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Hatoyama to take over as Japan PM Hatoyama to take over as Japan PM
(20 minutes later)
Japan's parliament is meeting to formally name Yukio Hatoyama as the next prime minister.Japan's parliament is meeting to formally name Yukio Hatoyama as the next prime minister.
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.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.
Prime Minister Taro Aso and his entire cabinet resigned early on Wednesday to pave the way for Mr Hatoyama's centre-left government.Prime Minister Taro Aso and his entire cabinet resigned early on Wednesday to pave the way for Mr Hatoyama's centre-left government.
"I am excited by the prospect of changing history," Mr Hatoyama said."I am excited by the prospect of changing history," Mr Hatoyama said.
For his part, Mr Aso said: "I did my best for the sake of Japan, in a very short period... but unfortunately, I am stepping down halfway through."For his part, Mr Aso said: "I did my best for the sake of Japan, in a very short period... but unfortunately, I am stepping down halfway through."
Once his election is officially confirmed, Mr Hatoyama will formally appoint his new cabinet.
He has already named former DPJ leader Katsuya Okada as foreign minister, and local reports suggest Hirohisa Fujii has been given the finance portfolio.
Another former DPJ leader, Naoto Kan, is expected to head a new National Strategy Bureau set up to oversee the bureaucracy.
Limits reached
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.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.
What lies ahead for Japan?
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.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.
class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8257176.stm">What lies ahead for Japan? "It was extremely effective in developing Japan into a very rich, very important nation," he said, "but it had reached its limits."
"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.
"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?"
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. Mr Hatoyama's DPJ has promised to increase social security, but has so far given little idea of how it will be paid for.
There is also talk of a more assertive diplomacy towards the country's main ally, the United States.There is also talk of a more assertive diplomacy towards the country's main ally, the United States.
Mr Aso's staff bade him farewell as he formally left officeMr Aso's staff bade him farewell as he formally left office
But 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.
Japan's economy has been stumbling - the population is ageing and declining. Japan's economy has been stumbling - the population is aging 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 of the DPJ.
"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, our correspondent says. 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.