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Hatoyama to take over as Japan PM Hatoyama to take over as Japan PM
(40 minutes later)
Japan's parliament is due to meet to formally name Yukio Hatoyama as the next prime minister. Japan's parliament is due to meet shortly to formally name Yukio Hatoyama as the next prime minister.
His Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won a landslide election victory in the country two weeks ago - a rare transition for Japan. His Democratic Party of Japan won a huge poll victory last month, ending more than 50 years of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party.
It ended more than half a century of almost unbroken power by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Prime Minister Taro Aso and his entire cabinet resigned early on Wednesday to pave the way for Mr Hatoyama's centre-left government.
Mr Hatoyama must tackle a rapidly aging society and an economy still struggling after a brutal recession. "I am excited by the prospect of changing history," Mr Hatoyama said.
He won the election by pledging to break the power of the old order's bureaucrats, big business and the LDP - which dominated since the end of the World War II. Mr Hatoyama must tackle a rapidly aging society and an economy still struggling after a brutal recession, the BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says.
He won the election by pledging to break the power of the old order's bureaucrats, big business and the LDP - which dominated since the end of the World War II, our correspondent says.
Limits reached
Professor Phil Deans, from Temple University in Tokyo, said people had become tired of the old system.Professor Phil Deans, from Temple University in Tokyo, said people had become tired of the old system.
What will new leaders bring to Japan? What lies ahead for Japan?
"It was extremely effective in developing Japan into a very rich, very important nation," he said."It was extremely effective in developing Japan into a very rich, very important nation," he said.
"But it had reached its limits, it had reached the end of the developmental logic that underpinned post war Japan."But it had reached its limits, it had reached the end of the developmental logic that underpinned post war Japan.
"The trouble is now its time for reform, everyone agrees reform is good, but where does Japan go next? What is the next model?""The trouble is now its time for reform, everyone agrees reform is good, but where does Japan go next? What is the next model?"
The DPJ has promised to increase social security, but has given little idea of how it will be paid for. There is talk of a more assertive diplomacy towards the country's main ally, the United States. Mr Hatoyama's DPJ has promised to increase social security, but has given little idea of how it will be paid for, our correspondent says.
There is also talk of a more assertive diplomacy towards the country's main ally, the United States.
But opinion polls have shown many people did not vote for the DPJ because of their policies - but because they wanted change.But opinion polls have shown many people did not vote for the DPJ because of their policies - but because they wanted change.
Japan's economy has been stumbling - the population is ageing and declining.Japan's economy has been stumbling - the population is ageing and declining.
Keisuke Kurihara is soon to graduate from the elite University of Tokyo. He already has a job lined up as a diplomat but even he feels the need for a new direction.Keisuke Kurihara is soon to graduate from the elite University of Tokyo. He already has a job lined up as a diplomat but even he feels the need for a new direction.
"I'd like them to show us their vision of Japan as soon as possible," he said."I'd like them to show us their vision of Japan as soon as possible," he said.
"We are faced with great problems, such as the world's fastest aging society and piling national debts. These problems need to be addressed for decades to come.""We are faced with great problems, such as the world's fastest aging society and piling national debts. These problems need to be addressed for decades to come."
In defeating the LDP, Yukio Hatoyama has already achieved what many people thought for years was impossible. But now the difficult part begins, governing Japan. In defeating the LDP, Yukio Hatoyama has already achieved what many people thought for years was impossible. But now the difficult part begins, governing Japan, our correspondent says.