Word: campaign
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...government policy has completely altered the tenor of relations between the U.S. and its closest ally in Asia. Twenty years ago, Tokyo and Washington routinely sparred, most often over trade, but in the past decade the two nations seemed to become closer than ever. Japan backed America's antiterror campaign, for example, by marshaling refueling missions in the Indian Ocean to support U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Japan was looking more American at home as well. Under Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006, the government adopted several free-market reforms to try to restore growth to the perpetually sluggish...
...Struggling for Approval During last year's election campaign, this mystery man sold himself as a change agent. Hatoyama has pledged a complete overhaul of decades of policy held dear by the old regime. He has vowed to break the grip of the all-powerful bureaucracy and place greater policymaking authority in the hands of elected politicians to make the government more transparent and accountable. As a guiding principle in economic affairs, he has revived another concept from his grandfather - fraternity - which has translated into a menu of new initiatives aimed at building a more extensive welfare system. That, Hatoyama...
...reforms are also likely to face stiff resistance from the still powerful elements of the establishment, especially the government bureaucracy, which won't readily surrender its influence. Just like so many other Japanese politicians, Hatoyama has already been tarred by an alleged scandal, this one concerning campaign finance. (Hatoyama has publicly apologized for the scandal, though he has said he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing.) His Cabinet's approval rating has plummeted in the six months since he took office to a dismal 33%, and there is chatter in Tokyo that he may not last long in office...
...That wasn't enough to satisfy Hatoyama. During the election campaign, he promised the Okinawans that the air base would be shifted off the island entirely, and since taking office he has effectively shelved the 2006 accord and reopened negotiations with the U.S. After months of waffling and breaking self-imposed deadlines, it's not clear exactly what Hatoyama will propose to Washington, but he told reporters in late March, "I personally should like to consider a path to relocate the air station outside Okinawa...
...while most fans might resent an owner who has bought their club on his credit card, convincing them to buy him out with their own hard-earned cash won't be easy. A 2008 campaign to get 100,000 Liverpool fans to each chip in $10,000 toward the cost of buying back the club from its unpopular owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, failed to gain momentum. Ongoing uncertainty over their plans for the club - Hicks and Gillett are expected to step down as co-chairmen this week amid the search for a buyer - has meant a revised fundraising...