Now that the electorate has overthrown the old guard, worries are growing that the nation's new leaders lack a long-term vision to turn around the hobbled economy.

The Democratic Party of Japan promised in the recent election to expand the social safety net with handouts for families with children and farmers, toll-free highways and a higher minimum wage.

But critics say such programs were mainly designed to woo voters and fall short of mapping out a road to growth or tackling deeper issues like the aging, shrinking population and ballooning national debt.