Japan's Leadership Muddle
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan's defeat of party rival Ichiro Ozawa buys six months of political stability, at most. Without a grand reorganization of the major political parties along ideological lines rather than personal loyalties, Japan’s domestic and foreign policies – including relations with the US – will remain a muddle.
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OSAKA – Having seen a new prime minister every year for five consecutive years, Japan has just narrowly avoided having its third in 2010. Prime Minister Naoto Kan has been elected President of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), surviving a challenge from Ichiro Ozawa, the DPJ’s most potent behind-the-scenes power broker. Had Nan lost to Ozawa, he would have lost the premiership to him as well.