Yes, it's Kan...

Naoto Kan 721 votes against Ozawa's 491

a generational change and a new working method

the people as assets of society

Prime Minister Naoto Kan has been re-elected president of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), beating party heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa. With his victory on Sept. 14, Kan, 63, will stay in power. He is expected to reshuffle his Cabinet and the DPJ Standing Officers Council shortly in a bid to bolster his administration for the next 3 years.

Kan caught a majority of votes from DPJ legislators and local assembly members as well as rank-and-file members and supporters of the party. The focal point of the appointments is how Kan will treat 68-year-old Ozawa, former secretary-general of the party and a tremendous power broker of Japanese politics in the last 20 years.

Kan said he will keep unity in the party. ‘‘I will do my best to maintain our posture in which everyone in the party can show his or her ability.’’ Kan also said he resolves to make his utmost efforts in his post to revitalize the country and hand it over to the younger generation.

First challenge: 1) The rising Yen which impedes the economy and the Japan skillful export machine, and 2) Diplomacy with Beijing: how to engage China? Chinese governement has just postponed today a senior official's visit to Tokyo in an escalating diplomatic battle over the arrest of a Chinese fishing boat captain after a ship collision near islands claimed by both countries. Kan seen as too close of the US?

Sources, Reporter's Notes