New Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama vowed Wednesday to create an administration that will break the strong grip of bureaucrats on policymaking and budgets.
"Now is the time to seek a government that does not depend on bureaucrats, to put it into practice," Hatoyama said. "We will create a government in which the politicians will take the lead and utilize the excellent capabilities of the bureaucrats."
Hatoyama recently drew criticism in the United States over an opinion piece that was published in his name in The New York Times, suggesting the new leader is anti-U.S. and opposed to globalization.