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New PM cements Japan power shift New PM cements Japan power shift
(30 minutes later)
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama promised economic revival and strong US ties, hours after taking office.Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama promised economic revival and strong US ties, hours after taking office.
In a news conference, he vowed to deliver a "people-oriented society", quick economic improvements and frank but trusting ties with Washington.In a news conference, he vowed to deliver a "people-oriented society", quick economic improvements and frank but trusting ties with Washington.
Mr Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan won a huge poll victory last month, ending 50 years of almost unbroken Liberal Democratic Party rule.Mr Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan won a huge poll victory last month, ending 50 years of almost unbroken Liberal Democratic Party rule.
His untested government now faces tough economic and social challenges.His untested government now faces tough economic and social challenges.
The new cabinet will be sworn in by Emperor Akihito later in the day.The new cabinet will be sworn in by Emperor Akihito later in the day.
I want to the people to feel that their pocketbook situation is improving, even a little, as soon as possible Yukio Hatoyama
Former DPJ leader Katsuya Okada becomes foreign minister and Hirohisa Fujii, a veteran bureaucrat, takes over as finance minister.Former DPJ leader Katsuya Okada becomes foreign minister and Hirohisa Fujii, a veteran bureaucrat, takes over as finance minister.
Another former DPJ leader, Naoto Kan, will head a new National Strategy Bureau set up to oversee the bureaucracy. He also becomes deputy prime minister.Another former DPJ leader, Naoto Kan, will head a new National Strategy Bureau set up to oversee the bureaucracy. He also becomes deputy prime minister.
The defeated LDP, meanwhile, will hold an election later this month to choose its new leader, after former Prime Minister Taro Aso stepped down.The defeated LDP, meanwhile, will hold an election later this month to choose its new leader, after former Prime Minister Taro Aso stepped down.
Domestic focusDomestic focus
The DPJ has entered into a coalition deal with two smaller parties, the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party, and controls both houses of parliament.The DPJ has entered into a coalition deal with two smaller parties, the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party, and controls both houses of parliament.
HATOYAMA GOVERNMENT The DPJ has never held government beforePromises to increase social spending, on health, education and child-careSays it will fund spending by cutting bureaucratic wastePromises climate cuts and better ties with AsiaSays it will seek a more "equal" alliance with the US Will Japan's global ties change? Challenge ahead for Hatoyama Profile: Yukio Hatoyama Japan's new cabinet: Key figures
Its priorities now include tackling a rapidly ageing society and an economy still struggling after a brutal recession.Its priorities now include tackling a rapidly ageing society and an economy still struggling after a brutal recession.
The party says it will wrest control of policy-making decisions from bureaucrats and deliver more people-centric policies. HATOYAMA GOVERNMENT The DPJ, which has never held government before, is taking over the world's second biggest economyNew PM Yukio Hatoyama is a political blue-blood but largely unknown outside JapanHe is nicknamed the 'alien', and his wife claims to have travelled to Venus in a UFODPJ promises to increase spending on health and childcare, but without increasing taxesOther pledges include climate cuts, better ties with Asia and a more "equal" alliance with the US class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8257176.stm">Will Japan's global ties change? class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8168838.stm">Profile: Yukio Hatoyama class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8258429.stm">New cabinet: Key figures
It has promised to increase social welfare spending, prioritising areas such as health and education. It has also promised climate cuts and a foreign policy that is less closely tied to the US. "I want to the people to feel that their pocketbook situation is improving, even a little, as soon as possible," Mr Hatoyama said.
He has promised to increase social welfare spending, cut government waste and rein in the powerful bureaucracy.
''Now is the time to practise politics that are not controlled by bureaucrats,'' he said.
On foreign policy, he said ties with the US were a priority.
But he said he wanted a relationship in which Japan "can act more proactively and tell them our opinions frankly", adding that his party's position on reviewing deals relating to the US troop presence had not changed.
The DPJ was elected as a wave of discontent with LDP rule swept across Japan.The DPJ was elected as a wave of discontent with LDP rule swept across Japan.
Professor Phil Deans, from Temple University in Tokyo, said people had become tired of the old system.
"It was extremely effective in developing Japan into a very rich, very important nation," he said, "but it had reached its limits."
Opinion polls have shown many people did not vote for the DPJ because of their policies - but because they wanted change.Opinion polls have shown many people did not vote for the DPJ because of their policies - but because they wanted change.
Analysts say the electorate will be watching the DPJ closely to see if it can deliver. Analysts say the electorate will be watching the DPJ closely in the next few weeks and months to see if it can deliver.
The BBC's Roland Buerk, in Tokyo, says that in defeating the LDP, Yukio Hatoyama has already achieved what many people thought for years was impossible.The BBC's Roland Buerk, in Tokyo, says that in defeating the LDP, Yukio Hatoyama has already achieved what many people thought for years was impossible.
But now the difficult part - governing Japan - begins, our correspondent says.But now the difficult part - governing Japan - begins, our correspondent says.
Are you in Japan? Do you think the new government can deliver? You can send us your comments using the form below:Are you in Japan? Do you think the new government can deliver? You can send us your comments using the form below:
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