Yukio Hatoyama
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan
between 16 September 2009 and 2 June 2010, and was the first ever Prime Minister from the modern Democratic Party of Japan
.
First elected to the House of Representatives
in 1986, Hatoyama became President of the DPJ, the main opposition party, in May 2009. He then led the party to victory in the August 2009 general election
, defeating the long-governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). He represents the 9th district
of Hokkaidō
in the House of Representatives.
Hatoyama comes from a prominent Japanese political family which has been likened to the Kennedy family
of the United States.
Hatoyama, who was born in Bunkyō, Tokyo
, is a fourth generation politician. His paternal great-grandfather, Kazuo Hatoyama
, was speaker of the House of Representatives of the Diet of Japan
from 1896 to 1897 during the Meiji era. Kazuo later served as the president of Waseda University
. His paternal great-grandmother, Haruko Hatoyama
, was a co-founder of what is known today as Kyoritsu Women's University
. His paternal grandfather, Ichirō Hatoyama
, was a major politician; he served as Prime Minister and was a founder and the first President of the Liberal Democratic Party in 1956. As Prime Minister, he restored diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union
, which cleared the way for Japan's membership in the United Nations.
Hatoyama is the son of Iichirō Hatoyama
, who was Foreign Minister
for a time. His mother, Yasuko Hatoyama
, is a daughter of Shojiro Ishibashi
, the founder of Bridgestone Corporation and heir to his significant inheritance
. Yasuko Hatoyama is known as the "Godmother" within the Japanese political world for her financial contributions to both of her sons' political ambitions. In particular, Yasuko donated billions of yen when Kunio and Yukio co-created their previous Democratic Party of Japan
(DPJ) in 1996 to help establish her sons' fledgling political party
.
His younger brother, Kunio Hatoyama
, served as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications
under Prime Minister Taro Aso
until 12 June 2009. His younger sister-in-law who is Kunio's wife, an Australian Japanese, was a TV personality in Japan.
Hatoyama graduated with a B.Eng
from the University of Tokyo
in 1969 and received a PhD in Industrial Engineering
from Stanford University
in 1976. He met his wife, Miyuki Hatoyama
, while studying at Stanford (Miyuki worked at a Japanese restaurant). The couple married in 1975 after Miyuki divorced her ex-husband. The couple's son, , graduated from the urban engineering
department of the University of Tokyo
, is a visiting engineering researcher at Moscow State University
.
Hatoyama worked as assistant professor (1976–1981) at Tokyo Institute of Technology
and later transferred to Senshu University
as associate professor (1981–1984).
's 9th district and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1986 representing the ruling LDP. In 1993 he left the LDP to form the New Party Sakigake
with Naoto Kan
, Masayoshi Takemura
and . He and Kan then left to join the newly formed Democratic Party of Japan (1996).
Hatoyama and his younger brother, Kunio Hatoyama, co-created the party, using billions of yen donated by their mother, Yasuko. Kunio Hatoyama eventually left the DPJ, saying the party had drifted too far to the left from its original centrist roots, and rejoined the Liberal Democratic Party
(LDP). Yukio remained with the party through its merger with several other opposition parties in 1998.
The elder Hatoyama became the Democratic Party of Japan
's Party Chairman and leader of the opposition from 1999 to 2002, after which he resigned to take responsibility for the confusion that arose from rumors of mergers with Ichirō Ozawa
's then Liberal Party
. He was Secretary-General of the DPJ
before he succeeded Ozawa as party leader following Ozawa's resignation on 11 May 2009. Hatoyama was chosen by fellow party representatives on 16 May 2009, winning 124 of the 219 votes and defeating rival Katsuya Okada
.
Because of his quirky hairstyle, prominent eyes, and eccentric manner, he is known by his supporters and his opposition alike as "ET" or "The Alien", a nickname his wife states he earned because of how different he is from old-style Japanese politicians. Another nickname commonly used by the Japanese public in press was Popo, after a children's song about a pigeon that starts with the lyric "popopo, hato popo"; the first character in Hatoyama's last name is the Japanese word for 'pigeon'.
