TOKYO — Tomiichi Murayama, the former Prime Minister of Japan renowned for his distinctive bushy eyebrows and his landmark 1995 apology to Asian nations for Japan’s wartime aggression, passed away on Friday at the age of 101. Murayama succumbed to old age at a hospital in his hometown of Oita, located in southwestern Japan. The announcement of his death was made by Mizuho Fukushima, the leader of Japan’s Social Democratic Party. Murayama, who headed the Japan Socialist Party (now the Social Democratic Party), served as Prime Minister from June 1994 to January 1996, leading a coalition government during a transformative period in Japanese politics. His 1995 statement, often referred to as the ‘Murayama Statement,’ remains a cornerstone of Japan’s post-war reconciliation efforts, expressing deep remorse for the suffering caused by Japanese imperialism in Asia. Murayama’s legacy is marked by his commitment to peace and his efforts to mend historical wounds.
Former Japanese prime minister Murayama, known for apology over wartime aggression, dies at 101
