Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told parliamentary officials Wednesday he will resign. “I’m going to step down,” Hatoyama announced in a live broadcast on Japanese TV NHK.
The shirt said it all.
On 2 June 2010, Hatoyama announced his resignation before a meeting of the Japanese Democratic Party. He cited breaking a campaign promise to move a U.S. Marine base on the island of Okinawa as the main reason for the move. On 30 May 2010, soon after and because of increased tensions after the sinking of a Korean ship 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
Ichirō Ozawa (小沢一郎 Ozawa Ichirō?)
Poor old Ozawa. He is probably the longest standing ‘never give up’ politician in Japan who I believe really had a good plan for the country. However, he was never popular enough and was always the target of opposition and media. With my tin hat on I’d say he was harassed because he was powerful. He had a path to take Japan but it was just too radical and westernized.
Here is his blueprint for Japan that I read a long time ago. It all made sense back then and probably still does.
Ozawa resigned as DPJ leader in May 2009 due to another scandal and was succeeded by Hatoyama. At the time of the August 2009 general election, Ozawa acted as the DPJ’s chief election strategist and remained a very powerful figure in the party. The DPJ won an overwhelming victory in the 2009 election, and it was believed that would increase his influence further. However, continuing finance scandals have left many Japanese questioning his integrity. A prosecution inquest panel has concluded: ‘it is highly likely that Ozawa is an accomplice’ in a scandal involving the purchase of land in Tokyo, ‘and should therefore stand trial’.
Who will be the next Prime Minister of Japan? Yes, he Kan!!!
He was a favorite the last time as well. Naoto Kan.
Also dogged by scandal, he just seems like another PM for the conveyor belt.
On January 6, 2010, he was picked by Yukio Hatoyama to be the new Finance Minister, assuming the post in addition to deputy prime minister. In his first news conference, Kan announced his priority was stimulating growth and took the unusual step of naming a specific dollar-yen level as optimal to help exporters and stimulate the economy. “There are a lot of voices in the business world saying that (the dollar) around ¥95 is appropriate in terms of trade,” he said. Hatoyama appeared to rebuke Kan. “When it comes to foreign exchange, stability is desirable and rapid moves are undesirable. The government basically shouldn’t comment on foreign exchange,” he told reporters.
Ozawa was so close to being PM so many times but never got there. I don’t think he will try again. He’ll probably retire. He would have been as good as Koizumi in my opinion too bad we’ll never know.
He wouldn’t have been any worse than the last 3 PMs.
Hatoyama finally has come to realize that he was out of touch.
Kan?
Bring back Koizumi….
Or is he really Richard Gere?
Yes that is where he was made ha-ha. Lotus was made in India, Japanese mother, British father and was born in Australia; how lucky to have three passports and ultimately he owes it all to Japan Ichiban’s Friends Network. If that wasn’t enough, next week we look forward to welcoming Lotus’ baby sister into the growing World of Friends – WOW! Thanks Japan Ichiban’s Friends Network!
