Chronology of key events leading to Hatoyama's resignation
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The following is a chronology of major events that impacted Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's government, following a landslide victory that ousted the Liberals from almost 50 years of unbroken rule in Japan, but ultimately resulted in Hatoyama's resignation on Wednesday.
May 2006 -- Japan, U.S. agree on a road map for realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, featuring plan to move Futenma Air Station to coastal area within Okinawa Prefecture by 2014.
May 16, 2009 -- Yukio Hatoyama succeeds DPJ presidency from Ichiro Ozawa, who resigned after aide's indictment over fundraising scandal involving construction firm.
July 19 -- Hatoyama says in Okinawa he seeks to move Futenma Air Station at least outside the prefecture.
Aug. 30 -- DPJ wins House of Representatives election, capturing 308 of 480 seats in lower house.
Sept. 16 -- Hatoyama takes office as prime minister, launches coalition government with Social Democratic Party and People's New Party.
Nov. 13 -- Hatoyama asks U.S. President Barack Obama to trust him on Futenma at summit in Tokyo.
Dec. 22 -- Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa says May 10, 2010 would be the deadline for Japan to resolve the issue of where to relocate the Futemma Air Station.
Dec. 24 -- Ex-aides to Hatoyama indicted over political funds management body's false reporting of donations. Hatoyama not indicted.
Dec. 25 -- Hatoyama vows to resolve Futenma issue by end of May 2010.
Jan. 10, 2010 -- Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano concludes three-day trip to Okinawa, viewing potential relocation sites outside Okinawa for the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station by air.
Jan. 14 -- Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama says Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa will continue his role and not be replaced, despite a spat of allegations regarding a controversial fund management body.
Jan. 28 -- Second bullet along with a threatening letter sent to the DPJ Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa's office.
Feb. 2 -- Government panel chaired by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano, meets to discuss alternative sites outside Okinawa for the U.S. Marines' Futemma Air Station.
Feb. 3 -- Following two rounds of questioning by The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office over the alleged falsification of political funds reports, Ozawa likely not indicted
Feb. 4 -- DPJ lawmaker Tomohiro Ishikawa, two other Ozawa aides indicted, while Ozawa not indicted.
Feb. 8 -- Susumu Inamine's first day as mayor of Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, tells local reporters he remains unequivocally opposed to plans to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Futemma Air Station to his city.
Feb. 20 -- Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima tells Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano that relocating base in Okinawa will pose significant problems.
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