The leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, Yukio Hatoyama, has officially taken office as prime minister. He follows Taro Aso from the Liberal Democratic Party who was in power for just a year.

Mr Hatoyama's DPJ won an historic victory in last month's Japanese election, ending over half a century of rule by the LDP. The 62-year-old prime minister intends to introduce radical changes to tackle the economic crisis, high unemployment and the problems of an aging population.

He hopes to improve social welfare provision without raising taxes. He also wants to reduce the influence of the United States and orientate Japan more towards its regional neighbours, including the economic powerhouse, China. Climate change is also high on Mr Hatoyama's agenda, with a target of a 25-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

Photo: Yukio Hatoyama (Flickr / World Economic Forum)