Japan’s Changing Political Leadership Under Prime Minister Hatoyama

On December 15, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies hosted Dr. Tomohito Shinoda, professor at the International University of Japan, for a presentation entitled “Japan’s Changing Political Leadership Under Prime Minister Hatoyama.”

A leading scholar on the Japanese decision-making structure and the role of the prime minister, Dr. Shinoda described the drastic changes that are taking place in Japan’s political system. Under Prime Minister Koizumi, the decision-making structure shifted from decentralized policymaking to a top-down, centralized structure. Now, under Prime Minister Hatoyama and the Democratic Party of Japan, changes are being implemented to eliminate bureaucratic dominance. Dr. Shinoda examined the impetus and procedures for these changes and identified possible implications for policy results.

Dr. Shinoda is Professor of International Relations at the International University of Japan, located in Niigata, Japan. He received his Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. His research covers Japan’s politics and foreign policy, international relations in East Asia and U.S.-Japan relations.