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“Everyone is worried not knowing their future. So I’m really hoping for a new leader to guide Japan.” (BBC)

Following the resignation of Japan's prime minister Yukio Hatoyama after just eight months in office, the country has elected its fifth prime minister in four years.

Naoto Kan was the finance minister of Hatoyama, who resigned because of his inability to hold true to campaign promises. A Washington Post writer says Mr. Kan has a lot ahead of him.

"Now Kan [...] will inherit the problems that those before him struggled to solve — a nagging debt, a history of fiscal scandals and lingering questions about the fate of a U.S. Marine base on Okinawa."

The Marine Corps Air Station Futenma has been an ongoing issue among residents on Okinawa Island. They want the U.S. base completely off the island — a promise that Hatoyama made during his campaign. Kan says his decision regarding the base will be one that's handled "firmly and patiently."

A CNN analyst says she believes the base will stay put.

"He is certainly indicating that the U.S.-Japan alliance is very important.  And with an eye to what's happening with China and also all the tensions on the Koren peninsula, that base is going to stay put.  We don't anticipate that he is going to make any changes."

But a Japanese worker interviewed by The Japan Times is skeptical Mr. Kan will handle the Okinawa issue any better than his predecessor.

"No politician can safely handle the issue of the U.S. Futenma base."

Mr. Kan founded the ruling Democratic Party of Japan along with Hatoyama in the 90s.  He also gained attention among Japanese citizens when as health minister of a Democratic-coalition in 1996, he exposed government official cover ups of the use of HIV-tainted blood products among Japanese haemophiliacs.  Mr. Kan says his top priorities are economic recovery and growth for Japan and regaining the people's trust.

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WRITER: Cordell Anderson

PRODUCER: Newsy Staff