Japan's ties with the United States are expected to be put to the test in 2010 as Tokyo struggles to settle a row over the Futenma military airfield in Okinawa, possibly as a step toward reshaping the decades-old bilateral alliance.
In contrast, the Hatoyama administration's pro-Asia stance, as seen in the prime minister's East Asian community concept, could bring the region closer together, but experts say a quick breakthrough is unlikely in long-standing territorial and other disputes with China and South Korea.
To raise its presence in the international arena, Japan may also explore contributing to global security, such as through active participation in U.N. peacekeeping missions.