Hatoyama's popularity soon began to falter after the DPJ struggled to meet the high expectations they set in the midst of a sliding economy. In May 2010 he faced a possible no confidence vote, and on 2 June 2010, Hatoyama announced that he would be resigning as Prime Minister.
Although Yukio Hatayoma was prime minister for less than a year, he had a wide range of achievements to his name by the time that he left office. Amongst his achievements included:
caused a drop in Hatoyama's popularity. It was revealed that Hatoyama received $4 million in donation
s that were improperly reported. Most of the money was given by his mother, a wealthy heiress, and some of the reported givers had the names of deceased people. The scandal raised questions about his credibility while also highlighting his privileged background. However according to NHK
in 2010 prosecutors chose not to pursue him citing insufficient evidence of criminal activity, although a secretary was given a suspended prison sentence, and a review panel commented: "it is difficult to believe Hatoyama's assertion he was unaware of the falsifications."
The DPJ's election platform called for re-examining its ties with the United States. As the 1960 Japan–U.S. security treaty celebrated its 50 year anniversary, Hatoyama called for a "close and equal" Japan–U.S. relationship, meaning giving Japan a more independent role.
Hatoyama ended an eight-year refueling mission in Afghanistan, a highly symbolic move because the mission had long been criticized for violating the nation's pacifist Constitution. Yet, in order to not anger Washington, Hatoyama offered $5 billion in civilian aid for Afghanistan reconstruction.
Hatoyama was also faced with the issue of the relocation of the American Futenma Marine Corps Air Base
. The United States government hoped that Hatoyama would honor a 2006 agreement to relocate the base to a less populated part of Okinawa and move 8,000 marines to Guam
. Some voices in the DPJ demanded that America move its military bases off Okinawa islands altogether. Hatoyama was torn between public opinion on Okinawa and the desire to retain strong ties with Washington.
In moving towards a more Asia-centered foreign policy, Hatoyama worked towards making relations better with nearby East Asian countries. Hatoyama worked to deepen economic integration
with the East Asian region, pushing for a free trade zone
in Asia by 2020 and proposing Haneda airport as a 24-hour hub for international flights. In January 2010, he welcomed South Korea's president
, calling for 'future-oriented' ties, as opposed to recalling the past, in which Japan colonized Korea.
Relations between China
also warmed under Hatoyama. The first few months saw an exchange of visits, including one by favored successor to China's leadership Xi Jinping
, for whom Hatoyama hastily arranged an appointment with Emperor Akihito. On 7 January, the Daily Yomiuri reported high-level discussion over a further exchange of visits between the two countries to promote reconciliation over history issues. "Beijing aims to ease anti-Japan sentiment among the Chinese public by having Hatoyama visit Nanjing and express a sense of regret about the Sino-Japanese War", the paper reported.
on the island of Okinawa as the main reason for the move. On 28 May 2010, soon after and because of increased tensions after the sinking
of a South Korea
n navy
ship allegedly by North Korea
, Hatoyama had made a deal with U.S. President Barack Obama
to retain the base for security reasons, but the deal was unpopular in Japan. He also mentioned money scandals involving a top party leader, Ichirō Ozawa
, who resigned as well, in his decision to step down. Hatoyama had been pressured to leave by members of his party after doing poorly in polls in anticipation of an upper house
election in July 2010.
2010. The reason for the award was "his effort to confront climate change and leading his government to make it a main issue".
" elected Yukio Hatoyama as No. 6 among the 100 most influential people in the world. It claimed that Hatoyama has "helped change his country from a de facto one-party state into a functional democracy," by the DPJ victory in the 2009 general election.
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Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
between 16 September 2009 and 2 June 2010, and was the first ever Prime Minister from the modern Democratic Party of Japan
Democratic Party of Japan
The is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum...
.
First elected to the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of Japan
The is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...
in 1986, Hatoyama became President of the DPJ, the main opposition party, in May 2009. He then led the party to victory in the August 2009 general election
Japanese general election, 2009
A general election in Japan was held on August 30, 2009, for all 480 seats of the House of Representatives of Japan, the lower house of the Diet of Japan....
