Former Japan Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama passed away on Friday morning (Oct 17) in Japanese city of Oita. He was 101. The Socialist Party PM led a coalition government with longtime rival the Liberal Democratic Party in the mid-1990s and was most popularly known for making&nbsp;a statement apologising over World War II. Born on 3 March, 1924, in Oita Prefecture, Murayama served the armed forces at the end of World War II. He won his first Lower House election in 1972. In 1993, he became chairman of the Japan Socialist Party. In 1994, Murayama became the 81st prime minister of Japan.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a> | Former Japan PM <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TomiichiMurayama?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TomiichiMurayama</a> passes away at 101. <a href="https://t.co/Pn8mZtQ4YS">pic.twitter.com/Pn8mZtQ4YS</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1979056510614356189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

From 1994 to 1996, Tomiichi Murayama served as Japan’s prime minister, leading a coalition that shifted long-held Socialist Party views by endorsing the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, acknowledging the constitutionality of the Self-Defense Forces, and accepting national symbols like the Hinomaru flag and “Kimigayo” anthem.&nbsp;In 1995, on the 50th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, Murayama delivered a historic apology—later known as the Murayama Statement—expressing "deep remorse" for Japan’s wartime actions in Asia. He highlighted that it was the Cabinet’s duty to bring closure to the war's legacy. Murayama held office for 561 days, a period marked by natural disasters, serious crimes, and complex political issues. He stepped away from politics in 2000.&nbsp;

Former Japanese PM Tomiichi Murayama, who led a rare coalition with the LDP in 1994, died at 101. A Japan Socialist Party leader, he became the 81st PM and shifted party stances to support the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, Self-Defense Forces, and national symbols like the flag and anthem.

Former Japan Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama passed away on Friday morning (Oct 17) in Japanese city of Oita. He was 101. The Socialist Party PM led a coalition government with longtime rival the Liberal Democratic Party in the mid-1990s and was most popularly known for making a statement apologising over World War II. Born on 3 March, 1924, in Oita Prefecture, Murayama served the armed forces at the end of World War II. He won his first Lower House election in 1972. In 1993, he became chairman of the Japan Socialist Party. In 1994, Murayama became the 81st prime minister of Japan.

Former Japanese PM Tomiichi Murayama, who led a rare coalition with the LDP in 1994, died at 101. A Japan Socialist Party leader, he became the 81st PM and shifted party stances to support the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, Self-Defense Forces, and national symbols like the flag and anthem.

Japan's former PM Tomiichi Murayama, known for World War II apology, dies at 101

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Japan's former PM Tomiichi Murayama, known for World War II apology, dies at 101