Hatoyama to take over as Japan PM

（单词翻译）

Japan's parliament is meeting to formally name Yukio Hatoyama as the next prime minister.

His Democratic Party of Japan won a huge poll victory last month, ending more than 50 years of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party.

Prime Minister Taro¹ Aso and his entire cabinet (内阁)resigned early on Wednesday to pave the way for Mr Hatoyama's centre-left government.

"I am excited by the prospect² of changing history," Mr Hatoyama said.

For his part, Mr Aso said: "I did my best for the sake of Japan, in a very short period... but unfortunately, I am stepping down halfway³ through."

Mr Hatoyama must tackle a rapidly aging society and an economy still struggling after a brutal⁴ recession（经济衰退）, the BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says.

He won the election by pledging to break the power of the old order's bureaucrats（官僚）, big business and the LDP - which dominated since the end of the World War II, our correspondent says.

Limits reached

Professor Phil Deans, from Temple University in Tokyo, said people had become tired of the old system.

What lies ahead for Japan?

"It was extremely effective in developing Japan into a very rich, very important nation," he said.

"But it had reached its limits, it had reached the end of the developmental logic⁵ that underpinned⁶ post war Japan.

"The trouble is now its time for reform, everyone agrees reform is good, but where does Japan go next? What is the next model?"

Mr Hatoyama's DPJ has promised to increase social security, but has given little idea of how it will be paid for, our correspondent says.

There is also talk of a more assertive⁷ diplomacy⁸ towards the country's main ally, the United States.

Mr Aso's staff bade him farewell as he formally left office

But opinion polls have shown many people did not vote for the DPJ because of their policies - but because they wanted change.

Japan's economy has been stumbling - the population is ageing and declining.

Keisuke Kurihara is soon to graduate from the elite⁹ University of Tokyo. He already has a job lined up as a diplomat¹⁰ but even he feels the need for a new direction.

"I'd like them to show us their vision of Japan as soon as possible," he said.

"We are faced with great problems, such as the world's fastest aging society and piling national debts. These problems need to be addressed for decades to come."

In defeating the LDP, Yukio Hatoyama has already achieved what many people thought for years was impossible. But now the difficult part begins, governing Japan, our correspondent says. （本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）