Yukio Hatoyama formally elected Japanese prime minister

Thursday, September 17, 2009 

Japan

Other stories from Japan

• 7 January 2012: Japan Airlines to relist shares
• 25 September 2011: Nepal plane crash kills 19
• 25 August 2011: Japan nuclear disaster: areas to remain off-limits for decades
• 16 August 2011: Japan to use renewable energy
• 13 August 2011: Renewed concern over nuclear response following atomic bomb anniversary

...More articles here

Location of Japan

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Japan, see the Japan Portal

Yukio Hatoyama was formally elected the prime minister of Japan on Wednesday, following general elections in August.

The Japanese Parliament convened on Wednesday for a special session to formally elect Hatoyama.

New Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (May 2009)
Image: Xiao Yu.

The former Prime Minister, Taro Aso, and his cabinet had earlier resigned.

	"I .. felt a strong sense of responsibility..."
—Yukio Hatoyama

At his first press conference as PM, Hatoyama said: "The moment I was elected prime minister, I trembled deeply when I realised that Japanese history was changing. I also felt a strong sense of responsibility knowing that I must lead the change of this country to one where the people are sovereign."

The change of power brought an end to over five decades of rule by Japan's Liberal Democratic Party.

In last month's polls, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) obtained 308 of 480 seats, giving the party a majority in the lower chamber.

Sources

• Kwan Wen Kin. "Hatoyama is PM" — Straits Times, September 17, 2009
• "Hatoyama becomes new Japan PM" — Al Jazeera, Setpember 16, 2009