Japanese PM promises economic revival and strong US ties

In a news conference held hours after taking office, Yukio Hatoyama has vowed to deliver a people-oriented society, quick economic improvements and frank but trusting ties with Washington. Yukio Hatoyama, whose Democratic Party of Japan won a huge poll victory last month, took office as the prime minister of Japan. Japan's ruling party conceded a defeat after ruling for 54 years almost unbrokenly in the Japan Elections 2009 last month. The opposition party took a clear lead by winning 315 seats of total 480 seats. The Japanese Parliament comprises of 480 members which are elected for four years. Some 1300 candidates of 12 political parties were in competition for the elections while the total number of registered voters is 103 million. An important political party of Japan is ruling Liberal Democratic Party that remained out of power for just 10 months since 1955. Democratic Party of Japan is the big opposition party of Japan but it has never been in power. Recently, however, this party gained huge popularity with the people.