, defeating the long-governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). He represents the 9th district
Hokkaido's 9th district
Hokkaidō 9th district is a constituency of the House of Representatives in the Diet of Japan . It consists of Hokkaido's Hidaka and Iburi Subprefectures...
of Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
in the House of Representatives.
Early life and family
Kennedy family
In the United States, the phrase Kennedy family commonly refers to the family descending from the marriage of the Irish-Americans Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald that was prominent in American politics and government. Their political involvement has revolved around the...
of the United States.
Hatoyama, who was born in Bunkyō, Tokyo
Bunkyo, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. Situated in the middle of the ward area, Bunkyō is a residential and educational center. Beginning in the Meiji period, literati like Natsume Sōseki, as well as scholars and politicians have lived there...
, is a fourth generation politician. His paternal great-grandfather, Kazuo Hatoyama
Kazuo Hatoyama
was the patriarchal head of the prominent Japanese Hatoyama political family which has been called "Japan's Kennedy family."Kazuo was a graduate of Yale University.-Family:...
, was speaker of the House of Representatives of the Diet of Japan
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
from 1896 to 1897 during the Meiji era. Kazuo later served as the president of Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
. His paternal great-grandmother, Haruko Hatoyama
Haruko Hatoyama
was a Japanese educator of the Meiji, Taishō and Shōwa periods, and the matriarchal head of the prominent Japanese Hatoyama political family which has been called "Japan's Kennedy family." She was a co-founder of what is today Kyoritsu Women's University...
, was a co-founder of what is known today as Kyoritsu Women's University
Kyoritsu Women's University
is a private women's college in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, established in 1949.-History:The predecessor of the school, a vocational school, was founded in 1886...
. His paternal grandfather, Ichirō Hatoyama
Ichiro Hatoyama
was a Japanese politician and the 52nd, 53rd and 54th Prime Minister of Japan, serving terms from December 10, 1954 through March 19, 1955, from then to November 22, 1955, and from then through December 23, 1956.-Personal life:...
, was a major politician; he served as Prime Minister and was a founder and the first President of the Liberal Democratic Party in 1956. As Prime Minister, he restored diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, which cleared the way for Japan's membership in the United Nations.
Hatoyama is the son of Iichirō Hatoyama
Iichirō Hatoyama
was a Japanese politician and diplomat. In 1976-1977, he was Foreign Minister under Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda.- Early years :Hatoyama was born in Tokyo to a high profile family. He studied at the University of Tsukuba....
, who was Foreign Minister
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Japan)
The of Japan is the Cabinet member responsible for Japanese foreign policy and the chief executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Since the end of the American occupation of Japan, the position has been one of the most powerful in the Cabinet, as Japan's economic interests have long relied on...
for a time. His mother, Yasuko Hatoyama
Yasuko Hatoyama
is the widow of former Japanese Foreign Minister Iichirō Hatoyama and heir to the Bridgestone Corporation fortune. She is the mother of former Prime Minister of Japan Yukio Hatoyama and Diet member Kunio Hatoyama.- Background and family :...
, is a daughter of Shojiro Ishibashi
Shojiro Ishibashi
was a Japanese businessman who founded the Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest maker of tires, in 1930 in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. Bridgestone was named after its founder: In the Japanese language ishi means a "stone" and bashi mean "bridge"...
, the founder of Bridgestone Corporation and heir to his significant inheritance
Inheritance
Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, rights and obligations upon the death of an individual. It has long played an important role in human societies...
. Yasuko Hatoyama is known as the "Godmother" within the Japanese political world for her financial contributions to both of her sons' political ambitions. In particular, Yasuko donated billions of yen when Kunio and Yukio co-created their previous Democratic Party of Japan
Democratic Party of Japan (1996-1998)
The is a now defunct Japanese political party. It was one of the forerunners to the modern-day Democratic Party of Japan. The two leading lights of the party, Yukio Hatoyama and Naoto Kan, subsequently became Prime Minister one after the other at the end of the first decade of the 21st century....
(DPJ) in 1996 to help establish her sons' fledgling political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
.
His younger brother, Kunio Hatoyama
Kunio Hatoyama
is a Japanese politician who served as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications under Prime Minister Taro Aso until June 12, 2009.- Biography :Kunio Hatoyama was born in Tokyo in 1948...
