New government finding its feet

More than a month has passed since the Hatoyama administration was inaugurated. People can see that it is trying in earnest to implement policy promises spelled out in the Democratic Party of Japan's election manifesto. The administration, which at its outset enjoyed an approval rating that topped 70 percent, still commands strong public support.

In line with the principle of having politicians play a leading role in developing policy measures, Cabinet ministers and senior vice ministers have been seen to be devising new policy measures and trying to speak in their own words, without relying on memos written by bureaucrats.

The administration has already decided to go ahead with child-rearing allowances and income compensation for rice farmers in fiscal 2010. It also decided to scrap the Yanba dam project in Gunma Prefecture, seen as a symbol of wasteful and unnecessary public works. Separately, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has announced a 25 percent reduction in Japan's greenhouse-gas emissions (from 1990 levels) by 2020.

But it is clear that most of the planned measures have not yet been fully realized. Cabinet ministers must tackle the task of fleshing them out. One problem is that Cabinet ministers tend to make decisions without carefully coordinating their plans with involved parties, such as local governments and residents. The Yanba dam project is a case in point. To gain the support of local residents the administration needs to give a full explanation, with specific data, on why the project must be stopped.

Despite the administration's efforts to part with what were common practices of the Liberal Democratic Party during its years of rule, the National Strategy Office — in charge of working out budget outlines — does not yet have a legal foothold. And the relationship between the administration and the DPJ at large, which is virtually controlled by party secretary general Ichiro Ozawa, has not yet been clarified. Sticking too literally to the DPJ's manifesto may also cause problems. The administration will be tested as the fiscal 2010 budget is compiled.