FORMER JAPANESE PM MURAYAMA, REMEMBERED FOR WARTIME APOLOGY, DIES AT 101.(PHOTO).

Former Japanese PM Murayama, remembered for wartime apology, dies at 101

Tomiichi Murayama, Japan’s former prime minister known for his 1995 apology for the country’s wartime aggression, has died at the age of 101. He passed away on Friday at a hospital in his hometown of Oita in southwestern Japan, according to Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party.

Murayama led a coalition government from June 1994 to January 1996 as head of the Japan Socialist Party. He is best remembered for the “Murayama statement,” delivered on the 50th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, in which he expressed deep remorse for the suffering Japan caused through its wartime and colonial actions. The statement became a benchmark for subsequent prime ministers, emphasizing humility and the hope that such mistakes would never be repeated.

Elected to parliament in 1972 after a career in labor unions and local politics, Murayama broke with party tradition by supporting the Japan-U.S. security alliance and recognizing the constitutionality of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces. His time in office was marked by major crises, including the 1995 Kobe earthquake, which killed over 6,400 people, and the Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, which killed 13 and injured thousands, leading to criticism over the government’s slow response. He resigned in early 1996, citing the symbolic importance of marking the 50th anniversary of the war’s end.

Even after retiring in 2000, Murayama remained active in politics, criticizing leaders who downplayed Japan’s wartime guilt or failed to address issues such as the forced sexual slavery of Asian women. He consistently emphasized the need for Japan to maintain honest historical recognition and build lasting relationships with neighboring countries like China to ensure regional peace and stability.