Former Japanese leader Yohei Kono, who apologized for comfort‑women issue, dies at 89

Yohei Kono, a former Japanese politician, died at the age of 89. He is remembered for issuing an apology for Japan’s wartime sexual slavery system. The apology addressed the suffering of “comfort women” during World War II. Kono’s statement was made while serving as Japan’s foreign minister. His death was reported by The Killeen Daily Herald. The former minister’s apology remains a reference point in regional reconciliation efforts. Japanese officials continue to face pressure over historical accountability. Kono’s passing marks the loss of a figure linked to a pivotal diplomatic gesture.