Tomiichi Murayama

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Tomiichi Murayama
81st Prime Minister of Japan
In office June 30, 1994 – 1996
Preceded by	Tsutomu Hata
Succeeded by	Ryutaro Hashimoto

Born	March 03, 1924 (age 83)
Political party	Japan Socialist Party

Tomiichi Murayama (村山富市 Murayama Tomi'ichi, born March 3, 1924) is a retired Japanese 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.

[edit] Early political life

He was born in Ōita Prefecture. His father was a fisherman. Murayama graduated from the Meiji University. He was appointed secretary of 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 Oita city council in 1955 and went on to serve three terms. In 1963 his supporters urged him to be a candidate of Oita prefectural assembly. He was elected three times successively. On December, 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 to the chairman of Diet Affairs Committee of his party, one of eminent posts in Japanese political party. In August 1993 after the general election, the Japan Socialist Party joined the cabinet till 1994. In October of this year he was elected the head of the party.

[edit] 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 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 earthquake of Kobe 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 as a politician.

[edit] See also

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