On September 3, DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama held a telephone discussion with US President Barack Obama. Their conversation lasted for approximately 12 minutes. Hatoyama told reporters that during the conversation, he had said “I believe that the Japan-US alliance is the foundation [of Japanese diplomacy]. I would like to create a constructive and future-orientated Japan-US relationship.”

According to Hatoyama, in their talk Obama had congratulated him on the DPJ victory in the House of Representatives election. He said, “I received his congratulations to the effect that Democratic Parties had been victorious on both sides of the ocean.” Hatoyama then indicated that he had replied, “The DPJ’s victory is rather thanks to you Mr. President. For the first time in Japan a change of government has taken place via democratic means ［i.e. via an election under a two-party system]. This change has required a great deal of courage, and it is the US people and President Obama on the other side of the ocean who have inspired this courage in the Japanese people.”

Hatoyama added that he had said, “I hope to have the opportunity to meet with you as soon as possible,” “I would like to further strengthen Japan-US relations,” and “The US-Japan alliance is also a lynchpin for us.”