[JURIST] The Tokyo High Court [Japanese court website in English] on Tuesday refused to award compensation to Chinese victims of atrocities during Japan's occupation of the country, as relations between the two countries grew increasingly tense. Ten survivors and relatives of victims of the Nanjing massacre and of Japanese military germ experiments sought about $1 million in compensation and an apology. The court struck down the claim, holding that compensation for past wrongdoing was awarded to states rather than individuals, which is consistent with previous rulings. The ruling comes during a period of heightened tensions between the neighboring countries became bitter following anti-Japanese protests in China and Japan's approval of a school textbook [Daily Yomiuri report] downplaying atrocities such as the Nanjing massacre. During the massacre, more than 100,000 civilians were killed during a week of rape and murder by Japanese troops occupying the city. AFP has more.