Hatoyama to take over as Japan PM

Japan's parliament is meeting to formally name Yukio Hatoyama as the next prime minister.

His Democratic Party of Japan won a huge poll victory last month, ending more than 50 years of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party.

Prime Minister Taro¹ Aso and his entire cabinet (内阁)resigned early on Wednesday to pave the way for Mr Hatoyama's centre-left government.

"I am excited by the prospect² of changing history," Mr Hatoyama said.

For his part, Mr Aso said: "I did my best for the sake of Japan, in a very short period... but unfortunately, I am stepping down halfway³ through."

Mr Hatoyama must tackle a rapidly aging society and an economy still struggling after a brutal⁴ recession（经济衰退）, the BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says.

He won the election by pledging to break the power of the old order's bureaucrats（官僚）, big business and the LDP - which dominated since the end of the World War II, our correspondent says.

Limits reached

Professor Phil Deans, from Temple University in Tokyo, said people had become tired of the old system.

 

What lies ahead for Japan?

"It was extremely effective in developing Japan into a very rich, very important nation," he said.

"But it had reached its limits, it had reached the end of the developmental logic⁵ that underpinned⁶ post war Japan.

"The trouble is now its time for reform, everyone agrees reform is good, but where does Japan go next? What is the next model?"

Mr Hatoyama's DPJ has promised to increase social security, but has given little idea of how it will be paid for, our correspondent says.

There is also talk of a more assertive⁷ diplomacy⁸ towards the country's main ally, the United States.

 

Mr Aso's staff bade him farewell as he formally left office

But opinion polls have shown many people did not vote for the DPJ because of their policies - but because they wanted change.

Japan's economy has been stumbling - the population is ageing and declining.

Keisuke Kurihara is soon to graduate from the elite⁹ University of Tokyo. He already has a job lined up as a diplomat¹⁰ but even he feels the need for a new direction.

"I'd like them to show us their vision of Japan as soon as possible," he said.

"We are faced with great problems, such as the world's fastest aging society and piling national debts. These problems need to be addressed for decades to come."

In defeating the LDP, Yukio Hatoyama has already achieved what many people thought for years was impossible. But now the difficult part begins, governing Japan, our correspondent says. （本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 taro   

n.芋，芋头

参考例句：

• Main grain crop has taro,corn,banana to wait.主要粮食作物有芋头、玉米、芭蕉等。
• You celebrate your birthday with taro,red bean and butter.用红豆、芋头和黄油给自己过生日。

2 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

3 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

4 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

5 logic   

n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性

参考例句：

• What sort of logic is that?这是什么逻辑？
• I don't follow the logic of your argument.我不明白你的论点逻辑性何在。

6 underpinned   

v.用砖石结构等从下面支撑（墙等）( underpin的过去式和过去分词 )；加固（墙等）的基础；为（论据、主张等）打下基础；加强

参考例句：

• The report is underpinned by extensive research. 这份报告以广泛的研究为基础。
• The statue of Diana was underpinned with charred piles. Diana雕像是建造在炭化了的木桩上的。 来自辞典例句

7 assertive   

adj.果断的，自信的，有冲劲的

参考例句：

• She always speaks an assertive tone.她总是以果断的语气说话。
• China appears to have become more assertive in the waters off its coastline over recent years.在近些年，中国显示出对远方海洋的自信。

8 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

9 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

10 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。