Episode 481 – The Dynasty, Part 4

April 14, 2023

We’re wrapping up our look at the Hatoyama political dynasty with some time on Hatoyama Iichiro (arguably Japan’s most reluctant politican) and his two sons Kunio and Yukio. Plus some thoughts on the legacy of the Hatoyama family and on dynastic electoral politics more generally.

Sources

Itoh, Mayumi. The Hatoyama Dynasty: Japanese Political Leadership Through the Generations.

Itoh, Mayumi. “Hatoyama Kunio and Political Leadership in Japan: A Political Case Study.” Asian Survey 39, No 5 (1999)

Calder, Kent E. “Kanyro vs Shomin: Contrasting Dynamics of Conservative Leadership in Postwar Japan.” in Political Leadership in Contemporary Japan, ed. Terry Edward MacDougall

Ishibashi, Michihiro, and Steven R. Reed. “Second-Generation Diet Members and Democracy in Japan: Hereditary Seats.” Asian Survey 32, No 4 (April, 1992).

Images

Hatoyama Yukio on a state visit to the US in 2009 with then-president Barack Obama.
Hatoyama Jiro’s official LDP photo.
Hatoyama Kunio in 2007, as a part of the cabinet of prime minister Fukuda Yasuo.
Hatoyama Iichiro poses on the steps of the Diet with Yukio (left) and Kunio (right) in 1986 after Yukio is elected for the first time.