Tomiichi Murayama

Murayama Tomiichi

Murayama Tomiichi (b. 3 Mar. 1924). Prime Minister of Japan 1994–6 Japan's first Socialist Prime Minister for forty-seven years, he was plucked from relative obscurity in late 1993 to lead the Japan Socialist Party (JSP) after its crushing defeat in the July 1993 House of Representatives poll. His party career prior to his election as leader was not marked by any conspicuous achievement, although he was a veteran of local and national politics, representing constituencies in the Oita prefecture for most of the postwar era. Possibly because he was so outstandingly unoutstanding, Murayama was chosen as the candidate to lead an unlikely and difficult coalition government in 1994. His administration included long-time political opponents, the JSP and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). In the event, Murayama proved to be a capable Prime Minister, not least in his defiance of widespread expectations that his coalition would collapse sooner. Aspects of Murayama's administration were dogged by criticism, such as the government's tardy response to the humanitarian emergency that resulted from the Kobe earthquake of 17 January 1995 and the financial crisis of the same year involving the collapse of housing loan corporations. Nevertheless there were some qualified successes in facing up to Japan's legacy from World War II. He also took a measure of credit for the resolution of other long-standing controversies such as the Minamata mercury poisoning case.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JAN PALMOWSKI. "Murayama Tomiichi." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JAN PALMOWSKI. "Murayama Tomiichi." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-MurayamaTomiichi.html

JAN PALMOWSKI. "Murayama Tomiichi." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-MurayamaTomiichi.html

Learn more about citation styles

Tomiichi Murayama

Tomiichi Murayama , 1924–, Japanese politician. A long-time labor union official and member of the Socialist party, he was originally elected to parliament in 1972. In 1994 he became head of his party and later that year, after the formation of an unlikely coalition of the Socialists and the conservative Liberal Democrats, he became prime minister. The first Socialist in the post in 46 years, he moved his party toward a number of centrist positions. Murayama resigned as prime minister early in 1996.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Tomiichi Murayama." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Tomiichi Murayama." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-MurayamaT.html

"Tomiichi Murayama." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-MurayamaT.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Murayama resignation stuns Japan: Trade minister likely to succeed.(A)
Newspaper article from: The Washington Times (Washington, DC); 1/6/1996
Japan's Murayama Signs Leases for U.S. Bases on Okinawa
Transcript from: NPR Morning Edition; 11/21/1995
Bullying a Major Problem in Japanese Schools
Transcript from: NPR Morning Edition; 12/13/1994

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

See more pictures of Murayama, Tomiichi