Key facts
- Yohei Kono, a former Japanese politician, has died at the age of 89.
- In 1993, Kono issued a historic apology acknowledging the Japanese military's involvement in forcing women into sexual slavery during wartime.
- His apology was seen as a step toward Japan confronting its wartime past and improving relations with Asian neighbors.
- Kono served in key political posts, including speaker of the lower house and president of the Liberal Democratic Party.
- He remained active in politics and diplomacy, working to stabilize relations with China.
Yohei Kono, a prominent Japanese politician known for his 1993 apology to women forced into sexual slavery by Japan's military during World War II, has died at the age of 89. As chief Cabinet secretary, Kono acknowledged the military's role in operating brothels for soldiers, a statement that was crucial in improving relations with Asian countries that had suffered Japanese atrocities.
His apology was followed by a more comprehensive statement from then-Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama in 1995. Both statements were internationally recognized as Japan confronting its past, though they later faced criticism from Japanese conservatives. Kono actively pushed back against attempts to revise historical facts, warning that such actions harmed Japan's reputation.
Born in 1937, Kono entered politics in 1967 and held significant positions, including speaker of the lower house and president of the Liberal Democratic Party. Even after retiring from parliament in 2009, he remained engaged in diplomacy, particularly in stabilizing relations with China through regular visits with political and business delegations.