The Japanese military is emerging from decades of pacifism. But do the country's political leaders have the vision and the will to make the country strong again?

One of the great weights around the neck of Japanese politics in the past decade has been the refusal of older party leaders to make way for a younger cohort of politicians who might have better ideas for bringing Japan out of its economic slump. This inertia only became more prominent after the March 11 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis.

This event will discuss the impact of Japan's August 30 elections.

Noda's most important challenge will be an apathetic citizenry that has lost faith in its leaders and whose demand for competent leadership from the DPJ has been dashed by the failure of former prime ministers Kan and Yukio Hatoyama.

The United States' most important Asian ally--Japan--proved a difficult relationship to manage during Robert Gates' tenure. While not resolving many outstanding issues in US-Japan relations, Gates did manage to keep ties on track and focused on constructive engagement.

The country needs a radical reformer more than ever, but the chances of one emerging are mixed. It is the same faces that are struggling for power, while the public loses confidence in any of Japan's elected officials.

Ichiro Ozawa's personal desire to finally become Japan's leader has distracted the nation's leaders from the vital debate that the nation needs to have to resurrect its economy, and the longer such a debate is put off, the more likely it is that another reckoning will come.

Few in Japan today talk in such optimistic terms about China. None want a clash of any kind, nor a more confrontational relationship, but neither are Japanese willing to be forced into accommodating Chinese desires.