Prime Minister Taro Aso and the Democratic Party of Japan leader Yukio Hatoyama held their first one-on-one Diet debate Wednesday. Surprisingly this is only the second time that top leaders of the ruling and opposition camps have debated this way since Mr. Aso came to power in September 2008. Mr. Ichiro Ozawa, Mr. Hatoyama's predecessor, held only one such debate with Mr. Aso, in November 2008. We welcome Mr. Hatoyama's ready participation in what was a fierce debate, even though the content was not necessarily satisfactory.

Conscious of the coming Lower House election, Mr. Hatoyama explained his idea of the "politics of brotherly love" and called for a change of government. He said that since Mr. Aso has no specific idea of what he should do as a national leader, bureaucrats have come to take the initiative in politics. He said the DPJ aims to carry out politics for the benefit of ordinary citizens and to push decentralization. Mr. Hatoyama's argument on these points sounded rather abstract.

Mr. Aso expressed doubt over the DPJ's ability to lead the nation. He said that while he does not oppose the concept of "brotherly love," he has doubts about the DPJ's ability to properly handle issues such as national security and social security.