A prominent Japanese historian who argued for Korea's significant influence in the formation of Japanese history and championed Koreans’ rights in Japan has passed away.

Kyodo News said Monday that Masaaki Ueda, a Kyoto University professor emeritus, died at his home in Kyoto on Sunday. He was 88.

Ueda became a historian after he was mobilized as a student soldier by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Pacific War.

During the war, he lost a friend in an air raid on a shipyard in Tokyo, an experience that was known to have led him to question the historical viewpoints of Japan and Japanese institutions deeply ingrained in them, including the emperor system.

He was known for cherishing relations with Korea and China in researching ancient Japanese history while also leaving a significant mark in the research of Korea's ancient history.

Ueda claimed Korea’s Dangun mythology strongly influenced the formation of Japan’s nation-building mythologies.

He also took issue with the Japanese term referring to those who came from the Korean Peninsula, kikajin, saying it is a Japan-centered word. He introduced and helped popularize an alternative term, toraijin.

He also called for the enhancement of the rights of Koreans living in Japan.