Japan's PM Kishida mourns Mikhail Gorbachev's demise, hails his role in reducing nuclear weapons

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed his deepest condolences on Wednesday after the passing of Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union.

"I would like to offer my deepest condolences to former President (Mikhail) Gorbachev. As the leader of the Soviet Union, Mr. Gorbachev has played an important role in overcoming to division of Europe and East-West confrontation after World War II. He was the first person in history to agree to reduce nuclear weapons between the United States and the Soviet Union, ending the Cold War," he said in a press conference.

"He has made great achievements as a world leader in favor of the abolition of nuclear weapons. I believe that Mr. Gorbachev, who possessed great strategic vision and decisive execution, played a very important role. Once again, I would like to express my deepest condolences in memory of his achievements," he added.

For many the man who restored democracy to then-communist-ruled European nations, was mourned Wednesday as the loss of as a rare leader who changed the world and for a time gave hope for peace among the superpowers.

But the man who died at age 91 on Tuesday was also reviled by many countrymen who blamed him for the 1991 implosion of the Soviet Union and its diminution as a superpower.

The Russian nation that emerged from its Soviet past shrank in size as 15 new nations were created.

Gorbachev won the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the Cold War but although widely feted abroad, he was a pariah at home.

It was unclear how news of his death will be received in Russia amid its nationalist war in Ukraine.

World leaders paid tribute to a man some described as a great and brave leader.

Kishida said Gorbachev had also made great achievements as a world leader in favour of the abolition of nuclear weapons.