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According to 'The East Asia Forum' WSJ/NYT/Japanese tabliods devoted to political and economic issues especially concerning the upcoming 2009' general elections in Japan wether 'LDP' or 'DPJ' as far back as mid 2008' predicted that ruling 'LDP' was going to take a beating at the polls. Note
The East Asia Forum Nov.08' Post that offered that the best the 'DPJ' could offer was that they spelled their party name differently? No change wether
'LDP' or 'DPJ' wins due to lack of ideas or differences of both parties and lack of effective track record of Japans economic policy versus recession. note 1992-2001 recession named ; ' Lost Decade' that gripped Japans economy.
There is no evidence of diminishing US economic power in the original post you refered too 'Times Online' other than a quote from Yukio Hatoyama quote in same article?
Heres another excerpt from the UK -Guardian Feb.20/2009' Bill Emmott
A silver lining for JapanThe economic suffering here has been harsh and long, but at last political change is coming.
Any Briton who thinks the reason our economy is weak is that we no longer have much manufacturing should come to Japan, for the reason Japan is weak is that it has too much (20% of GDP, compared with 10% in Britain), making precisely the things that everyone has just stopped buying, such as cars and fancy televisions. - evidence of why 'LDP' in Japan will lose to 'DPJ' .
Below is Yukio Hatoyama excerpt mentioning the diff. 'DPJ' will make regarding foriegn policy
National Security-note use of word 'slightly more etc.'?
8. Second, the LDP is over-dependent on the United States in pursuing Japan’s
foreign and security objectives, but the DPJ is more concerned with striking
a right balance in Japan’s relations with the US and Asian neighbors, with
putting slightly more emphasis on the latter. In the economic policy area, the
DPJ distances itself from the excessive laissez-faire approach and values the
non-monetary worth of the economic wealth. This tells the DPJ’s position is
closer to the EU rather than to the US.
Yukio Hatoyama received a Ph.D. in Engineering from Stanford University located in U.S. also attended Tokoyo University in Japan.