Former LDP President Yohei Kono Dies at 89
Yohei Kono, who served as Liberal Democratic Party president and Lower House speaker, died Monday at age 89. He is known for issuing a 1993 statement on Japan's military brothel system during World War II.
japantimes.co.jpFormer Liberal Democratic Party President Yohei Kono died Monday at age 89 from pancreatic cancer, japantimes.co.jp reported. Kono served as chief cabinet secretary under Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa. On Aug. 4, 1993, he issued a statement expressing Japan's "sincere apologies and remorse" over women forced into sexual servitude under the military brothel system.
Kono also held the post of Lower House speaker.
He was viewed within the party as a dove and opposed changes to the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution. He was one of two LDP presidents who did not become prime minister. The 1993 statement drew domestic and international attention at the time.
