They had the blood of Chinese people on their hands during World War II but, after years of imprisonment in the country they invaded, many Japanese war criminals' attitudes have changed.

Before the 69th anniversary of the Japanese surrender on Aug 15, Xinhua interviewed eight Japanese veterans, who reflected on the atrocities they committed during the war and called for peace.

The interviews are being released ahead of the anniversary of China's victory in its War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, which falls on Wednesday.