On October 17, it was reported that former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama passed away at the age of 101.
Tomiichi Murayama was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1972. In June 1994, the Liberal Democratic Party, the Socialist Party and the Pioneer New Party formed a ruling coalition. Tomiichi Murayama, then chairman of the Socialist Party, became prime minister and resigned in January 1996.
According to Xinhua, in May 1995,村山 visited China, becoming the first Japanese Prime Minister to visit the Lu Ghouta Bridge and the Chinese People's War Memorial, leaving the theme of "looking to history, praying for Japanese friendship and permanent peace".
On August 15th of the same year, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender, Murayama published the famous "Murayama Talk" in the form of a cabinet resolution, acknowledging that Japan had implemented wrong national policies and taken the road of war in the past. "Colonial rule and aggression have brought great damage and suffering to the people of many countries, especially Asian countries", and "I would like to express my deep reflection and heartfelt apologies once again". This is the first time that the Japanese Prime Minister has publicly apologized to the war-victimized countries on the "August 15th" anniversary.