Azuma Shiro, a soldier in the Japanese invasion of China, once again expressed his heartfelt apologies to the Chinese people yesterday in Beijing for all the wartime crimes he had committed in China.

"All the crimes the Japanese troops and I committed during the 1937-1945 period are true. Here, once again, I'd like to deeply apologize for those dirty activities," said Shiro at conference organized by two local academic organizations.

"The 1937 Nanjing Massacre in which more than 300,000 Chinese were killed did happen," said Shiro, who was sent to China twice by the Japanese Government during the eight years.

"The massacre by the Japanese military, I think, was one of the most monstrous evils in the history of the 20th century," said Shiro.

With respect to the recent Japan Supreme Court's ruling on his wartime diary that documents atrocities committed by the invading army, Shiro said he needs the help of Chinese people to appeal the ruling against him.

"Since Japan's court is under the control of the right wing, I cannot seek justice in my own country," said Shiro, who has visited Nanjing, Beijing and Shenyang on his tour.

"I believe most people around the world respect history," said Shrio.