Tomiichi Murayama, Japan’s former prime minister and a figure whose legacy is inextricably linked with the country’s reckoning over its wartime past, died of old age on Friday, October 17, 2025, at a hospital in his hometown of Oita, southwestern Japan. He was 101 years old. Murayama’s passing was confirmed by Mizuho Fukushima, the head of Japan’s Social Democratic Party, who described him as her “political father” and a man whose words and actions left an indelible mark on Japanese politics and its relationship with Asia.
Murayama’s political journey was anything but conventional. Rising from humble beginnings in Oita Prefecture, he graduated from Meiji University and began his public service in local government, first as a member of the Oita city and prefectural assemblies. In 1972, he was elected to the House of Representatives, representing the Japan Socialist Party, the predecessor of today’s Social Democratic Party. Over the course of eight terms in the lower house, Murayama built a reputation for quiet determination and a willingness to tackle difficult issues head-on.
His most significant—and controversial—moment in the national spotlight arrived in June 1994, when he became Japan’s first socialist prime minister in nearly half a century. The government he led was an unlikely coalition, bringing together the left-leaning Social Democratic Party, the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, and the now-defunct New Party Sakigake. According to the Associated Press, this alliance was unprecedented, uniting long-time political rivals in an effort to break a period of political deadlock.
Yet, the coalition’s very existence posed challenges for Murayama’s own party. The Social Democratic Party, then known as the Japan Socialist Party, faced criticism for compromising on long-held principles. Murayama made several decisions that ran counter to traditional party stances, including acknowledging the legitimacy of the Self-Defense Forces and the Japan-U.S. security treaty, and recognizing the Hinomaru flag and Kimigayo anthem—symbols many in his party viewed as remnants of Japan’s militarist past. Despite internal dissent, Murayama pressed forward, arguing that these steps were necessary for national unity and stability.
Perhaps the most enduring aspect of Murayama’s legacy is the 1995 “Murayama statement.” Delivered on the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, this statement expressed Japan’s “deep remorse” and “heartfelt apology” for “the tremendous damage and suffering” caused by its colonial rule and wartime aggression. The statement, as reported by Kyodo News, was a watershed moment in Japanese diplomacy and has been upheld by subsequent governments as a cornerstone of the nation’s postwar reconciliation efforts.
Murayama’s words resonated far beyond Japan’s borders. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian described him as “an old friend of the Chinese people” and praised his commitment to deepening bilateral friendship. “As a statesman with a sense of justice, Mr. Murayama’s contribution to enhancing China-Japan friendship will be remembered forever by us,” Lin said, emphasizing that the Murayama statement “needs to be honored with good faith.”
Domestically, Murayama’s government took concrete steps to address the lingering wounds of war. In 1994, legislation was passed to provide redress to surviving victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The following year, his administration established the Asian Women’s Fund, a now-defunct semiofficial relief organization that paid compensation to women forced into sexual servitude—so-called “comfort women”—in Japanese military brothels during the war. These actions, while not without controversy, were seen as important gestures of accountability and compassion.
Murayama also turned his attention to environmental and social justice issues. He drew up a roadmap for the resolution of the Minamata mercury-poisoning cases in Kumamoto and Niigata prefectures, a move that sought to bring closure to one of Japan’s most notorious industrial pollution scandals. These efforts reflected his broader commitment to redressing historical wrongs and promoting reconciliation at home as well as abroad.
His time in office, however, was not without turmoil. The year 1995 proved to be one of the most challenging in recent Japanese history. Murayama’s government faced the devastating Great Hanshin Earthquake, which claimed more than 6,000 lives and left a trail of destruction in Kobe and surrounding areas. That same year, the Tokyo subway sarin nerve gas attack by the AUM Shinrikyo cult shocked the nation and exposed vulnerabilities in Japan’s approach to domestic security. According to Kyodo News, Murayama devoted significant effort to managing these crises, earning praise for his steady leadership during a period of national trauma.
Amid these tragedies, public anger erupted in Okinawa after the abduction and rape of a schoolgirl by three U.S. servicemen, triggering massive protests against the U.S. military presence on the island. Murayama’s government found itself at the center of a heated debate over Japan’s security arrangements and the rights of local communities, further testing the limits of his coalition’s cohesion.
Despite his efforts to steer the country through these storms, Murayama’s tenure was relatively brief. He abruptly resigned in January 1996, paving the way for Ryutaro Hashimoto to become the first Liberal Democratic Party prime minister since 1993. Murayama retired from politics in June 2000, closing a chapter on a career marked by both compromise and conviction.
Reflecting on Murayama’s legacy, outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba offered words of respect and condolence. “He devoted his efforts to tackling many difficulties. I express my heartfelt condolences,” Ishiba said in a statement issued on October 17, 2025. The Social Democratic Party, which now holds only three seats in parliament, continues to regard Murayama’s war apology statement as a defining moment. Party head Mizuho Fukushima wrote on social media, “I feel truly saddened. Every time I visited Oita, he would encourage me at his home, telling me, ‘Keep going, keep going.’”
In his later years, Murayama remained active in public life, dedicating himself to improving Japan-North Korea relations and promoting peace-related causes. His commitment to reconciliation, both within Japan and with its neighbors, set a standard for political courage and humility that continues to inspire debate and reflection.
As Japan mourns the passing of Tomiichi Murayama, the nation is left to grapple with the legacy of a leader who, in a time of great uncertainty, chose the difficult path of apology, accountability, and bridge-building. His life stands as a reminder that facing history honestly can be a source of strength rather than division.