Yohei Kono, a significant political figure in Japan known for his role in bridging relations with China and for issuing a historic apology regarding wartime sexual slavery, has passed away at the age of 89. Kono, who served as Chief Cabinet Secretary, was instrumental in the 1993 "Kono Statement" acknowledging the military's role in forcing women into sexual slavery during World War II. He was a proponent of stable Japan-China relations and chaired the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade, aiming to boost economic ties. AI
RANK_REASON This is an obituary for a political figure, not a core AI news item.
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