Former PM Hatoyama to leave DPJ

the dpj still exists?

The DPJ still controls the upper house.

We'll mourn his shirts.

@Michael Craig: Sorry, Hatoyama family has never been libetarilan.

He could start anew. Start a new political party. Maybe a libertarian one.

Kazuo was the first Hatoyama, PhD. then, Ichi-ro, I-Ichiro, Yukio and Kunio brothers. Maybe it is time he wanted to open political arena to people who have been trying to do on their own, instead of having the family name? Too many 2nd, 3rd generation politicians, some are 4th generations, Give to someone who is trying to work for people, without family given JIBAN.

He only did opposing other PM but cannot administer/manage when he was in the PM position....why it takes years for him to decide in quiting? Leading a country takes more than intelligence, one should have a heart and courage to lead as well.

Yukio who? Oh yeah, I remember now. That misfit who let Japan down big time and blew it for the DPJ. Well, see ya and don't forget your coat.

Maybe he plans to go to scholastic area?

Kazuo Hatoyama was the first Japanese who received PhD in laws.

It is rare in Japanese politicians family thar have everybody graduated Tokyo Univ. Elite Academic family becme political big shots in Japan. One of them was Tokyo Univ. Professor. and Waseda Univ. president. Probably he will go back to his family tradition of academic llife?

DJP? Hmmm, they were the one that left the power plant to melt down.

As "smithinjapan" indicates above: he'll be back. Hatoyama is a politician ... and he just can't pull up roots and walk away completely. He'll either try it for a while as an independent or join a party that could help him weather the next election he's involved in.

ratpack: Actually, his wife's rather 'interesting' comments won him more fame, if anything -- or at least got his name out there a little more. Anyway, he said he's quitting the DPJ, not quitting politics, so let's none of us be surprised when he announces he's joining some other party like the JRP or something.

"Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda"

Dang, I'd already forgotten all about that guy!

""Last year Hatoyama opposed Noda's sales tax hike proposal"

Well, at least that's one point for Hatoyama!

but his reputation took a battering when he reversed course on a plan to remove a controversial U.S. air base in Okinawa

sheesh.....and I thought his reputation took a battering because his wife opened her mouth and started talking about aliens.

Good riddance....

Knowing Hatoyama he'll wink to his constituents, say, "Trust me", and reverse his decision tomorrow.

Gone, and already forgotten. Ozawa should go with him.

Good riddance to the worst PM of the last 10 years (and that is saying something)

you replace Yasuhiro Mori as the most ineffective Prime Minister in Japanese history (and THAT'S not an easy thing to accomplish!).

Both of them have to wait in line behind Hata (63 days) and Uno ( 68 Days) and they make Hatoyama seem like, well, a spoiled brat.

Seems to be a common affliction with Japanese PM's of late.

Now he has NO friends, even nominal ones.

He's not much of a maverick, is he?

I wonder if his political career is as good as finished.

Abayo, Uchu-jin! For making promises that you couldn't deliver, back-stabing your major security partner, and living in economic la-la land with respect to the TPP, you replace Yasuhiro Mori as the most ineffective Prime Minister in Japanese history (and THAT'S not an easy thing to accomplish!).

Congrats, and please don't go away mad. Just go away.

DPJ still exists? Never heard of any political party after Abe took over the reins in Dec.2012

So the boy born with the silver spoon in his mouth is running away again. I wonder if his wife conferred with aliens again before making this decision?