A dramatic shift in foreign policy is unlikely under a new administration led by the Democratic Party of Japan because it hopes to ensure continuity despite vowing greater independence from the United States.
But foreign and security matters could easily emerge as flash points for the incoming administration, with the DPJ remaining vague apparently out of fear of causing discord among its members and the other parties with which it plans to form a coalition.
The diplomatic debut of DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama as prime minister is likely to come late this month when he will attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York and possibly meet with U.S. President Barack Obama.