The Tokyo High Court upheld a 2002 lower court ruling rejecting the two women's demand that the Japanese government pay them 23 million yendollars) each in compensation.

One of the Chinese plaintiffs, Hou Qiao Lian, died in 1999 at age 70 while the case was still pending. The other woman, Gou Xi Cui, turned 78 on Friday and arrived at the court in a wheelchair flanked by some 30 supporters.

Along with the photo of Hou, the supporters held a white banner that said: "Admit the facts. Restore dignity!"

A supporter said they were planning to appeal to the Japanese Supreme Court.

Gou said she was snatched by the Japanese army when she was 15 years old and was forced to work as a sex slave for Japanese soldiers.

Hou was 14 when she was taken to the Japanese army. About 40 days later, she was released but remained bed-ridden for one year, according to supporters.

Japan has repeatedly refused to compensate sex slaves and forced laborers from World War II, saying a 20-year period for suits had expired and treaties provided for reparations to states, not individuals.

Historians say at least 200,000 young women, mostly Korean but also from Taiwan, China, the Philippines and Indonesia, were forced to serve as sex slaves in Japanese army brothels during the war.

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