From the moment adventurers reached each other's shores in the early 1800s, cultural encounter formed the bedrock of U.S.-Japan ties.

This churn in Tokyo makes it almost impossible for U.S. and Japanese leaders to forge a stable working relationship. It is becoming a strain on ties between the two Pacific allies, and is one reason Japan has slipped off the radar in Washington. Yet the two partners need each other more than ever, given the common challenges they face, from economic stagnation to continued instability in East Asia.

Japan's voters resoundingly voted for change and a new direction for their country; can the untested, if inspirational, Democratic Party of Japan deliver?

Japan's new prime minister, Taro Aso, must quickly devise a realistic plan to reform Japan's economy and justify its global role if he and his Liberal Democratic Party are to survive.

Japan's new prime minister, Taro Aso, must quickly devise a realistic plan to reform Japan's economy and justify its global role if he and his Liberal Democratic Party are to survive.

Despite its political sclerosis, economic stagnation, and demographic worries, Japan is a resilient nation that has much to contribute to the world.