Yohei Kono, a veteran Japanese politician who issued an apology for Japan’s wartime sexual abuses of women known as “comfort women,” has died at age 89, according to reports from multiple outlets. Kono’s statement is widely cited for acknowledging that Japanese military forces and related authorities coerced women into sexual slavery during World War II. The apology has been a long-running focus of political debate and international diplomacy, particularly in Japan and in countries that were affected by Japan’s wartime actions. After the announcement, his comments became part of the historical record used in discussions about responsibility and reparations. At the time of his death, media reports describe Kono as a senior figure in Japanese politics whose career included major roles in government. Several outlets note that his apology remains among his most prominent legacy points, reflecting his role in shaping Japan’s public position on the “comfort women” issue. Kono’s passing is reported as marking the end of a political career closely associated with this longstanding controversy.