The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said the issue involved
international relations and the courts are not authorised to hear the claims.
The women, from China, Taiwan, South Korea and the Philippines, sued Japan in
2000, contending they were among 20,000 used as "comfort women" or Japanese
soldiers during the war.
The appellate court initially ruled that Japan had absolute immunity from a
lawsuit under federal law, but the Supreme Court overturned the ruling and
instructed the appellate court to reconsider the case.
In its opinion Tuesday, the
appellate court said it is extremely "clear the Allied
Powers intended that all war-related claims against
Japan be resolved through government-to-government
negotiations rather than through private tort
suits."