, served as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
The ' or Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is a cabinet-level ministry in the Government of Japan. The English name Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications was used prior to 2004...
under Prime Minister Taro Aso
Taro Aso
was the 92nd Prime Minister of Japan serving from September 2008 to September 2009, and was defeated in the August 2009 election.He has served in the House of Representatives since 1979. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007, and was Secretary-General of the LDP briefly in 2007 and...
until 12 June 2009. His younger sister-in-law who is Kunio's wife, an Australian Japanese, was a TV personality in Japan.
Hatoyama graduated with a B.Eng
Bachelor of Engineering
The Bachelor of Engineering is an undergraduate academic degree awarded to a student after three to five years of studying engineering at universities in Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland , Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Korea,...
from the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
in 1969 and received a PhD in Industrial Engineering
Industrial engineering
Industrial engineering is a branch of engineering dealing with the optimization of complex processes or systems. It is concerned with the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of integrated systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy, materials, analysis...
from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1976. He met his wife, Miyuki Hatoyama
Miyuki Hatoyama
is the wife of former Prime Minister of Japan Yukio Hatoyama. Hatoyama, originally an actress by profession, describes herself as "constantly curious" and a "life composer", who pursues a variety of interests, including a stylist, interior designer and cookbook author.In an interview, then Prime...
, while studying at Stanford (Miyuki worked at a Japanese restaurant). The couple married in 1975 after Miyuki divorced her ex-husband. The couple's son, , graduated from the urban engineering
Urban engineering
Municipal or urban engineering applies the tools of science, art and engineering in an urban environment.-Summary:Municipal engineering is concerned with municipal infrastructure...
department of the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
, is a visiting engineering researcher at Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
.
Hatoyama worked as assistant professor (1976–1981) at Tokyo Institute of Technology
Tokyo Institute of Technology
The Tokyo Institute of Technology is a public research university located in Greater Tokyo Area, Japan. Tokyo Tech is the largest institution for higher education in Japan dedicated to science and technology. Tokyo Tech enrolled 4,850 undergaraduates and 5006 graduate students for 2009-2010...
and later transferred to Senshu University
Senshu University
is a private university in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Former "Senshu College" was founded in 1880, the first school in Japan comprising Economics and Law Departments to systematically offer a specialized educational curriculum in the Japanese language....
as associate professor (1981–1984).
Political career
Hatoyama ran for a seat in HokkaidōHokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
's 9th district and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1986 representing the ruling LDP. In 1993 he left the LDP to form the New Party Sakigake
New Party Sakigake
The New Party Sakigake was a Japanese political party that broke away from the Liberal Democratic Party on June 22, 1993. The party was created by Masayoshi Takemura. The party, was a centrist party, and it had many reformist and even moderate ecological elements. The theoretical reader was...
with Naoto Kan
Naoto Kan
is a Japanese politician, and former Prime Minister of Japan. In June 2010, then-Finance Minister Kan was elected as the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan and designated Prime Minister by the Diet to succeed Yukio Hatoyama. On 26 August 2011, Kan announced his resignation...
, Masayoshi Takemura
Masayoshi Takemura
is a Japanese politician. Elected as a representative of the Liberal Democratic Party, in 1993 he broke away to form New Party Sakigake, before joining the newly formed Democratic Party of Japan in 1997...
and . He and Kan then left to join the newly formed Democratic Party of Japan (1996).
Hatoyama and his younger brother, Kunio Hatoyama, co-created the party, using billions of yen donated by their mother, Yasuko. Kunio Hatoyama eventually left the DPJ, saying the party had drifted too far to the left from its original centrist roots, and rejoined the Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
(LDP). Yukio remained with the party through its merger with several other opposition parties in 1998.
The elder Hatoyama became the Democratic Party of Japan
Democratic Party of Japan
The is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum...
's Party Chairman and leader of the opposition from 1999 to 2002, after which he resigned to take responsibility for the confusion that arose from rumors of mergers with Ichirō Ozawa
Ichiro Ozawa
is a Japanese politician. Formerly a chief secretary of the Liberal Democratic Party , he later defected from the LDP. He was the president of Japan's main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan , from 2006 until May 2009, when he resigned over a fund scandal, and secretary general of the...
