Former finance minister Naoto Kan became Japan's new prime minister on Friday.
The move came after he was voted the new head of the ruling Democratic Party earlier in the day.
The Democratic Party has a majority in the more powerful lower house of parliament and Kan's election as the 94th prime minister of Japan was a formality after he became party head.
"Our first priority is to regain the trust of the people," Kan, 63, said.
The developments came after Yukio Hatoyama stepped down as premier on Wednesday and his entire Cabinet resigned en masse earlier on Friday.
Kan has identified economic recovery and growth as the greatest challenges facing Japan.
He also said Japan's ties with the U.S. were vital for the nation, but also stressed the importance of relations with other countries in the region.
"With the U.S.-Japan alliance the cornerstone of our diplomacy, we must also work for the prosperity of the Asian region," he said ahead of the vote that made him Japan's sixth premier in four years.
MOSCOW, June 4 (RIA Novosti)
