LONDON (Kyodo) British analysts of Japanese politics say they are optimistic about the fortunes of new Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his Democratic Party of Japan-led government, but add the party's former secretary general, Ichiro Ozawa, lurks as a potential obstacle.
They believe that the Cabinet launched last week, which has six new faces, including a replacement for Shizuka Kamei, the outspoken chief of junior coalition partner Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party), represents a "bold" move away from the influence of Ozawa.