Calling his mission the "bloodless Heisei restoration," Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama kicked off a 36-day extraordinary Diet session Oct. 26 pledging to revamp postwar politics and establish a society based on his notion of fraternity.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama makes his first policy speech to the Diet as the 35-day extraordinary session began Oct. 26. KYODO PHOTO

But his policy speech to the Diet, which was full of catchphrases, anecdotes and quotes, was short on specifics, especially regarding how to finance the Democratic Party of Japan's election promises.

"This is the restoration of rule from bureaucrat reliance to the people," Hatoyama told the Diet, which will be in session through Nov. 30.

Referring to the Meiji Restoration that followed the unseating of the shogunate and brought crucial changes to Japan in the late 19th century, Hatoyama said challenges ahead are no less exigent than during the country's historic transformation. "The real time for change lies ahead. Let us make today the day of commencement," he said.

On specific policies, Hatoyama promised that his administration will prioritize assisting people in need of government help.

The DPJ's pledge to distribute child allowances and offer free high school education will be steadily implemented, he said, while also vowing to make mending the public pension system a "national project" over the next two years.

But while breezing through the speech with phrases pleasing to the ear, Hatoyama fell short of clarifying measures to secure financial resources for some of the DPJ's pet projects.

"We will wash out any wasteful spending of tax money," he said, but without elaborating on other means to cover the costs.