's then Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Japan, 1998)
The was a Japanese liberal party formed in 1998 by Ichirō Ozawa and Hirohisa Fujii. It is now defunct, having joined the Democratic Party of Japan in 2003....
. He was Secretary-General of the DPJ
Democratic Party of Japan
The is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum...
before he succeeded Ozawa as party leader following Ozawa's resignation on 11 May 2009. Hatoyama was chosen by fellow party representatives on 16 May 2009, winning 124 of the 219 votes and defeating rival Katsuya Okada
Katsuya Okada
is a Japanese politician. A member of the House of Representatives of Japan, he is Secretary-General of the Democratic Party of Japan and was previously its President. From September 2009 to September 2010, he was Foreign Minister of Japan....
.
Because of his quirky hairstyle, prominent eyes, and eccentric manner, he is known by his supporters and his opposition alike as "ET" or "The Alien", a nickname his wife states he earned because of how different he is from old-style Japanese politicians. Another nickname commonly used by the Japanese public in press was Popo, after a children's song about a pigeon that starts with the lyric "popopo, hato popo"; the first character in Hatoyama's last name is the Japanese word for 'pigeon'.
Prime minister
Hatoyama entered his prime minister career with high approval rate. The DPJ promised to end lavish spending on public works projects associated with LDP and to divert that money to tax cuts and subsidies for households. Expectations were high that he would break strongly with the policies of the LDP.Hatoyama's popularity soon began to falter after the DPJ struggled to meet the high expectations they set in the midst of a sliding economy. In May 2010 he faced a possible no confidence vote, and on 2 June 2010, Hatoyama announced that he would be resigning as Prime Minister.
Although Yukio Hatayoma was prime minister for less than a year, he had a wide range of achievements to his name by the time that he left office. Amongst his achievements included:
- The introduction of a state subsidy for families with young children.
- The abolition of public high school tuition fees.
- The introduction of an individual household income support project for rice farmers.
- The restoration of the Additional Living Support Allowance for Single-Mother Households.
- A big increase in social spending, with the social security budget, including spending on childrearing, nursing care, and medical care, increased by 9.8% as child allowances were introduced and the remuneration schedule for medical services was increased for the first time in ten years.
- An 8.2% increase in the education budget.
- An expansion in the student scholarship system to cover more students.
- The extension of employment insurance to all workers.
- A reduction in medical expenses for unemployed persons.
- The elimination of age-discriminatory practices in remuneration schedules and medical services.
- The expansion of assistance for the “development of public rental housing with annexed facilities for supporting the elderly and childrearing households” to include “public rental housing with annexed medical facilities”.
- The introduction of free welfare services and equipment for low-income persons with disabilities.
Scandal
In December 2009, a finance scandalScandal
A scandal is a widely publicized allegation or set of allegations that damages the reputation of an institution, individual or creed...
caused a drop in Hatoyama's popularity. It was revealed that Hatoyama received $4 million in donation
Donation
A donation is a gift given by physical or legal persons, typically for charitable purposes and/or to benefit a cause. A donation may take various forms, including cash, services, new or used goods including clothing, toys, food, and vehicles...
s that were improperly reported. Most of the money was given by his mother, a wealthy heiress, and some of the reported givers had the names of deceased people. The scandal raised questions about his credibility while also highlighting his privileged background. However according to NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
in 2010 prosecutors chose not to pursue him citing insufficient evidence of criminal activity, although a secretary was given a suspended prison sentence, and a review panel commented: "it is difficult to believe Hatoyama's assertion he was unaware of the falsifications."
Spending review
In December, the DPJ created a government task force to review government spending and pledged to make cuts equal to $32.8 billion. However, the task force only made cuts equal to one-fourth of that amount. Hatoyama even had to renege on a campaign promise to cut road-related taxes – including a highly symbolic gasoline tax and highway tolls. Hatoyama even faced criticism from fringes within his own party, some calling for a return to public works spending.Foreign policy
Hatoyama, representing the policies DPJ campaigned on, wanted to shift Japan's focus from a more America-centric foreign policy to a more Asia-focused policy. Also, he wanted to make foreign policy decisions with America more transparent, from a popular perception that Japanese foreign policy was determined by insiders behind closed doors.The DPJ's election platform called for re-examining its ties with the United States. As the 1960 Japan–U.S. security treaty celebrated its 50 year anniversary, Hatoyama called for a "close and equal" Japan–U.S. relationship, meaning giving Japan a more independent role.
