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Former Japanese lower house speaker Kono dies

File photo taken in June 1994 at the parliament building in Tokyo shows (from R) Liberal Democratic Party leader Yohei Kono, Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama of the Japan Socialist Party and New Party Sakigake leader Masayoshi Takemura shaking hands before a meeting to form the Cabinet of their new coalition government. Kono, former speaker of the House of Representatives, known for announcing the Japanese government's landmark apology over Korean "comfort women" who were forced to work in Japan's wartime military brothels, died on June 8, 2026, aged 89.

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Former Japanese lower house speaker Kono dies

File photo taken in July 1994 shows Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono (R) chatting with Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama ahead of a Cabinet meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo. Kono, former speaker of the House of Representatives, known for announcing the Japanese government's landmark apology over Korean "comfort women" who were forced to work in Japan's wartime military brothels, died on June 8, 2026, aged 89.

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Japanese Prime Minister Murayama in 1994

Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama (front row, C) and newly appointed Cabinet members pose for a commemorative photo after their first Cabinet meeting at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on June 30, 1994.

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Hu meets with Japanese leaders

BEIJING, China - Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) is in talks with Chief Cabinet Seceretary Yasuo Fukuda (L), former prime ministers Tomiichi Murayama (2nd from L) and Ryutaro Hashimoto (2nd from R) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Aug. 9.

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Murayama greeted by

PYONGYANG, North Korea - Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama (C) and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka (R) are greeted by Kim Yong Sun (L), secretary of the Workers Party of Korea's central committee secretariat, at the Mansudae assembly hall in Pyongyang on Dec. 1. Murayama flew into Pyongyang earlier in the day at the head of a 16-member parliamentary delegation representing Japan's seven ruling and opposition parties.

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Japanese delegation arrives in N. Korea

PYONGYANG, North Korea - Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama (L) and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka (2nd from R) receive flowers on arrival at Pyongyang airport Dec. 1 on a three-day visit aimed to pave the way for resuming talks on normalizing diplomatic ties between Japan and North Korea. Murayama is leading a 16-member parliamentary delegation representing Japan's seven ruling and opposition parties.

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Murayama's Cabinet is born - his own coalition

The Haneda Cabinet resigned, and an election to nominate a prime minister was held at the plenary session of both houses of the Diet at the end of the current term. The Murayama cabinet was born after the resignation of the Haneda cabinet, date of shooting unknown, release date: August 1, 1994.

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Murayama urges Abe to get Cabinet approval on war anniv. statement

Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama gives a lecture at the Kansai Press Club in the western Japanese city of Osaka on June 24, 2015. Murayama urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to seek Cabinet approval for his upcoming statement to mark the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, rather than highlighting its personal nature as reported. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ex-PM Murayama urges Abe to uphold 1995 war statement

Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama (R) and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono hold a press conference in Tokyo on June 9, 2015. Murayama called on current premier Shinzo Abe to clearly uphold a 1995 statement in which while in power he apologized for the wartime suffering Japan inflicted on its Asian neighbors. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ex-PM Murayama urges Abe to uphold 1995 war statement

Former Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on June 9, 2015. He said the statements upheld by past governments "should not be watered down," referring to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's plan to issue a new statement on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Cherry trees along the Koganei embankment

Until the Murayama and Yamaguchi reservoirs were built in 1927 and 1934, respectively, the Tamagawa Waterway seen in this photograph was the main source of water for Edo and later Tokyo. Huge cherry trees stand along the banks. Only a few old cherry trees remain at present because most of them were cut down in 1954 to allow for the expansion of the Itsukaichi Highway north of the waterway. The spaces where people could put out blankets to sit and enjoy the cherry blossoms also disappeared, and people began to go to Koganei Park for cherry blossom viewing. Taken around 1897.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number54‐46‐2]

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Murayama greeted by

PYONGYANG, North Korea - Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama (C) and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka (R) are greeted by Kim Yong Sun (L), secretary of the Workers Party of Korea's central committee secretariat, at the Mansudae assembly hall in Pyongyang on Dec. 1. Murayama flew into Pyongyang earlier in the day at the head of a 16-member parliamentary delegation representing Japan's seven ruling and opposition parties.

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Mt. Fuji seen from a mountain village

Mt. Fuji viewed from around Murayama, Fujinomiya City (?). When climbing to Mt. Fuji from Fujinomiya, travelers stopped at Murayama Sengen Shrine and Dainichi-do in Murayama Village to worship. Since Mt. Hoei can be seen jutting up on the right, it is likely that this photograph was taken in Murayama, but the lack of an object of reference makes it difficult to determine the exact location.==Date:unknown, Place:Shizuoka, Photo:F. Beato, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number104‐4‐0]

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Hu meets with Japanese leaders

BEIJING, China - Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) is in talks with Chief Cabinet Seceretary Yasuo Fukuda (L), former prime ministers Tomiichi Murayama (2nd from L) and Ryutaro Hashimoto (2nd from R) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Aug. 9. (Kyodo)