<h2><span class="strongInContent">Tomiichi Murayama</span><br>
<span class="strongInContent"> Passed away on October 17 at the age of 101</span></h2>
<figure id="attachment_450235" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-450235" style="width: 1705px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="f3b7d9b6"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/12/f27b34ce7feac80548e78db21f809be1.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-450235" class="wp-caption-text"> Tomiichi Murayama was one of the most influential figures in the history of Japan, having arrived two days after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and worked closely with the victims. His &#8220;50 Year Postwar Statement&#8221; remains the Japanese government&#8217;s official view of history.</figcaption></figure>
<h3> A man of integrity, he had no political rivals. <br>
Shigeru Ishiba, politician</h3>
<p> That was when the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake happened. The Self-Defense Forces were late in mobilizing because of the initial delay caused by the difficulty in gathering information. Mr. Murayama was an honest man and said, &#8220;I am sorry for the delay in response. It was the first time it happened so early in the morning,&#8221; he apologized to the people. At the time, I was a young member of the opposition party who had only been elected three times. In a TV program I appeared on, I was told to &#8220;Resign immediately! I bit him. When I returned to the assemblyman&#8217;s lodgings that night, I found my voicemail light beeping. I played it back,</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> This is Prime Minister Murayama. You were angry with me for being so reckless, and I agree with you. I didn&#8217;t pay enough attention. I am very sorry.</span></p>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>
<p> I was surprised. I was surprised. I was surprised that the prime minister of the day would say such a thing to a brash young man, and I thought, &#8220;What an honest and nice person.</p>
<p> I have been a politician for 40 years and have never met a prime minister like that before or since. Even in Nagata-cho, there was no one who disliked Mr. Murayama. I heard that even after becoming prime minister, he flew economy and preferred to eat his daughter&#8217;s home-cooked meals rather than ryotei cuisine. He was honest, sincere, simple, and straightforward. That must have been the character of Tomiichi Murayama.</p>
<p> From the December 19 and 26, 2025 issue of FRIDAY</p>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>


 Kyodo News

 Ishiba said, "I have been a politician for 40 years, but I have never met a prime minister like Mr. Murayama. Even in Nagata-cho, there was no one who disliked him. He fondly remembers the character of Tomiichi Murayama as a man of honesty, sincerity, simplicity, and open-mindedness.

 Tombstone 2025] This year, too, a national star, a famous actor, and a famous host have passed away. We bring you his words of regret along with his treasured photos.

In Memoriam &#8217;25] Shigeru Ishiba looks back on Prime Minister Murayama: &#8220;Honest and sincere&#8230; there was no one who could say they disliked him.

In Memoriam ’25] Shigeru Ishiba looks back on Prime Minister Murayama: “Honest and sincere… there was no one who could say they disliked him.

Access Ranking