June 2010 Democratic Party (Japan, 1998) leadership election

A leadership election was held in the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) on 4 June 2010 after the incumbent party President Yukio Hatoyama resigned after failing to fulfil a promise to the voters regarding the United States Forces Japan's bases in Okinawa Prefecture; his resignation was reportedly an attempt to improve the DPJ's chances in the upcoming House of Councillors election in July 2010. Also incumbent party Secretary-General Ichirō Ozawa resigned on 4 June 2010 due to many recent scandals. Finance Minister Naoto Kan was widely expected to succeed Hatoyama, and a new government was expected to be formed on 7 June 2010.[1] On 3 June 2010 Shinji Tarutoko declared his candidacy to run against Naoto Kan for the leadership.[2] Apart from these two, Transport Minister Seiji Maehara and Foreign Affairs Minister Katsuya Okada were also seen as contenders, but both backed Kan.[3][4] Kan defeated Tarutoko by a vote of 291–129 with 2 invalid ballots was elected president of DPJ.[5]

Japan
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Japan
National government Constitution of Japan History Laws
The Monarchy Emperor of Japan Naruhito Crown Prince Fumihito Imperial House Imperial Household Agency
Legislature National Diet House of Representatives Speaker Tadamori Oshima (LDP) Vice-Speaker Hirotaka Akamatsu (CDP) House of Councillors President Akiko Santō (LDP) Vice-President Toshio Ogawa (CDP) Leader of the Opposition Yukio Edano (CDP)
Executive Prime Minister of Japan Shinzō Abe (LDP) Deputy Prime Minister of Japan Tarō Asō (LDP) Cabinet Ministries Administrative Agencies
Judiciary Supreme Court of Japan Chief Justice Naoto Ōtani Intellectual Property High Court
Administrative divisions Prefectures Governors Subprefectures Districts Municipalities Submunicipalities
Elections House of Councillors 2010 2013 2016 2019 House of Representatives 2009 2012 2014 2017
Political parties Liberal Democratic Constitutional Democratic Democratic Party for the People Other parties
Foreign relations Foreign policy Visa policy
Law enforcement and security Japan Self-Defense Forces Coast Guard Air Ground Maritime National Police Agency
Japan portal Other countries

Kan was seen as coming from the left of the DPJ and emphasized his independence from Ozawa; he succeeded in getting the backing of right-wingers Maehara, Okada and Yoshito Sengoku. He was sworn in as PM on the same day. A government reshuffle was expected over the weekend.[6]