Tomiichi Murayama
Encyclopedia
is a retired Japan
ese politician who served as the 81st Prime Minister of Japan
from June 30, 1994 to January 11, 1996. He was the head of the Social Democratic Party of Japan
(until 1996, the Japan Socialist Party) and the first Socialist prime minister in nearly fifty years. He is most remembered today for his speech "On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the war's end
," in which he publicly apologized for Japanese atrocities during World War II
.
; his father was a fisherman. He graduated from Meiji University
and was appointed secretary of the labor union in his company and entered the Japan Socialist Party, which his union supported.
He began his political career as a member of the Ōita
city council in 1955 and went on to serve three terms. In 1963 his supporters urged him to be a candidate for the Ōita prefectural assembly. He was elected three times successively. In 1972 he was elected to the House of Representatives of Japan
.
Murayama was known as a tough negotiator with a calm personality. He was not assertive but knew how to make a good compromise. In 1991 he was appointed chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee of his party, one of the eminent posts in any Japanese political party. In August 1993 after the general election, the Japan Socialist Party joined the cabinet until 1994. In October of the same year he was elected the head of the party.
, and the New Party Sakigake
.
Because of the unwieldy coalition and his character, his leadership was not strong. His party had been opposed to the Security Pact
between Japan and the United States
, but he stated that this pact was in accordance with the Constitution of Japan
and disappointed many of his Socialist supporters. His government was criticised for not dealing quickly with the Kobe earthquake
that hit Japan on January 17, 1995. Just two months later, on March 20, the Aum Shinrikyo
cult carried out the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
.
As the prime minister, he apologised for the atrocities
committed during World War II
.
In the 1996 General Election, his party lost many seats in the House of Representatives. He expressed his wish to resign from the office of Prime Minister, but his supporters opposed. A few months later he resigned and was replaced by Ryutaro Hashimoto, the head of the Liberal Democratic Party.
In 2000, he retired from politics.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese politician who served as the 81st Prime Minister of Japan
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
from June 30, 1994 to January 11, 1996. He was the head of the Social Democratic Party of Japan
Social Democratic Party (Japan)
The Social Democratic Party The Social Democratic Party The Social Democratic Party (社会民主党 Shakai Minshu-tō, often abbreviated to 社民党 Shamin-tō; also known as the Social Democratic Party of Japan (abbreviated to SDPJ or SDP in English) is a political party that advocates for the establishment of a...
(until 1996, the Japan Socialist Party) and the first Socialist prime minister in nearly fifty years. He is most remembered today for his speech "On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the war's end
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the war's end
, also known as , is a war apology statement made by Tomiichi Murayama, then Prime Minister of Japan, on August 15, 1995. It stated that:The statement was based on a which requires unanimous approval from the Cabinet members, has been carried forth by successive administrations, and is often...
," in which he publicly apologized for Japanese atrocities during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early political life
Murayama was born in Ōita PrefectureOita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan on Kyūshū Island. The prefectural capital is the city of Ōita.- History :Around the 6th century Kyushu consisted of four regions: Tsukushi-no-kuni 筑紫国, Hi-no-kuni 肥国, and Toyo no kuni...
; his father was a fisherman. He graduated from Meiji University
Meiji University
is a private university in Tokyo and Kawasaki, founded in 1881 by three lawyers of the Meiji era, Kishimoto Tatsuo, Miyagi Kōzō, and Yashiro Misao. It is one of the largest and most prestigious Japanese universities in Tokyo, Japan....
and was appointed secretary of the labor union in his company and entered the Japan Socialist Party, which his union supported.
He began his political career as a member of the Ōita
Oita, Oita
is the capital city of Ōita Prefecture located on the island of Kyushu, Japan.- Demographics and geography :Ōita is the most populous city in Ōita Prefecture...
city council in 1955 and went on to serve three terms. In 1963 his supporters urged him to be a candidate for the Ōita prefectural assembly. He was elected three times successively. In 1972 he was elected to the House of Representatives of Japan
House of Representatives of Japan
The is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...
.
Murayama was known as a tough negotiator with a calm personality. He was not assertive but knew how to make a good compromise. In 1991 he was appointed chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee of his party, one of the eminent posts in any Japanese political party. In August 1993 after the general election, the Japan Socialist Party joined the cabinet until 1994. In October of the same year he was elected the head of the party.
Prime minister
He became Prime Minister on June 30, 1994. The cabinet was based on a coalition consisting of the Japan Socialist Party, the Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
, and the New Party Sakigake
New Party Sakigake
The New Party Sakigake was a Japanese political party that broke away from the Liberal Democratic Party on June 22, 1993. The party was created by Masayoshi Takemura. The party, was a centrist party, and it had many reformist and even moderate ecological elements. The theoretical reader was...
.
Because of the unwieldy coalition and his character, his leadership was not strong. His party had been opposed to the Security Pact
Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan
The was signed between the United States and Japan in Washington, D.C. on January 19, 1960. It strengthened Japan's ties to the West during the Cold War era...
between Japan and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but he stated that this pact was in accordance with the Constitution of Japan
Constitution of Japan
The is the fundamental law of Japan. It was enacted on 3 May, 1947 as a new constitution for postwar Japan.-Outline:The constitution provides for a parliamentary system of government and guarantees certain fundamental rights...
and disappointed many of his Socialist supporters. His government was criticised for not dealing quickly with the Kobe earthquake
Great Hanshin earthquake
The Great Hanshin earthquake, or Kobe earthquake, was an earthquake that occurred on Tuesday, January 17, 1995, at 05:46 JST in the southern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. It measured 6.8 on the moment magnitude scale , and Mj7.3 on JMA magnitude scale. The tremors lasted for approximately 20...
that hit Japan on January 17, 1995. Just two months later, on March 20, the Aum Shinrikyo
Aum Shinrikyo
Aum Shinrikyo was a Japanese new religious movement. The group was founded by Shoko Asahara in 1984. The group gained international notoriety in 1995, when it carried out the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway....
cult carried out the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
The Sarin attack on the Tokyo subway, usually referred to in the Japanese media as the , was an act of domestic terrorism perpetrated by members of Aum Shinrikyo on March 20, 1995....
.
As the prime minister, he apologised for the atrocities
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the war's end
, also known as , is a war apology statement made by Tomiichi Murayama, then Prime Minister of Japan, on August 15, 1995. It stated that:The statement was based on a which requires unanimous approval from the Cabinet members, has been carried forth by successive administrations, and is often...
committed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In the 1996 General Election, his party lost many seats in the House of Representatives. He expressed his wish to resign from the office of Prime Minister, but his supporters opposed. A few months later he resigned and was replaced by Ryutaro Hashimoto, the head of the Liberal Democratic Party.
In 2000, he retired from politics.
See also
- On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the war's endOn the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the war's end, also known as , is a war apology statement made by Tomiichi Murayama, then Prime Minister of Japan, on August 15, 1995. It stated that:The statement was based on a which requires unanimous approval from the Cabinet members, has been carried forth by successive administrations, and is often...
- Resolution to renew the determination for peace on the basis of lessons learned from historyResolution to renew the determination for peace on the basis of lessons learned from historyThe , also known as Fusen Ketsugi, is a issued by the House of Representatives of Japan on June 9, 1995:The original draft of the resolution that was submitted by Japan Socialist Party contained stronger expressions of apology...