TOKYO, June 28: Former Japanese prime minister Kiichi Miyazawa died on Thursday at the age of 87, the government said. “The cause of death was old age,” Jiji Press reported.

Mr Miyazawa served as premier from November 1991 to August 1993, during which time Japan passed a watershed law paving the way for the pacifist country to send peacekeeping troops overseas.

“He played a leading role in discussion on political reforms,” top government spokesman Yasuhisa Shiozaki told reporters.

“He also gave us thoughtful comments at many historically important occasions,” he said. “I am so sorrowful.”

Mr Miyazawa was known for his dovish stance on whether to rewrite Japan’s pacifist constitution.—AFP