Hatoyama sent on China trip

TOKYO - The new Japanese prime minister will not be coming to the Shanghai Expo but will send his predecessor in his stead, a move which leaves him more time to choose a destination for his first state visit, possibly China or the US.

Japan's NHK television reported on Tuesday that Naoto Kan will send former prime minister Yukio Hatoyama as a special representative to "Japan Day" at the Shanghai Expo. Kan's soonest overseas trip is likely to be a G8 trip to Canada this month.

Hatoyama's visit, starting Saturday, was set before his abrupt resignation on June 2 and it is speculated that Kan will keep the arrangement.