Besides, the party comprises both policymaking and party election elites. How to build an orderly and balanced power structure without triggering fights for power—or creating several power centers—will be a tough task for the party leaders.

Changes to come

The DPJ's historic victory gives Japan's liberal politicians a significant opportunity to realize their political ideals. Election creeds and policies of the DPJ portend future changes for Tokyo's domestic and foreign policies after it comes into power.

Domestically, the DPJ will put more energy into the economy. Unlike the conservatives' economic policy, the DPJ's prescription focuses more on enlarging domestic demands and improving people's living standards.

The party plans to cut government budgets, relieve tax burdens, and enlarge efficient demands by enhancing its people's disposable income to catalyze economic recovery from the inside.

It seems its economic policy has created a safety net covering people's needs regarding infant health, education, employment and pensions. The DPJ stresses its economic policy doesn't exclude competition, but just pays more attention to social justice and disadvantaged groups.

The DPJ will introduce changes to Japan's foreign policy as well. While maintaining a basic tone of realism, Japan will highlight the DPJ's distinctive dovish color when devising diplomatic policies and developing foreign relations.

Its future strategy, meanwhile, will lay greater emphasis on peace and independence, while prioritizing balanced development of its foreign relations.

Relations with the United States will still be the center of Japan's future diplomatic activities. The DPJ actually is not satisfied with the current Japan-U.S. relationship, believing Washington doesn't treat Japan as an equal country, and Japan's needs to do more to promote its interests.

It raised many specific suggestions before the election, including amending the Status of Forces Agreement with the United States and stopping the extension of the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law.

It also suggested ending the refueling mission that Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force conducts in the Indian Ocean and downsizing the budget for U.S. military bases in Japan.

Some of these suggestions have ignited debates in Japan, making the U.S. side very sensitive. As Washington remains an important part of Japan's diplomatic strategy, there is slight chance that the DPJ will adjust Japan-U.S. relationship on a large scale.

However, Japan will insist more on its own opinions when concerning bilateral security ties, to make the United States care more about Japan's state interests, and to improve Tokyo's position in bilateral relationship.

The DPJ, meanwhile, will focus more on developing relations with China after it comes into power. Party leader Hatoyama, for example, previously declared he would not participate in the Yasukuni Shrine worship ceremony.

This showed the party would not create too much trouble on historical issues. In this way, the Sino-Japanese relationship will likely develop in a good atmosphere. And by strengthening practical dialogue and cooperation with China, the party will seek a win-win situation together with Beijing and create a more balanced diplomatic layout.

In addition, the two sides are expected to make progress on cooperation concerning regional peace and development. And their active posture on regional cooperation is going to further promote regional integration in East Asia.

The author is a researcher with the China Institute of International Studies