The Hatoyama Dynasty : Japanese Political Leadership Through the Generations

This is a multi-generational political history of the Hatoyamas, a family that has participated at the highest levels of Japan's parliamentary government from its inception in the late 1800s. The Hatoyama family is one of the most prominent political families in modern Japanese government. It has produced six members of the Diet, Japan's parliament, many of whom have served as cabinet members and party leaders. Due to the family's political legacy, they have often been likened to the Kennedy family in American politics (though they have been spared the tragedy and scandal visited upon the Kennedys). Despite the significance of the Hatoyamas to modern Japanese politics, this is the first comprehensive study available in English. In tracing the rising political fortunes of this family, it is also possible to study the role of hereditary politicians in Japan, the growth and evolution of Japanese political parties, and, perhaps most importantly, the way political leadership functions in Japan, a society known more for consensus-building than for strong leaders. "This book is the first in English to examine theoretically the political leadership of the Hatoyama dynasty. The Hatoyamas are arguably the most prominent political family in modern Japanese politics, having produced six Diet members in four generations, each with distinguished political careers, holding positions such as prime minister, foreign minister, and house speaker. In many ways, the history of the Hatoyama family's political careers is essentially the history of Japan's modern political and parliamentary history. As a result, Mayumi Itoh's thorough examination of the Hatoyama dynasty offers unique insights into the evolution of modern Japanese political activity and leadership from the dawn of the Meiji era to the present. In addition, Itoh offers a valuable reassessment of Hatoyama Ichiro's leadership (Prime Minister 1954-1956) and a detailed look at the process of his purge and depurging by U.S. occupation forces. A combination of biography and political history, The Hatoyama Dynasty is an important resource for understanding Japanese politics of both the past and the present."--Jacket This title is a multi-generational political history of the Hatoyama family as well as a study of the role of hereditary politicians in Japan, the growth and evolution of Japanese political parties, and, perhaps most importantly, the way political leadership functions in Japan