Hatoyama ended an eight-year refueling mission in Afghanistan, a highly symbolic move because the mission had long been criticized for violating the nation's pacifist Constitution. Yet, in order to not anger Washington, Hatoyama offered $5 billion in civilian aid for Afghanistan reconstruction.
Hatoyama was also faced with the issue of the relocation of the American Futenma Marine Corps Air Base
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma or MCAS Futenma is a United States Marine Corps base located in Ginowan, northeast of Naha, on the island of Okinawa. It is home to approximately 4,000 Marines of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and has been a U.S. military airbase since the island was occupied...
. The United States government hoped that Hatoyama would honor a 2006 agreement to relocate the base to a less populated part of Okinawa and move 8,000 marines to Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. Some voices in the DPJ demanded that America move its military bases off Okinawa islands altogether. Hatoyama was torn between public opinion on Okinawa and the desire to retain strong ties with Washington.
In moving towards a more Asia-centered foreign policy, Hatoyama worked towards making relations better with nearby East Asian countries. Hatoyama worked to deepen economic integration
Economic integration
Economic integration refers to trade unification between different states by the partial or full abolishing of customs tariffs on trade taking place within the borders of each state...
with the East Asian region, pushing for a free trade zone
Free trade zone
A free trade zone or export processing zone , also called foreign-trade zone, formerly free port is an area within which goods may be landed, handled, manufactured or reconfigured, and reexported without the intervention of the customs authorities...
in Asia by 2020 and proposing Haneda airport as a 24-hour hub for international flights. In January 2010, he welcomed South Korea's president
President of South Korea
The President of the Republic of Korea is, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, chief executive of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the head of state of the Republic of Korea...
, calling for 'future-oriented' ties, as opposed to recalling the past, in which Japan colonized Korea.
Relations between China
Sino-Japanese relations
China and Japan are geographically separated only by a relatively narrow stretch of ocean. China has strongly influenced Japan with its writing system, architecture, culture, religion, philosophy, and law...
also warmed under Hatoyama. The first few months saw an exchange of visits, including one by favored successor to China's leadership Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping is a high ranking politician of the People's Republic of China. He currently serves as the top-ranking member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China, the country's Vice President, Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, President of the Central Party School and the...
, for whom Hatoyama hastily arranged an appointment with Emperor Akihito. On 7 January, the Daily Yomiuri reported high-level discussion over a further exchange of visits between the two countries to promote reconciliation over history issues. "Beijing aims to ease anti-Japan sentiment among the Chinese public by having Hatoyama visit Nanjing and express a sense of regret about the Sino-Japanese War", the paper reported.
Resignation
On 2 June 2010, Hatoyama announced his resignation before a meeting of the Japanese Democratic Party. He cited breaking a campaign promise to close an American military baseMarine Corps Air Station Futenma
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma or MCAS Futenma is a United States Marine Corps base located in Ginowan, northeast of Naha, on the island of Okinawa. It is home to approximately 4,000 Marines of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and has been a U.S. military airbase since the island was occupied...
on the island of Okinawa as the main reason for the move. On 28 May 2010, soon after and because of increased tensions after the sinking
ROKS Cheonan sinking
The ROKS Cheonan sinking occurred on 26 March 2010, when the Cheonan, a South Korean Navy ship carrying 104 personnel, sank off the country's west coast near Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, killing 46 seamen...
of a South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n navy
Republic of Korea Navy
The Republic of Korea Navy or the ROK Navy is the branch of the South Korean armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations and amphibious landing operations. The ROK Navy includes the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, which is a quasi-autonomous organization...
ship allegedly by North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, Hatoyama had made a deal with U.S. President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
to retain the base for security reasons, but the deal was unpopular in Japan. He also mentioned money scandals involving a top party leader, Ichirō Ozawa
Ichiro Ozawa
is a Japanese politician. Formerly a chief secretary of the Liberal Democratic Party , he later defected from the LDP. He was the president of Japan's main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan , from 2006 until May 2009, when he resigned over a fund scandal, and secretary general of the...
