Hashimoto steps toward prime minister post

September 22, 1995
Web posted at: 11:30 a.m. EDT (1530 GMT)

From Correspondent May Lee

TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- The man who played a key role in diverting U.S. sanctions against Japanese autos is now on his way to becoming Japan's next prime minister.

Ryutaro Hashimoto, Japan's trade minister, won a major party election on Friday -- a landslide victory for president of the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party.(94k AIFF sound file or 94K WAV sound file) His landslide victory brings him one step closer to the prime ministership -- a post that hasn't been held by the conservative LDP since the party fell from power in 1993.

Hashimoto's win was no surprise, and among the general public, the potential change in leadership is causing very little excitement.

"I think he's a hard-liner in some ways, but no matter who becomes prime minister, nothing will change," said one passerby interviewed on the street.

Another called him a "straight talker," but doubted that Hashimoto could make changes in a Japanese society still rocked by a recession as well as the Aum Shinrikyo gas attacks. (145k AIFF sound file or 145k WAV sound file)

And from a policy-making point of view, even some political experts wonder if Hashimoto will sink or swim.

"He's very good at details, but (as for) the main direction to go, all he says is encourage the Japanese economy," said analyst Haruo Shimada. "Well, everybody agrees. But...there are many things a leader at that level must show to people and to the world."

But Hashimoto's time at the top may not come until next spring. Japan's current prime minister, Tomiichi Murayama, indicated this week that he will stay put at least that long. However, if Murayama's plans to dismantle his 50-year-old Social Democratic Party and form a new group by the end of October are unsuccessful, his departure come as early as mid-November.

Hashimoto steps toward prime minister post

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