Japan's leadership tested by quake and nuclear crisis

Three days ago, Prime Minister Naoto Kan was fighting for his political life. Now, the success of his government may hinge on how he responds to what he calls Japan' biggest crisis since the end of World War II. The reaction so far is "light-years better" than the response to the 1995 Kobe earthquake that killed 6,400 people, when Japan initially turned down offers of aid from countries including the U.S. and the U.K., said Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University, Japan Campus. "Kan has shown the public a resolute and compassionate leader."
March 14, 2011 | Bloomberg