Politics · Japan · 13 hrs ago
Takaichi says her government upholds past history statements
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she was “growing daily” when asked whether her views on Japan’s wartime history had changed.
In 1995, before becoming prime minister, she said she did not feel remorse for the war because she was not part of the generation responsible.
Opposition lawmaker Kiyomi Tsujimoto questioned her in parliament about those remarks and her past criticism of the Murayama Statement.
Takaichi said she followed the 2015 statement by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and did not want future generations to bear responsibility.
She said her government upholds the Murayama Statement and previous cabinets’ position on history.
The 1995 Murayama Statement expressed remorse and an apology for Japan’s colonial rule and aggression.
TV host Takako Zenba said Takaichi’s “growing daily” answer was unclear on a Sunday morning programme.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said her government continues the positions of previous Japanese cabinets on historical issues, including the Murayama Statement.
She made the remarks on October 16 during a House of Councillors Budget Committee session in response to questions from Constitutional Democratic Party lawmaker Kiyomi Tsujimoto.
Tsujimoto asked whether Takaichi had changed her views since saying in 1995 that she did not feel remorse for a war she had not taken part in.
Takaichi replied that she was “growing day by day” and said Japan should not pass responsibility on to future generations.
Takaichi had previously criticised the Murayama Statement, which expressed remorse and apology for colonial rule and aggression.
- Who
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Constitutional Democratic Party lawmaker Kiyomi Tsujimoto.
- What
- Takaichi said her government upholds the positions of previous cabinets on historical issues, including the Murayama Statement.
- When
- October 16, 2026.
- Where
- The House of Councillors Budget Committee in Japan.
- Why
- Tsujimoto questioned Takaichi about whether her views had changed since earlier remarks on Japan’s wartime responsibility and the Murayama Statement.
Sanae Takaichi
Kiyomi Tsujimoto
Past statements
Sanae Takaichi
Takaichi said her government upholds previous cabinets’ positions, including the Murayama Statement.
Kiyomi Tsujimoto
Tsujimoto cited Takaichi’s past criticism of the statement and pressed her to say clearly whether her view had changed.
Change in views
Sanae Takaichi
Takaichi said she was “growing day by day” and referred to the 2005 Abe Statement.
Kiyomi Tsujimoto
Tsujimoto asked what had changed and challenged Takaichi to state plainly that her earlier position was different.
Takaichi, then a new House of Representatives member, said she did not feel remorse for a war she had not taken part in.
Takaichi criticised the Murayama Statement in the monthly magazine Seiron.
Takaichi expressed reservations about the statement’s use of the word “aggression,” according to Yahoo! News.
Takaichi told the House of Councillors Budget Committee that the Murayama Statement was included in the positions her government upheld.
Sunday Morning presenter Takako Zenba said she did not understand what Takaichi meant by “growing day by day.
- Prime minister
- Sanae Takaichi
- Questioner
- Kiyomi Tsujimoto, Constitutional Democratic Party
- Committee session
- House of Councillors Budget Committee, October 16, 2026
- Past remarks
- Takaichi’s statement on wartime remorse was made in March 1995
- Statement upheld
- Murayama Statement, issued in 1995
3 sources
What people are saying
The position of previous cabinets on historical recognition will remain unwavering. The Murayama Statement is naturally included.
I am growing day by day.
How have you changed as you have grown?
I didn’t really understand what “growing day by day” means.