Japanese Emperor Akihito leaves the national Diet as he declared the opening of the Diet session in Tokyo on September 18, 2009. Japan's new government led by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on September 18 began unwinding policies of the conservatives they ousted -- axing a mega-dam, pledging to reverse some market reforms and probing secret Cold War US defence pacts. Getty Images logo Getty Images 2 months ago

Japanese Emperor Akihito leaves the national Diet as he declared the opening of the Diet session in Tokyo on September 18, 2009. Japan's new government led by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on September 18 began unwinding policies of the conservatives they ousted -- axing a mega-dam, pledging to reverse some market reforms and probing secret Cold War US defence pacts.

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  1. US President Barack Obama (L) shakes hands with Japanese Empress Michiko (R) as Emperor Akihito looks on upon Obama's arrival at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on November 14, 2009. Billing himself America's first 'Pacific president', Barack Obama on November 14 said the United States did not seek to 'contain' China and promised a full US role in charting Asia's future.
  2. US President Barack Obama (L) bows as he shakes hands with Japanese Emperor Akihito (C) and as Empress Michiko (R) looks on upon Obama's arrival at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on November 14, 2009. Billing himself America's first 'Pacific president', Barack Obama on November 14 said the United States did not seek to 'contain' China and promised a full US role in charting Asia's future.
  3. Japanese Emperor Akihito (C) and Empress Michiko (R) welcome visiting US President Barack Obama (L) as he arrives at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on November 14, 2009. Billing himself America's first 'Pacific president', Barack Obama on November 14 said the United States did not seek to 'contain' China and promised a full US role in charting Asia's future.
  4. US President Barack Obama (L) shakes hands with Japanese Empress Michiko (R) as Emperor Akihito (C) looks on upon Obama's arrival at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on November 14, 2009. Billing himself America's first 'Pacific president', Barack Obama on November 14 said the United States did not seek to 'contain' China and promised a full US role in charting Asia's future.
  5. US President Barack Obama (L) bows as he shakes hands with Japanese Emperor Akihito (C) and as Empress Michiko (R) looks on upon Obama's arrival at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on November 14, 2009. Billing himself America's first 'Pacific president', Barack Obama on November 14 said the United States did not seek to 'contain' China and promised a full US role in charting Asia's future.
  6. US President Barack Obama (L) shakes hands with Japanese Empress Michiko (R) as Emperor Akihito looks on upon Obama's arrival at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on November 14, 2009. Billing himself America's first 'Pacific president', Barack Obama on November 14 said the United States did not seek to 'contain' China and promised a full US role in charting Asia's future.
  7. US President Barack Obama (L) prepares to bow as he shakes hands with Japanese Emperor Akihito (R) upon Obama's arrival at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on November 14, 2009. Billing himself America's first 'Pacific president', Barack Obama on November 14 said the United States did not seek to 'contain' China and promised a full US role in charting Asia's future.
  8. Thousands people wave Japan's national flags as Emperor Akihito (L) and Empress Michiko (R) appear on a large screen during a ceremony to celebrate the 20 years anniversary on the throne at a square in front of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on November 12, 2009.
  9. Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) shakes hands with Deputy Prime Minister Naoto Kan (C) after Hatoyama's first policy speech at the Diet in Tokyo on October 26 , 2009. Hatoyama launched a broadside against the excesses of capitalism, in his first parliamentary address since taking office last month. At left is Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.
  10. Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (L) is welcomed by his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva (R) upon his arrival for the the East Asia Summit meeting during the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in the southern Thai resort town of Hua Hin on October 25, 2009. Japan's new Prime Minister Hatoyama pressed plans for a new East Asian community at a summit on October 24, saying that the region should aspire to lead the world.
  11. Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (L) is welcomed by his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva (R) upon his arrival for the the East Asia Summit meeting during the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in the southern Thai resort town of Hua Hin on October 25, 2009. Japan's new Prime Minister Hatoyama pressed plans for a new East Asian community at a summit on October 24, saying that the region should aspire to lead the world.
  12. Japanese Pime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) is welcomed by his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva (L) upon his arrival for the Gala Dinner in the southern Thai resort town of Hua Hin on October 24, 2009. Prime Minister Hatoyama is here to attend the Southeastan Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit meeting.
  13. Japan's new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, left, accompanied by Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, center, is greeted by a Diet guard upon arriving for a ceremonial opening of the extraordinary Diet session by Emperor Akihito at the upper house of parliament in Tokyo, Japan, Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. Japan's new, largely untested Cabinet is starting out with high public approval ratings amid hopes that Hatoyama's government will reinvigorate the world's second-largest economy, polls showed Friday.
  14. New Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (C) and his cabinet members pose for photographers after the first cabinet meeting at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo on September 16, 2009. Also seen are Financial Affairs and Postal Reform Minister Shizuka Kamei (L), Vice Prime Minister Naoto Kan (2nd L), Consumer Affairs and Gender Equality Minister Mizuho Fukushima (2nd R) and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada (R). The centre-left Prime Minister Hatoyama acclaimed a turning point in history September 16 as he took command of Asia's biggest economy with a pledge to return power to the people.
  15. Japan's new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama arrives at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009. Longtime opposition leader Hatoyama was elected prime minister Wednesday, promising to reinvigorate Japan's economy and shake up government with his left-of-center party after more than 50 years of nearly unbroken rule by conservatives.
  16. Japan's new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, center, arrives at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009. Longtime opposition leader Hatoyama was elected prime minister Wednesday, promising to reinvigorate Japan's economy and shake up government with his left-of-center party after more than 50 years of nearly unbroken rule by conservatives.

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  10. A dog waits by a bed with a terminally ill Thai man, at a hospice for those dying of AIDS, at Wat Prabat Nampu Buddhist temple in Lopburi, on the World AIDS day December 1, 2009. Thailand has been widely praised for its work in containing the virus. The number of new infections fell from a peak of around 140,000 a year in 1991, to 18,000 in 2005, according to UNAIDS. This remarkable achievement came about mainly because men used condoms more, and also reduced their use of brothels.
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  15. MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 01: Rob Moore of England and Desmond Abbott of Australia contest for the ball in the match between Australia and England during day three of the 2009 Hockey Champions Trophy held at the State Netball and Hockey Centre on December 1, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia.
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