My local radio program just had a professor on that compared Hatoyama to Obama. It was interesting: two well educated golden boys, darlings of the media that really do not have a clue about the realities of the world
Hatoyama’s biggest problem is that he could not convince anyone that he was not Ozawa’s puppet, and Ozawa’s recent financial scandals were seen by the Japanese public as being every bit as bad as anything the LDP had done.
The overall effect totally obliterated the DPJ’s image as a reform party. That combined with the inexperience and downright incompetence of his cabinet members and his failure to keep a single campaign promise led to Hatoyama’s downfall.
The Japanese are experiencing major buyers remorse right now and the LDP is licking their chops about the next election. I expect a major landslide in the LDP’s favor.