Drawing on Gandhi quotes for inspiration, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama called on his colleagues Friday to make 2010 "a new start for Japan" in his first administrative policy speech at the ordinary Diet session.
The prime minister began by repeatedly stressing he wants to "protect lives" and laid out the agenda of his Democratic Party of Japan-led government for rejuvenating the economy, halting global warming and creating stronger ties with the United States and Japan's Asian neighbors.
Hatoyama reaffirmed the importance of ties with the United States and said they would remain unchanged. The relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma will be resolved by the end of May, taking into account both the relationship with the U.S. as well as easing the burden on Okinawa, he said.