The United States hopes the successor to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi can continue his legacy both on the diplomatic and domestic fronts, after his departure in September.
But there is one exception, as U.S officials and experts agree that it would be better for Koizumi's successor to act to improve relations with China and South Korea, which have been strained mainly due to Koizumi's contentious visits to Tokyo's war-related Yasukuni Shrine.
Further deterioration in those ties could complicate overall Asian diplomacy, even though U.S. President George W. Bush and Koizumi have created a rock-solid foundation for what they call the "best-ever" relationship between their countries through their unprecedented friendship.
Washington is particularly worried that such deterioration would undermine efforts to deal with the most pressing issue in Northeast Asia -- stopping North Korea from firing ballistic missiles and convincing it to return to six-party talks to end its nuclear arms program.