Like his predecessor, new Prime Minister Taro Aso has inherited a ruling party whose hands are tied by domestic woes and a divided Diet paralyzed by political deadlock.
The government's key diplomatic tasks also remain unchanged: to win the opposition's support for extending the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, seek a breakthrough in talks with North Korea, and boost ties with China and South Korea.
But this time, the prospects for progress are even dimmer, political analysts said.