Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama attends an Upper House plenary session in 1995. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

During the 80th anniversary year of the end of World War II, former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama died at age 101, 30 years after he issued a landmark statement about the war.

On Aug. 15, 1995, in the 50th anniversary year, the “Murayama statement” officially recognized Japan’s invasion and colonial domination of Asian nations and expressed remorse and an apology.

As a prime minister from the Japan Socialist Party, Murayama tried to draw a line to the postwar era by dealing with various issues that were largely ignored when the Liberal Democratic Party solely dominated government.

Among such issues were enacting a law to provide support to survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, offering relief to victims of Minamata disease, and establishing the Asian Women’s Fund for former “comfort women” who were forced to provide sex to Japanese soldiers before and during the war.

During the Murayama administration, 1995 was described as symbolizing the collapse of Japan’s safety myth.

The Great Hanshin Earthquake devastated the Kobe area and the Aum Shinrikyo cult released sarin nerve gas on the Tokyo subway system.

The Murayama administration was severely criticized for its initial slowness in responding to the earthquake.

It also could not fully respond to calls from Okinawa to reduce the southern prefecture’s burden of hosting U.S. military bases following the rape of a local schoolgirl by U.S. servicemen.

Murayama’s 19 months or so as prime minister were marked by a mixed bag of achievements and failures.

He became prime minister under the unusual circumstance of being pushed for the post by the LDP, which for years had been in direct confrontation with the JSP.

After the LDP was forced into the opposition in 1993 with the emergence of a non-LDP coalition government led by Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, it placed top priority on returning to power no matter what it took.

This led the LDP to choose JSP head Murayama as the nation’s leader.

As prime minister, Murayama pushed through major changes in the JSP’s fundamental policies. For example, he recognized the Self-Defense Forces as constitutional, maintained the Japan-U.S. security alliance, and respected the Hinomaru national flag and Kimigayo national anthem.

Murayama also agreed to raise the consumption tax rate from 3 percent to 5 percent.

Calls for ending ideological confrontations were heightened by changes in the international situation following the collapse of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War.

Murayama can be praised for laying the groundwork for making coalition Cabinets the norm.

However, his party’s move toward a more realistic stance by flipping its positions on key issues led to a loss of support for the JSP.

Unable to appeal to a new support base, the party changed its name to the Social Democratic Party. This did nothing to stop the decline in the party’s fortunes.

However, the Murayama statement has not changed in value as a cornerstone for creating relationships of trust with neighboring nations.

That can be seen by the continued reference to it in statements issued by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in the 60th anniversary year and by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the 70th year.

The document released this year by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also referred to the Murayama statement.

We must ask if Sanae Takaichi, the new LDP president who has repeatedly denied the spirit of the Murayama statement, understands its significance.

The coalition between Murayama’s JSP, the LDP then led by Yohei Kono, and New Party Sakigake led by Masayoshi Takemura was described as a government of liberals and doves.

One characteristic of that administration was its emphasis on consensus through careful policy discussions.

As more parties emerge on the political scene, agreements from among a wide range of views are needed for tolerant and comprehensive politics that can prevent a further fragmentation of society.

Lessons can be learned from the experience of the Murayama administration.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 18

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