The new leadership of the Democratic Party of Japan, headed by Mr. Yukio Hatoyama, faces a bumpy road ahead as it begins steering a party wracked by internal rifts. The sharp discord that surfaced over the selection of the party's secretary general following the Sept. 23 presidential election is symbolic of the difficulties that lie ahead for the DPJ's new executive team.

Mr. Hatoyama, who is now serving his third term as president of the nation's largest opposition party, ought to take the blame for the dissonance, which was caused primarily by his misguided and much-criticized appointments of party executive officials. The party's public image has been badly tarnished. Failure to repair the damage could eliminate its chances of taking power and drive it to the brink of disintegration.

The immediate priority is to stake out its position for an extraordinary Diet session that opens on Oct. 18 and for parliamentary by-elections that will be held on Oct. 27. If the party suffers major setbacks, Mr. Hatoyama may face pressure to take political responsibility by resigning. Already some of his critics in the party reportedly consider him a virtual "lame duck." A process of reconciliation must begin if he is to improve his chances of staying in power.