Murayama, Tomiichi

Japanese trade unionist and politician, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDPJ) 1993–96, prime minister 1994–96. At the age of 70, Murayama, who had held no previous political office, became Japan's first socialist prime minister for more than 40 years. His emergence as a major figure followed months of virtual chaos in Japanese politics, during which two prime ministers resigned. Despite losses for the SDPJ in upper-house elections in 1995, his administration survived until January 1996; he resigned from the SDPJ leadership in September 1996.

A student of economics, Murayama joined the SDPJ immediately on graduating. In September 1993 he succeeded Sadao Yamahana as leader of the SDPJ. In April 1994 Premier Morohiro Hosokawa resigned, charged with financial misconduct, and was succeeded by Tsutomu Hata, heading a seven-party coalition backed by the SDPJ. Murayama's withdrawal of his party's support, which occurred within hours of the new government taking office, forced Hata's eventual resignation. Murayama succeeded him in June.