Tomiichi Murayama

Tomiichi Murayama (Japanese村 山 富 市; born March 3, 1924 in Oita, Oita Prefecture) is a Japanese politician and was of 30 June 1994 to 11 January 1996, the 52nd Prime Minister of Japan.

He was only the second socialist / social democrat in the history of Japan, who held this office and the first after nearly 50 years. During his nearly eight -month tenure, he ran the 81 Japanese cabinet.

Early life

He was born in Oita Prefecture as the son of a simple fisherman. Murayama graduated from Meiji University. Later, he joined the Socialist Party of Japan ( SPJ, from 1996: Social Democratic Party) at.

His political career began in 1955 as a member of the City Council of Oita. After he held other offices in the following years, in 1972 he was elected to the Japanese House of Commons.

Murayama was considered a tough negotiator with a quiet personality. Particularly for its ability to compromise, he was appreciated. In 1991, he was appointed in Parliament Presidents of the Socialist Party. In August 1993, the Socialist Party member of the cabinet was. In October 1994, he was elected party chairman.

Prime minister

On June 30, 1994, he became prime minister of a coalition of SPJ, the LDP and the New Party Sakigake. Since the cabinet was composed of very different political camps, he was regarded as a weak Prime Minister with little power.

He was severely criticized for its slow response to the earthquake in Kobe on 17 January 1995. Also in his reign the attack fell on the Tokyo subway.

On the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, he apologized in the so-called Murayama statement for the crimes committed by Japan war crimes.

In the upper house election in 1995 his party suffered heavy losses seat, to which he offered his resignation. His followers were able to sway him, although for the time being, but a few months later he left his post Ryutaro Hashimoto, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party.

In 2000 he announced his retirement from politics.