Japan Wakes Up to New Political Era

Morning Edition


Prime Minister Taro Aso admitted defeat this morning. And what a defeat it was. The Democratic Party of Japan won 308 of the 480 seats in the lower house, a 175 percent increase. The Liberal Democratic Party got a mere 119 seats, approximately one-third of its previous total. Everyone says the Democratic Party's landslide victory had more to do with people's frustration with the current government, as well as the state of the economy, than with any specific campaign promises. The man who is likely to be the next prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, met with party leaders today to start selecting Cabinet ministers. The party's leaders know their newfound fortunes could quickly disappear if people don't see a quick improvement in their daily lives and in the economy as a whole. Despite the fact that the Democratic Party has advocated for greater independence from the United States, most don't expect that there will be any kind of a serious break between the two countries. The new government might demand a reduction in the number of U.S. troops stationed in Japan, but overall, analysts are optimistic the new leadership could strengthen Japan's participation in the world stage.


Read original story in The Associated Press | Monday, 31 Aug 2009