The top court decided to uphold the ruling by the Tokyo District Court and the Tokyo High Court, which cited the expiration of their rights in 20 years to claim compensation.

The Tokyo High Court acknowledged the fact that the plaintiffs were abducted to Japan and were forced to work.

The plaintiffs have been demanding a total of 820 million yen ( about 6.67 million U.S. dollars) in compensation from the state and 10 companies.

The ruling was the latest in a series of dismissal of lawsuits filed by Chinese for their wartime suffering. The Japanese top court in April dismissed a forced labor suit and a sex slavery suit filed by Chinese sufferers, citing the ineligibility of Chinese individuals to ask for compensation from the Japanese side as "the Chinese government gave up such right in a bilateral statement with Japan in 1972."