Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama passed away at the age of 101. He had publicly apologized for Japan's wartime aggression.

According to TBS News on October 17, Japan's former Prime Minister Murayama Tomiichi passed away at a hospital in Oita City that morning at the age of 101.

Murayama Tomiichi was born on March 3, 1924, in Oita City. He was first elected as a member of the House of Representatives in 1972. In 1994, he became the 81st Prime Minister of Japan and left politics in 2000. In May 1995, Murayama Tomiichi visited China and became the first sitting Japanese Prime Minister to visit the Lugou Bridge and the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Memorial Hall. He left an inscription saying "Face history, pray for Japan-China friendship and lasting peace."

In 1995, Murayama Tomiichi made the "Murayama Statement" - Asahi Shimbun

In August 1995, on the 50th anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender, Murayama Tomiichi delivered the famous "Murayama Statement," acknowledging Japan's history of aggression and colonial rule against many countries overseas and expressing remorse and apology for it. This was the first time a Japanese Prime Minister publicly apologized for the country's foreign aggression on the "August 15" memorial day. The local Oita media "Oita Contract News" commented that the "Murayama Statement" remains the cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy with Asia to this day.

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