that Chairman Mao had said during an audience with a Japanese delegation from Okayama Prefecture engaged in academic and cultural exchanges, “If the war criminal Sakakibara is ill, his release might be considered.”
Under pressure from the state’s wartime policies, Sakakibara had conducted bacteriological research and was indeed a person who had committed heinous crimes.
However, as his family members, they have never ceased to pray for his health and freedom.
Now that they have learned that, after a temporary recovery from his previous ailment, he has again developed hemoptysis, they earnestly request that Chairman Mao show him clemency and allow him to return home for treatment.
The letter also expressed their resolve: in order to pay tribute to the many Chinese victims, they would do everything in their power to work tirelessly for Japan–China friendship and world peace.  [2] Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai.