Yukio Hatoyama was assured Monday of remaining leader of the Democratic Party of Japan after hopeful contenders failed to file their candidacies due to the lack of sufficient backing.
Hatoyama will be formally named leader of the largest opposition force on Sept. 9 without voting as two other party members -- Takashi Kawamura, the DPJ's deputy chief for policy affairs, and Yoko Komiyama, public relations chief -- decided not to run.
The two had announced their intention to run earlier in the month but gave up after being unable to enlist the 20 supporters required to join the race.