Hatoyama victory a watershed in Japanese post war history: a view on the Japanese election from China
Author: Liu Jiangyong, Tsinghua University
The 45th Japanese general election was held in August 2009. As a result the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), in power since 1955, was ousted and the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) came to power for the very first time. This election result reflected the deep dissatisfaction amongst the majority of the Japanese voters towards the LDP and their strong desire for reform. The Japanese election seemed much like a re-run of last year’s U.S. general election. Hatoyama has assumed the mantle as the Japanese version of Obama. Despite the DPJ having no experience in governing the country, the Japanese public feel that any replacement of the LDP is welcome.
This election brings about three major changes in the Japanese political and social landscape. Firstly, it has spelt the end of the long dominance of the LDP in Japan’s multiparty political system. This has increased the possibility of regular transitions in power between the two conservative political forces of the LDP and DPJ.