Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Naoto Kan was chosen as Japan's next prime minister by the Diet on Friday, two days after Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama resigned on the heels of his mishandling of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma relocation issue and a scandal involving his political funds.
Mr. Kan must restore people's trust in the prime minister's leadership and present Japan as a reliable member of the international community. He also faces the difficult task of reconstructing the nation's economy and finances while strengthening social welfare systems. His Cabinet choices will serve as a gauge for both his determination and direction.
Both Mr. Hatoyama and Mr. Ichiro Ozawa, the former Democratic Party of Japan secretary general, who also resigned Wednesday, were dogged by funds scandals. Mr. Kan must reconstruct the DPJ as a clean party. More importantly, he must exercise strong leadership as prime minister and rationalize the decision-making process.