Former Japanese prime minister Tomiichi Murayama dies at 101
發佈日期: 2025-10-17 20:09
TVB News
Former Japanese prime minister Tomiichi Murayama has passed away in his hometown at the age of 101.
In his "Murayama statement", he apologised to Asian victims of Japan's wartime atrocities.
The Foreign Ministry in Beijing expressed deep condolences over his passing.
Born on March 3, 1924, in the Japanese prefecture of Oita, Tomiichi Murayama became the country's prime minister at the age of 70, and was so far the only post-war prime minister who served as chairman of the Japan Socialist Party.
He was in office from 1994 to 1996, a turbulent period in which the Great Hanshin Earthquake and the Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack took place.
1995 marked the 50th anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender.
On August 15th of 1995, Murayama delivered a landmark statement endorsed by the cabinet, using unprecedented language to express deep remorse and heartfelt apology .
It said, "Japan...through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many nations, particularly to those of Asian countries."
The famous statement not only made Murayama the first prime minister to offer a public apology over his country's crimes in the Second World War, but also became an important benchmark for the Japanese government.
Murayama attached great significance to developing ties with Beijing. During his China trip in 1995, he visited the Lugou Bridge and the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
He later served as advisor to a lawmakers' alliance to promote China-Japan friendship and supported China's accession to the WTO.
In 2015, Murayama criticised then-prime minister Shinzo Abe for brushing aside Japan's colonial rule and aggression.
He said he believed China, South Korea and other Asian countries urged them to properly recognise their past, so that they would not repeat such mistakes.
On Friday, Japanese media reported that Murayama died of old age at a local hospital in Oita.
The Foreign Ministry in Beijing expressed condolences over Murayama's passing and extended sincere sympathy to his family. A spokesman described him as a long-standing friend of Chinese people, who dedicated himself to improving bilateral ties.
