Updated on
Summary
Finance Minister Naoto Kan has emerged as the front-runner to become Japan's next prime minister, following the resignation of Yukio Hatoyama. Support appeared to be coalescing around him after two other possible candidates backed him for the leadership. So far only he and a little-known lawmaker, Shinji Tarudoko, have declared an intention to stand. Mr Hatoyama stepped down on Wednesday, amid a row over a US military base. He had been unable to fulfil an election pledge to relocate the Futenma airbase off Okinawa, in a bid to reduce the US military presence on the southern island. His Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is moving swiftly to elect a new leader ahead of upper house elections in July. Naoto Kan, 63, took over as finance minister in January, and also serves as deputy prime minister.
