Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama dies at 101

From Kyodo

October 17 2025

TOKYO – Tomiichi Murayama, who served as prime minister from June 1994 to January 1996 and was known for apologizing for Japan’s wartime aggression in Asia, died of old age Friday at a hospital in southwestern Japan, the local chapter of his party said. He was 101.

Murayama became the first socialist prime minister in 47 years, leading an unprecedented alliance of long-time political rivals — his Social Democratic Party and the conservative Liberal Democratic Party plus the now-defunct small LDP splinter group New Party Sakigake.

While Murayama settled many outstanding issues during his 18 months in office, his party was accused of losing its identity in compromising with its coalition partners and reversing basic policies.

Murayama issued a statement in 1995 on the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II in which he expressed Japan’s “deep remorse” and “heartfelt apology” for “the tremendous damage and suffering” inflicted by its colonial rule and aggression. The “Murayama statement” has been upheld by subsequent governments.

His government also passed legislation in 1994 to provide redress to surviving victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

It set up the now-defunct semiofficial relief organization Asian Women’s Fund in 1995 to pay compensation to women who were forced into sexual servitude in Japanese military brothels during World War II.

A native of Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan, Murayama also drew up a roadmap for the resolution of Minamata mercury-poisoning cases in Kumamoto and Niigata prefectures.

As SDP chief, Murayama acknowledged the legitimacy of the Self-Defense Forces, the Japan-U.S. security treaty, the Hinomaru flag and the Kimigayo anthem, all of which his party had previously resisted.

He also faced a series of major crises in 1995, including the Great Hanshin Earthquake that left more than 6,000 people dead, and the Tokyo subway sarin nerve gas attack by the AUM Shinrikyo cult.

The abduction and rape of a schoolgirl in Okinawa by three U.S. servicemen also triggered massive local protests against the U.S. military presence in Japan.

He abruptly resigned in January 1996 and was succeeded by Ryutaro Hashimoto, the first LDP premier since 1993.

Outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who earlier this month issued his own message reflecting on 80 years since the end of World War II, praised Murayama for his handling of numerous events during his time in office.

“He devoted his efforts to tackling many difficulties. I express my heartfelt condolences,” the prime minister said in a statement.

The SDP holds three seats in parliament today. Party head Mizuho Fukushima wrote on social media that he was her “political father” and that his war statement had been “of great political significance.”

“I feel truly saddened. Every time I visited Oita, he would encourage me at his home, telling me, ‘Keep going, keep going,'” she wrote.

Murayama was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1972 after graduating from Meiji University and serving as a member of the Oita city and prefectural assemblies.

After serving eight terms in the lower house, he retired from politics in June 2000 without seeking re-election. In later years, he devoted himself to improving Japan-North Korea relations and promoting peace-related causes.