, who resigned as well, in his decision to step down. Hatoyama had been pressured to leave by members of his party after doing poorly in polls in anticipation of an upper house
House of Councillors
The is the upper house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the lower house. The House of Councillors is the successor to the pre-war House of Peers. If the two houses disagree on matters of the budget, treaties, or designation of the prime minister, the House of Representatives...
election in July 2010.
Cabinet
| Deputy Prime Minister Prime Minister of Japan The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office... Minister of Finance Minister of Finance (Japan) The is the member of the Cabinet of Japan in charge of the Ministry of Finance. This position was formerly cited as being Japan's most powerful and one of the world's, because Japan had historically held the largest foreign exchange reserves... Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy |
Naoto Kan Naoto Kan is a Japanese politician, and former Prime Minister of Japan. In June 2010, then-Finance Minister Kan was elected as the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan and designated Prime Minister by the Diet to succeed Yukio Hatoyama. On 26 August 2011, Kan announced his resignation... |
| Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications (Japan) The is the member of the Cabinet of Japan in charge of the Internal Affairs and Communications. The post has been held by Tatsuo Kawabata since 2 September 2011.-Ministers of Internal Affairs and Communications:... Minister of State for Promotion of Local Sovereignty |
Kazuhiro Haraguchi Kazuhiro Haraguchi is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan , a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Saga, Saga and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected to the assembly of Saga Prefecture for the first time in 1987 as a member of the Liberal Democratic... |
| Minister of Justice Minister of Justice (Japan) The is the member of the Cabinet of Japan in charge of the Ministry of Justice. The post has been held by Hideo Hiraoka since 2 September 2011.- Ministers of Justice :... |
Keiko Chiba Keiko Chiba is the former justice minister of Japan.- Former career :After graduating from Chuo University in 1971, where she studied law, she became a lawyer in 1982. She belongs to the Yokohama Bar Association. As a lawyer, she was involved in a lawsuit filed by local residents over noise pollution caused by... |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs (Japan) The of Japan is the Cabinet member responsible for Japanese foreign policy and the chief executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Since the end of the American occupation of Japan, the position has been one of the most powerful in the Cabinet, as Japan's economic interests have long relied on... |
Katsuya Okada Katsuya Okada is a Japanese politician. A member of the House of Representatives of Japan, he is Secretary-General of the Democratic Party of Japan and was previously its President. From September 2009 to September 2010, he was Foreign Minister of Japan.... |
| Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy |
Tatsuo Kawabata Tatsuo Kawabata is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Ōmihachiman, Shiga, he attended Kyoto University and received a master's degree from it. He was elected for the first time in 1986. His elder brother is former mayor of... |
| Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan) The , or , is the Cabinet of Japan member in charge of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. As of 2 September 2011, the current minister is Yoko Komiyama.-References:... Minister of State for Pension Reform |
Akira Nagatsuma Akira Nagatsuma is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of House of Representatives in the Diet . He came to prominence when he reported missing records of public pension plans... |
| Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan) The , or , is the Cabinet of Japan member in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The current minister is Michihiko Kano.-Role:... |
Hirotaka Akamatsu Hirotaka Akamatsu is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet .- Life :A native of Nagoya, Aichi and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected to the first of his three terms in the assembly of Aichi Prefecture and then to the House of... |
| Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan) The is the Cabinet of Japan member in charge of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry . The current Minister is Banri Kaieda.-List of Ministers of Economy, Trade and Industry:... |
Masayuki Naoshima Masayuki Naoshima is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet . A native of Osaka, Osaka and graduate of Kobe University, he was elected for the first time in 1992.... |
| Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Japan) The , or , is the Cabinet of Japan member in charge of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Takeshi Maeda is the current minister.-External links:*... Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs |
