( CNN ) -- As Japan 's fifth prime minister in four years , Naoto Kan hopes the revolving door of Japanese politics will remain closed long enough for him to reinvigorate the country . `` The Japanese economy has remained stagnant and suicides have remained 30,000 or so per annum for many years now . So , Japan as a country has lost its vigor , it feels very much closed in for various reasons , '' he told CNN in his first interview with a non-Japanese broadcaster . Kan indicated five areas that he and his government have been addressing to help open up the country since he succeeded former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in June . `` The first is that we need to grow the economy , the second is to strive for fiscal consolidation and the third is to reform our social security system , and the fourth is to achieve what I call regional sovereignty to change the shape of this country and the fifth is for the Japanese people to actively , with ownership , engage in diplomacy . `` Ten years down the road I believe that Japan will emerge stronger and more vigorous economically , socially and otherwise . '' Considered a man of the people , Kan came to prominence in the 1990s when he exposed a government cover-up of HIV-infected blood distributed to hemophiliacs . He stepped down as leader of the Democratic Party of Japan six years ago after being embroiled in a pensions scandal , but his political revival was complete this summer when he succeeded Hatoyama as Prime Minister . Since he arrived in office , Kan has had to deal with a number of issues , among them the recent clash with China over the territorial claims of islands in the East China Sea . `` I believe in any country , matters that relate to its territory would , of course , provoke strong sentiments amongst the people of that country . But I trust that five years , ten years down the road , when people look back at how we dealt with that , people then will appreciate that my cabinet dealt with the issue in a calm manner , '' he said . `` [ A ] s far as Japan is concerned , there is no territorial issue connected to the Senkaku Islands . In fact , the Senkaku Islands are ... inherent territory of Japan that is recognized in our history and also by international law . '' The islands are known as the Diaoyu Islands in China . `` China has become a major presence for most countries around the world but notably for its neighboring countries in Asia . So I think it is a common position for Japan and its Asian neighbors that we certainly would strive to maintain as much as possible friendly relations with China . But at the same time seek China to behave in accordance with international rules . '' Kan 's predecessor resigned after failing to hold an election pledge to move an unpopular U.S. military base away from its current location on the island of Okinawa . While Kan told CNN that plans have been agreed to move the based , he reiterated the strength of the Japanese-U.S. relationship . `` I believe the Japan-U.S. relationship is in very good shape today . I have met President Barack Obama twice and in both of these meetings we have agreed that we should further deepen and advance the Japan-U.S. alliance and more specifically we have agreed that we should further deepen our relations on three pillars , that is security , our economy , and cultural , and people-to-people exchanges , '' he said . A strong yen , cause for concern for many Japanese companies and workers , was in part blamed by Kan on the state of the U.S. economy . `` I believe one of the basic causes for that situation is the fact that the U.S. economy , whilst undergoing some changes , if anything , is being steered toward a weaker dollar , '' he said . `` If you want to change this strong yen situation we need to do three things . First of all , we need to invest more overseas ... The second thing we need to do is to increase domestic demand ... [ and ] as agreed at the G20 summit , should there be excessive fluctuations in exchange markets , then we need to take resolute actions . '' One of the most questioning voices of Kan so far has been his wife , who wrote a book entitled , `` What on Earth Will Change Now That You Are Prime Minister ? '' The couple have a playfully adversarial relationship -- when they fight `` she always wins , '' Kan said . `` What she tells me all the time is that she is a primary voter , meaning that when I talk to our voters about my ideas , she says if she does not get convinced with what I say , no voters would buy my argument . She tells me to try to convince her first with my argument . For me , she is the most challenging voter . ''
Naoto Kan became Prime Minister of Japan in June 2010 . The Japanese government has been criticized for its handling of the Fukushima nuclear disaster and other issues related to radiation exposure from Japan's atomic reactors.