Politician who apologized for Japan’s wartime abuses dies at 89
FILE - Retired politician Yohei Kono speaks during an interview at his office, in Tokyo, Tuesday, June 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye, file)
TOKYO (AP) — Yohei Kono, a Japanese politician who as top government spokesperson offered a historic apology to Asian women over sexual abuses by Japan’s wartime military, has died, officials said. He was 89.
Kono had placed great importance on promoting friendly ties with China, South Korea and other Asian countries that suffered Japanese atrocities before and during World War II. He died of old age Monday, according to the office of his son, former Foreign Minister Taro Kono.
As chief Cabinet secretary in 1993, Yohei Kono apologized to tens of thousands of so-called “comfort women,” acknowledging Japanese military involvement in forcing them into work at frontline brothels. He spoke following a government investigation.
His statement led to Japan’s broader apology over its wartime atrocities in a 1995 statement by then-Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama.