Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama was elected the nation's 60th prime minister in a special Diet session convened Wednesday. He officially announced the lineup of his Cabinet later in the day.
Hatoyama formed the nation's 93rd cabinet, which was then sworn in at an attestation ceremony at the Imperial Palace, launching the DPJ-led government in coalition with the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party.
It is the first time for the Liberal Democratic Party to hand over the reins of government in 16 years.
The 172nd Diet session was convened Wednesday, with the session to run through Saturday.
Hatoyama was named prime minister at the plenary session of the House of Representatives that started at 1 p.m. and then at the House of Councillors plenary session that started at 2:30 p.m.--in each case by a majority vote including votes by the SDP and PNP members.
Before Hatoyama was named prime minister at the lower house, the DPJ's Takahiro Yokomichi was elected the speaker of the lower house and former Defense Minister Seishiro Eto of the LDP was elected the vice speaker.
With regard to the Cabinet posts, DPJ Acting President Naoto Kan was named deputy prime minister and national strategy minister. Kan also will serve as the state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy until the government abolishes the existing Council on Fiscal and Economic Policy.
Hatoyama appointed Hirofumi Hirano, chief of the DPJ executives secretariat, as chief cabinet secretary, and former party Secretary General Katsuya Okada as foreign minister.
DPJ Vice President Seiji Maehara was named construction and transport minister and will also serve as state minister for disaster management and Okinawa and the northern territories. Akira Nagatsuma, acting chairman of the DPJ Policy Research Committee, was appointed health, labor and welfare minister.
Other DPJ members who were given portfolios included the party's top adviser Hirohisa Fujii, who was named finance minister; party Vice President Tatsuo Kawabata who became education, science and technology minister; and Kazuhiro Haraguchi who was chosen as internal affairs and communications minister. Hatoyama appointed upper house member Keiko Chiba as justice minister. Policy Research Committee Chairman Masayuki Naoshima was given the post of economy, trade and industry minister, and Vice President Toshimi Kitazawa was named defense minister.
The posts of deputy chief cabinet secretaries for parliamentary affairs were given to Yorihisa Matsuno from the lower house, and Koji Matsui from the upper house.
From the DPJ's coalition partners, SDP leader Mizuho Fukushima entered the Cabinet as state minister in charge of consumer affairs and the declining birthrate. Fukushima's portfolio as state minister also covers gender equality and food safety issues.
Under a ruling coalition agreement, PNP leader Shizuka Kamei was named state minister in charge of financial services and postal reform.
Former Justice Minister Hiroshi Nakai was named chairman of the National Public Safety Commission and state minister in charge of abduction issues.
Former Policy Research Committee Chairman Yoshito Sengoku was appointed state minister in charge of the newly established administrative renewal council.
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Aso Cabinet resigns
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso resigned Wednesday, ending its administration about a year after it was formed in September last year.
At a press conference held after a special Cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office, Aso said the new government should promote economic measures and making a contribution to the international community.
"The economic recovery is only halfway through. I hope [the new government] makes an effort to solidify the economic recovery. I greatly hope it will appropriately deal with terrorism, piracy" and other international issues, he said.
Looking back over his 358 days as prime minister, Aso said, "It was a short period of time, but I did my best for Japan."
"I was able to respond promptly to a global recession said to be the worst in a century. I think I can be proud of myself for implementing drastic economic measures, such as compiling four budgets," he said.
Referring to the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election to be held Sept. 28, Aso said: "We should unite [the party]. Someone who can do the job based on an analysis of what the problem was for the LDP" is desirable as the new party leader.
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NEW CABINET (Sept. 16, 2009)
Prime Minister / Yukio Hatoyama, 62
Deputy Prime Minister and National Strategy Minister / Naoto Kan, 62
Internal Affairs and Communications Minister / Kazuhiro Haraguchi, 50
Justice Minister / Keiko Chiba, 61
Foreign Minister / Katsuya Okada, 56
Finance Minister / Hirohisa Fujii, 77
Education, Science and Technology Minister / Tatsuo Kawabata, 64
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister / Akira Nagatsuma, 49
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister / Hirotaka Akamatsu, 61
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister / Masayuki Naoshima, 63
Construction and Transport Minister / Seiji Maehara, 47
Environment Minister / Sakihito Ozawa, 55
Defense Minister / Toshimi Kitazawa, 71
Chief Cabinet Secretary / Hirofumi Hirano, 60
National Public Safety Commission Chairman / Hiroshi Nakai, 67
State Minister in Charge of Financial Services and Postal Reform / Shizuka Kamei, 72*
State Minister in Charge of Consumer Affairs and Declining Birthrate / Mizuho Fukushima, 53**
Administrative Renewal Minister / Yoshito Sengoku, 63
(* People's New Party, ** Social Democratic Party)
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