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Japan Gets A New Leader

There's nothing dull about Ryutaro Hashimoto, who became the new Prime Minister of Japan last week.

In the past, Japanese leaders (including Tomiichi Murayama, who resigned January 5) have been quiet and polite men. But Hashimoto, 58, likes to say what's on his mind even if it makes other people upset. On his first day in office, he clashed with one enemy: Ichiro Ozawa, the politician he beat, 287 votes to 166, in the election. Ozawa is against Hashimoto's financial plans for Japan.

Hashimoto is an expert at kendo, a martial art that uses bamboo swords. He practices it on the roof of an office building! He has climbed Mount Everest in Nepal twice but has not yet reached the very top.

U.S. leaders hope to be on good terms with Hashimoto. He has said being on good terms with the U.S. is important to him. But his biggest goal is to give Japan a stronger role in the world.

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