Premiership of Yukio Hatoyama
 Official portrait, 2009 | |
| Premiership of Yukio Hatoyama 16 September 2009 – 8 June 2010 | |
| Monarch | |
|---|---|
| Cabinet | Yukio Hatoyama Cabinet |
| Party | Democratic |
| Election | 2009 |
| Seat | Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei |
| Constituency | Hokkaido 9th |
 Emblem of the Government of Japan | |
Yukio Hatoyama's tenure as prime minister of Japan began on 16 September 2009 when he was officially appointed prime minister by Emperor Akihito in a ceremony at the Tokyo Imperial Palace. During his premiership, Hatoyama attempted spending cuts on public works projects. He also moved to change Japan's foreign policy from a United States-centric one to a more Asia-focused one. Hatoyama's premiership saw improved relations between China and Japan, as well as with Japan's other neighbors. Though initially enjoying high approval ratings, his popularity soon dropped due to various reasons including a finance scandal. In 2010, he announced his resignation as prime minister, citing breaking a campaign promise to close an American military base on the island of Okinawa.
Premiership
[edit]Hatoyama entered his prime minister career with a high approval rating. 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.[1] Expectations were high that he would break strongly with the policies of the LDP.[2][3]
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,[4] 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.[5]
- The abolition of public high school tuition fees.[6]
- The introduction of an individual household income support project for rice farmers.[7]
- The restoration of the Additional Living Support Allowance for Single-Mother Households.[8]
- 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.[8]
- An 8.2% increase in the education budget.[8]
- An expansion in the student scholarship system to cover more students.[8]
- The extension of employment insurance to all workers.[8][9]
- A reduction in medical expenses for unemployed persons.[8]
- The elimination of age-discriminatory practices in remuneration schedules and medical services.[8]
- 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".[8]
- The introduction of free welfare services and equipment for low-income persons with disabilities.[8]
Illegal campaign contributions
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In December 2009, a finance scandal caused a drop in Hatoyama's popularity. It was revealed that Hatoyama received $4 million in donations 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.[10] 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."[11]
Spending review
[edit]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 cut only a quarter 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.[12] Hatoyama faced criticism from fringes of his own party, some calling for a return to public works spending.[1]
Foreign policy
[edit]
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.[13]
The DPJ's election platform called for re-examining its ties with the United States.[2] As the 1960 Japan–U.S. security treaty entered its 50th year, Hatoyama called for a "close and equal" Japan–U.S. relationship, which meant more independence for Japan's role.[14] 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. In order not to anger Washington, Hatoyama offered $5 billion in civilian aid for Afghanistan reconstruction.[15]
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.[16] Some voices in the DPJ demanded that America move its military bases off Okinawa islands altogether.[13] 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, even saying "the Japanese Islands don't belong to only Japanese".[17] 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.[18] 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.[19]
Relations with 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.[20] On 7 January, the Daily Yomiuri reported high-level discussion over a further exchange of visits between the two countries to promote reconciliation over historical 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.[21]
Resignation
[edit]On 2 June 2010, Hatoyama announced his resignation as Prime Minister before a meeting of the Japanese Democratic Party. He cited breaking a campaign promise to close an American military base on the island of Okinawa as the main reason for the move. On 28 May 2010, soon after and because of increased tensions from the sinking of a South Korean navy ship allegedly by North Korea,[22] Hatoyama had made a deal with U.S. President Barack Obama[23][24][25][26][27] 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.[23] Hatoyama had been pressed to leave by members of his party after doing poorly in polls in anticipation of an upper house election in July 2010.[28]
Cabinet
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Tabuchi, Hiroko (22 December 2009). "Harsh Realities Stand in the Way of a Leader's Vision of a New Japan". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
- ^ a b Tabuchi, Hiroko (16 September 2009). "Japan's New Prime Minister Takes Office, Ending an Era". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
- ^ Hayashi, Yuka. "Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Resigns; Search for New Leader Begins". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2022-08-10.
- ^ "NHK WORLD English". NHK. Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ "A Clouded Outlook". Time. 2 August 2010. Archived from the original on 28 July 2010.
- ^ "Consumer prices fall in Japan". The Irish Times. 5 May 2010.
- ^ "Déjà vu in Japan's agricultural policymaking". East Asia Forum. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Manifesto" (PDF). DPJ. 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ "Conference" (PDF). University of Tokyo. Retrieved 27 December 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Fackler, Martin (18 December 2009). "Doubts Grow in Japan About Premier Amid Money Scandal". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
- ^ "NHKオンライン". NHK. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
- ^ Dow Jones (21 December 2009). "Japan Prime Minister Says Gasoline Tax Surcharges To Continue". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 8 January 2010.[dead link]
- ^ a b Fackler, Martin (1 December 2009). "Japan's Relationship With U.S. Gets a Closer Look". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
- ^ Masami, Ito (19 January 2010). "As security pact with U.S. turns 50, Japan looks to redefine relations". The Japan Times.
- ^ Fackler, Martin (15 January 2010). "Japan Ends Naval Support for Afghan War". The New York Times.
- ^ Fackler, Martin (13 November 2009). "Obama, in Japan, Says U.S. Will Study Status of a Marine Base on Okinawa". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
- ^ 『日本列島は日本人だけのものではない』|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlQP5IjLtKY%7C
- ^ Tabuchi, Hiroko (30 December 2010). "Japan Unveils Plan for Growth, Emphasizing Free Trade in Asia". The New York Times.
- ^ "In milestone year, Hatoyama seeks 'future-oriented' ties with South Korea". The Asahi Shimbun. Japan. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2010.[dead link]
- ^ Fackler, Martin (23 January 2010). "In Japan, U.S. Losing Diplomatic Ground to China". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ Satoshi Saeki (7 January 2010). "China proposes Hatoyama visit Nanjing Incident site". Daily Yomiuri. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Associated, The (23 May 2010). "Japan's Leader Concedes To U.S. On Okinawa Base". NPR. Archived from the original on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ a b Hayashi, Yuka (2 June 2010). "Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Resigns; Search for New Leader Begins". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ "MCAS Futenma to remain on Okinawa". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012.
- ^ "Hatoyama, Obama to talk on Futenma Air Base: report". Reuters. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ The Yomiuri Shimbun. "'Obama nod' prompted Fukushima dismissal". Yomiuri Shimbun. Japan. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ "Obama, Hatoyama Satisfied With US Airbase Relocation – White House". The Wall Street Journal. 27 May 2010. Archived from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ Linda Sieg and Yoko Nishikawa (2 June 2010). "Japan PM quits before election, yen sinks". Reuters. Retrieved 2 June 2010.