FILE – Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama stands earlier than reporters previous to his assertion of warfare regret on the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo, Aug. 15, 1995.
Naokazu Oinuma/AP
conceal caption
toggle caption
Naokazu Oinuma/AP
TOKYO — Japan’s former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, who was identified for his 1995 “Murayama statement” apologizing to Asian victims of his nation’s aggression, died Friday. He was 101.
Murayama died at a hospital in his hometown Oita, southwestern Japan, in response to an announcement by Mizuho Fukushima, the pinnacle of Japan’s Social Democratic Get together.
As head of what was then often called the Japan Socialist Get together, Murayama led a coalition authorities from June 1994 to January 1996.
A historic apology for Japan’s actions in World Battle II
He’s finest remembered for the “Murayama statement,” an apology he issued on the fiftieth anniversary of Japan’s unconditional give up ending World Battle II on Aug. 15, 1995. It is seen as Japan’s important expression of regret for its wartime and colonial previous.
“During a certain period in the not too distant past, Japan, following a mistaken national policy, advanced along the road to war … and, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations,” he stated within the assertion.
“In the hope that no such mistake be made in the future, I regard, in a spirit of humility, these irrefutable facts of history, and express here once again my feelings of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology.”
A authorities marked by controversy
Murayama was first elected to parliament in 1972 as a socialist lawmaker after working for a labor union and serving in an area meeting.
When he turned prime minister in 1994, he broke along with his social gathering’s longtime opposition to the Japan-U.S. safety alliance and Japan’s Self-Protection Forces, recognizing them as constitutional in a speech given within the face of yelling by offended members of his social gathering.
In 1995, Murayama handled two main disasters: an enormous earthquake within the western port metropolis of Kobe that killed greater than 6,400 folks, and a Tokyo subway gasoline assault that killed 13 and injured greater than 6,000 folks. He got here beneath hearth for sluggish responses to each.
FILE – Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama holds a basket of Washington state apples which President Invoice Clinton gave him previous to the beginning of their joint information convention on the White Home in Washington, Jan. 11, 1995.
Greg Gibson/AP
conceal caption
toggle caption
Greg Gibson/AP
He resigned early the next 12 months in an sudden announcement that got here as he returned to work after the 1996 New Yr holidays. Murayama stated he had accomplished what he may in a 12 months marking the fiftieth anniversary of the tip of World Battle II. He stated he made the choice whereas wanting on the blue sky within the new 12 months.
Murayama criticized his successors for questioning Japan’s wartime guilt
Murayama was lively in politics even after his retirement in 2000, often criticizing makes an attempt by his extra nationalist successors to again away from duty for Japan’s wartime motion.
The Murayama assertion set a typical adopted by all prime ministers for practically 20 years, till nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stopped apologizing in 2013 as members of his Liberal Democratic Get together stated it interfered with Japan’s nationwide delight. That included Abe protege Sanae Takaichi, who was just lately elected social gathering chief and is now poised to turn out to be prime minister subsequent week.
Murayama additionally criticized the federal government’s reluctance to acknowledge that the Japanese authorities throughout World Battle II systematically pressured Asian ladies to supply intercourse for Japanese troopers at navy brothels.
“A historical view saying Japan’s war was not aggression, or calling it justice or liberation from colonialism, is absolutely unacceptable not only in China, South Korea or other Asian countries but also in America and Europe,” Murayama stated in an announcement in 2020.
He additionally burdened the significance of Japan establishing a long-lasting friendship with China, noting the “tremendous damage” his nation brought about to its neighbor due to its previous warfare of aggression. “In order to build peace and stability in Asia, we must build stable politics, economics, cultural interactions and development.”
