Revealed at Last—Shigeru Ishiba Reflects on Tomiichi Murayama’s Postwar Statement and His Quiet Character

〈Last October, Tomiichi Murayama, who served as the 81st Prime Minister of Japan, passed away. Shigeru Ishiba, who served as prime minister until October, reflects on Murayama’s character. Thirty years after Murayama’s “50th Anniversary of the End of the War Statement,” Ishiba issued his 80 Years After the War Reflections. One week later, as if to see those reflections through, Murayama departed this world. What was the mysterious bond that connected the two?〉

I thought of it as a battle with Prime Minister Murayama

Seven days after former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (68) issued his “80 Years After the War Reflections” on October 10, on the 17th, former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama—who had issued the “50th Anniversary of the End of the War Statement”—passed away of old age. He was 101 years old. Known for his long eyebrows, he was affectionately called “Ton-chan” for his down-to-earth personality.

Becoming prime minister was not something he himself desired; it was a strange turn of fate amid a period of political transformation.

In June 1994, when the Hata Cabinet resigned after just 64 days, the Liberal Democratic Party—then in opposition—hoisted Murayama, chairman of the Japan Socialist Party, up as the 81st prime minister and established the LDP–Socialist–Sakigake coalition government. With this unexpected strategy, the LDP returned to power, but immediately after taking office Murayama declared in his policy speech that the Self-Defense Forces were constitutional, that the Japan–U.S. security framework would be maintained, and that the Hinomaru flag and “Kimigayo” anthem would be accepted—completely reversing the Socialist Party’s basic policies.

Ishiba, who at the time was a third-term Diet member of the Japan Renewal Party, looks back as follows:

“There was never a time when I felt more despair about politics than when that Murayama administration was formed through such a bizarre tactic. The very person who had said just the day before that the Self-Defense Forces were unconstitutional became the supreme commander. I was outraged, thinking, how could such an absurd thing happen? Murayama-san had served as the Socialist Party’s Diet affairs chief, so in fact he had close relationships with LDP executives as well.

Because there was a relationship of trust built through Diet affairs negotiations, perhaps it didn’t actually feel that strange to them. But I didn’t know any of that at the time, and I thought, ‘He seems to be a nice person personality-wise, but nothing could be more illogical than this,’ and I regarded him almost as a mortal enemy.”

When the House of Councillors election of July 1995 came under the Murayama administration, Ishiba—then a member of the New Frontier Party—backed Takayoshi Tsuneta (82), a prefectural assemblyman who had left the LDP, and traveled around Tottori Prefecture even more energetically than for his own election.

“It was a fierce election of LDP + Socialists vs. the New Frontier Party. I thought of it as a battle of myself versus Prime Minister Murayama, and I threw myself into it with tremendous intensity. I felt we absolutely could not lose to the LDP–Socialist–Sakigake coalition, which made no sense logically.”

Murayama-san played a major historical role

Even so, as Ishiba spent more time in Nagatacho, his feelings toward Murayama gradually changed due to Murayama’s unpretentious character. Murayama reportedly flew economy class when traveling by plane, did not frequent high-end traditional restaurants, and even at the prime minister’s official residence ate rice balls, miso soup, and dried fish prepared by his daughter.

“He was probably someone who wanted to stay far away from luxury and extravagance. It wasn’t that he was performing frugality for show; I think he simply, at his core, didn’t feel comfortable with things like high-class restaurants or first class. I can picture Murayama-san saying, ‘This isn’t a place for me.’ Even in Nagatacho, there was no one who spoke ill of his character.”

As mentioned at the beginning, it seems that through the twists of history, Ishiba and Murayama shared a certain connection. In 1995, Murayama clearly stated in his “50th Anniversary of the End of the War Statement” reflection on colonial rule and aggression, and heartfelt feelings of apology. Debate over historical perception still remains today, but it is undeniable that the statement helped improve relations with Asian countries. Ishiba often quotes the words of former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka: “The time to fear is when those who went to war are no longer at the center of this country,” and speaks about the importance of passing on the memory of war.

“Since the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, successive cabinets have carried forward that historical perspective every ten years—the Koizumi Statement at 60 years, the Abe Statement at 70 years, and then mine at 80 years. The Japan Socialist Party no longer exists, but I believe Murayama-san’s historical role was significant. Koizumi-san (Junichiro, 84) and Abe-san (Shinzo) both followed it, and I too inherited Murayama-san’s wish to never repeat the horrors of war.

Regarding the past, I think Murayama’s statement is sufficient as a message to Asian countries and the international community. However, when it comes to the future and how we should be as a nation domestically, I felt that, as an extension of the 70-year statement, we especially needed to examine politically why we plunged into that reckless war. That is where I believe the meaning of the 80-year reflections lies.”

Some former prime ministers, after retiring, open offices near Nagatacho and try to maintain their influence. Murayama, upon retiring, returned to Oita and lived as an ordinary citizen. Called “Ton-chan” by his neighbors, he passed away peacefully on October 17 last year.