Kan, cabinet resign en masse ahead of vote to install Noda as PM

I don't understand why they do that? Is it normal in other countries?

What about that Fukushima rice let lose today?

What does he say about that?

It does not pose any immediate threats to the health of those who eat it

Standard govt response.

"Noda, seen as a fiscal conservative, will face several major issues ahead, including how to fund the recovery from Japan’s devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the ongoing nuclear crisis touched off by the disaster, and the rapid strengthening of the nation’s currency on international markets."

B-b-b-b-b-but just yesterday he promised to end the crisis at Fukushima, reconstruct Japan, and end the economic crisis -- surely he had a plan in place when he made said promise, so why does he suddenly 'face major issues ahead'? I thought all five of these guys running for head of the party could perform magic!

I don't think the boring dojyo knows much about rice and probably absolutely nothing about nuclear energy. His wife probably cooks his rice and pours his sake every night before he takes a long relaxing bath and hits the sack evert day of his life.

Go New PM Yoshihiko Noda and please kick Ishihara Shintaro butt. Nippon Gambare!!!

"I thought all five of these guys running for head of the party could perform magic!"

Apparently that's what everyone thought Kan was capable of too -- magic. The electorate apparently has forgotten that no great obstacles are overcome without hard work and sacrifice.

And from what I've seen so far in Japan since the quake, hard work and sacrifice are the last things on people's minds.

Magic is apparently how they believe all of problems facing Japan now will be solved, and if the Prime Minister doesn't possess a magic wand, he gets booted out of office.

Magic is apparently how they believe all of problems facing Japan now will be solved, and if the Prime Minister doesn't possess a magic wand, he gets booted out of office.

They DID tell the Japanese people that there really is no such thing as Hogwarts University, right?

But seriously, this guy used to be the Finance Minister so you'd think he has at least SOME idea of the funding problems his country faces. Maybe that's why he got the "nod".

"this guy used to be the Finance Minister so you'd think he has at least SOME idea of the funding problems his country faces. Maybe that's why he got the "nod"."

We can certainly hope.

Poor China already

Maehara has lose ...

Noda will hopefully set things straight concerning the false victor's justice that came out of the Tokyo Tribunals.