Seiji Maehara Seiji Maehara is a Japanese politician who has been a member of the House of Representatives of Japan since 1993. He was the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan from 2005 to 2006, and later served as Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and Minister of Foreign Affairs under the cabinets... |
| Minister of the Environment Minister of the Environment (Japan) The is the member of the Cabinet of Japan in charge of the Ministry of the Environment. The post has been held by Goshi Hosono since 2 September 2011.- Minister of the Environment :... |
Sakihito Ozawa Sakihito Ozawa is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Kofu, Yamanashi, he graduated from the University of Tokyo and received a master's degree in political science from Saitama University... |
| Minister of Defence Minister of Defense (Japan) The , or , is the Cabinet of Japan member in charge of the Ministry of Defense, formerly known as the Defence Agency before 2007. The current Japanese Minister of Defense is Yasuo Ichikawa, a member of the DPJ. Yasuo Ichikawa has been the Minister of Defense since 2 September 2011... |
Toshimi Kitazawa Toshimi Kitazawa is the current Japanese defence minister. He is a politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet . A native of Nagano, Nagano and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1992 after serving in the... |
| Chief Cabinet Secretary Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food Safety, Social Affairs, and Gender Equality |
Hirofumi Hirano Hirofumi Hirano is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan , a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . He is a native of Katsuragi, Wakayama and he started working for Panasonic Corporation in 1971 after graduating from Chuo University. He was elected to the House of Representatives for... |
| Chairman of the National Commission on Public Safety National Public Safety Commission (Japan) The is a Japanese Cabinet Office commission. It is headquartered in the 2nd Building of the Central Common Government Office at 2-1-2 Kasumigasaeki in Chiyoda, Tokyo.... Minister of State for Disaster Management Minister of State for the Abduction Issue |
Hiroshi Nakai Hiroshi Nakai is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet as a member of the Democratic Party of Japan. He was born in Jilin, China during the time part of China was occupied by Japan. A graduate of Keio University he was elected for the first time in 1976 after an unsuccessful... |
| Minister of State for Financial Services Minister of State for Postal Reform |
Shizuka Kamei Shizuka Kamei is a Japanese politician.-Early life:He was born in the city of Shōbara in Hiroshima Prefecture into a poor family. He studied at the department of economics at University of Tokyo and worked his way through school through various jobs, including singing at a cabaret.Upon graduation in 1960, he... |
| Minister of State for the New Concept of Public Service Minister of State for Civil Service Reform Minister of State for National Policy |
Yoshito Sengoku Yoshito Sengoku is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet as a member of the Democratic Party of Japan. He was born in Tokushima, Tokushima prefecture. While studying in the University of Tokyo, he passed the bar exam and therefore dropped out of the university... |
| Minister of State for Government Revitalisation | Yukio Edano Yukio Edano is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet. He was the Chief Cabinet Secretary in the Kan government. On September 12, 2011, he was named as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry... |
Sustainable Development Leadership Award
On 5 February 2010, Hatoyama was awarded the Sustainable Development Leadership Award of the Delhi Sustainable Development SummitDelhi Sustainable Development Summit
Delhi Sustainable Development Summit is an annual summit organised by The Energy and Resources InstituteDelhi Sustainable Development Summit is an annual summit organised by The Energy and Resources InstituteDelhi Sustainable Development Summit is an annual summit organised by The Energy and...
2010. The reason for the award was "his effort to confront climate change and leading his government to make it a main issue".
Time 100
In 2010, TIME magazine's "Time 100Time 100
Time 100 is an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, as assembled by Time. First published in 1999 as a result of a debate among several academics, the list has become an annual event.-History and format:...
" elected Yukio Hatoyama as No. 6 among the 100 most influential people in the world. It claimed that Hatoyama has "helped change his country from a de facto one-party state into a functional democracy," by the DPJ victory in the 2009 general election.
External links
- Official website
- Official Twitter account
- Yuai Youth Association Official website: "Yuai" for Understanding; Origin of Yuai idea , – a Yuai (FraternityFraternityA fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
) association: Yukio Hatoyama is the Chairperson. Outlines his party's philosophy of tempering the excesses of market capitalism and of moving towards regional integration and collective security in Asia.
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