Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo in July 1994 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Tomiichi Murayama, a former prime minister who issued a landmark statement of “remorse” for Japan’s actions in World War II, died on Oct. 17. He was 101 years old.

As chairman of what was then the Japan Socialist Party, Murayama also significantly shifted the party’s traditional “peace” platform.

Murayama was born into a fisherman’s family in Oita Prefecture in 1924. After graduating from Meiji University, he became involved in movements pushed by fishermen.

After serving in the assemblies of both Oita city and Oita Prefecture, Murayama was first elected to the Lower House in 1972.

In 1991, he became the JSP’s Diet Affairs Committee chairman.

Two years later, when an eight-party non-Liberal Democratic Party coalition formed the government of Morihiro Hosokawa, Murayama was appointed JSP chairman.

The JSP withdrew from the coalition in April 1994 due to conflicts over the government’s framework.

In June that year, the JSP formed a new coalition with New Party Sakigake and the long-time rival LDP. Murayama became Japan’s 81st prime minister and the first from the JSP in 47 years.

In July 1995, he established the Asian Women’s Fund for former comfort women who were forced to provide sex to troops before and during World War II.

On Aug. 15, on the 50th anniversary of the war's end, he released what is commonly known as the “Murayama Statement.”

It stated, “During a certain period in the not too distant past, Japan, following a mistaken national policy, advanced along the road to war, only to ensnare the Japanese people in a fateful crisis, and, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations.”

It continued, “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.”

But in partnering with the LDP, Murayama altered the JSP’s traditional “peace and Constitution-protection” platform.

He announced the “constitutionality of the Self-Defense Forces and the maintenance of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.”

Murayama also formally stated that he would sign documents by proxy for the forced use of land in Okinawa Prefecture for U.S. military bases.

He resigned as prime minister in January 1996.

That same month, after the JSP changed its name to the Social Democratic Party, he became its first leader.

However, in September, a succession of members left the SDP to join a new political movement.

Murayama stepped down as SDP leader and assumed the role of special representative.

Even after retiring from politics in June 2000, he continued to serve as president of the Asian Women’s Fund.

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