According to Japanese media reports on June 10, Yoshihiko Kawai, former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan and former President of the Liberal Democratic Party, passed away on June 8 at the age of 89.
In 1993, Yoji Kawano, as the Chief Cabinet Secretary, issued the famous “Kawano Statement”. In this statement, he acknowledged that the Japanese army directly involved in establishing “comfort stations” on the Korean Peninsula, China, and other places, and forced local women to serve as “comfort women”. He also expressed his apology and willingness to reflect on this matter.
Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK) stated that Kako was well-known within the Liberal Democratic Party for his "dove theory" and prioritized and dedicated himself to diplomatic activities with neighboring countries such as China, South Korea, etc.
After retiring from politics, Kono has also expressed opinions on the right-leaning trend of the Japanese government and the issue of constitutional reform. In 2012, he stated in an interview with the Asahi Shimbun that it is necessary to put a stop to this right-leaning trend. He emphasized that if Japan continues to become more right-leaning, it could be difficult to reverse the situation.
In 2023, Yōhei Kono criticized the shift in Japan's security policy during an interview with the Tokyo Broadcasting Company. He stated, "Japan should, based on reflection on its history, or rather, based on the position it is placed in, clearly understand what should be done and what should not be done, as well as to what extent. Japan should deeply consider what needs to be done in order not to be involved in wars."
Kono also emphasized that Japan made up its mind to never wage war again after World War II. For decades, Japan has been saying "never to make the same mistakes again," and he criticized the policy changes in Japan during the Abe cabinet.
In June 2025, Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, said during a meeting with Yoko Yokote, then President of the Japan International Trade Promotion Association. Mr. Yokote has long been committed to Sino-Japanese friendship. Even in the face of difficulties and challenges, he remains steadfast in his belief in promoting friendly exchanges between the two countries. China highly appreciates this commitment.
