Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama passed away on the 17th at the age of 101.
Murayama was first elected as a member of the House of Representatives in 1972. In June 1994, the Liberal Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, and New Party Sakigake formed a coalition government, and then Social Democratic Party Chairman Tomiichi Murayama became Prime Minister. He resigned in January 1996 and left politics in 2000.
According to public records, in May 1995, Murayama visited China, becoming the first incumbent Japanese Prime Minister to visit the Lugou Bridge and the Museum of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, where he left the inscription: "Face history squarely, wish for Sino-Japanese friendship and everlasting peace."
On August 15th of the same year, to mark the 50th anniversary of Japan’s unconditional surrender, Murayama issued the famous “Murayama Statement” in the form of a cabinet resolution, acknowledging that Japan had pursued the wrong national policy and embarked on the road to war. "Colonial rule and aggression caused tremendous damage and suffering to many countries, especially to the people of Asian nations," he said. "I hereby again express my deep remorse and heartfelt apology." This marked the first time a Japanese Prime Minister publicly apologized to the victimized countries on the anniversary of August 15th.