There is little doubt that the Democratic Party of Japan's Lower House victory and the election of Yukio Hatoyama as prime minister are the most significant political events Japan has experienced in the past 20 years. After decades of behind-closed-doors policymaking and stagnant growth under the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, the public, acting out of character, finally opted to take a risk on a newcomer.
It is far too early to tell whether the move is to be congratulated as daringl bold or condemned as simply reactionary. The new government has moved quickly to make good on its promises, such as reining in the bloated bureaucracy or scrapping the expensive Yamba Dam project.
From a European perspective, this hints at an exciting chance to get closer to the new Japan. This is something that was hinted at even before the DPJ took power.