The senior vice-ministers and the parliamentary secretaries of the Hatoyama Cabinet were decided at the Cabinet meeting and the round robin Cabinet meeting, respectively, on September 18.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama attended the attestation ceremony at the Imperial Palace with 22 senior vice-ministers, who had assembled at the Prime Minister's Office. Prime Minister Hatoyama and the senior vice-ministers thereafter returned to the Prime Minister's Office and attended a commemorative photograph session, which was also joined by Mr. Hirofumi Hirano, Chief Cabinet Secretary, and others. Prime Minister Hatoyama then attended the first meeting of the senior vice-ministers.

Afterwards, Prime Minister Hatoyama delivered letters of appointment to 25 parliamentary secretaries, who had assembled at the Prime Minister's Office. The Prime Minister then attended a commemorative photograph session and the first meeting of the parliamentary secretaries.

In his addresses at both meetings, Prime Minister Hatoyama said, "Japan's politics has made a fresh start to gain political leadership following the change of government. I am sure that the senior vice-ministers and parliamentary secretaries will carry out increasingly severe tasks accordingly. We will change the world fundamentally under such political leadership. Leadership must be assumed by politicians in order to respond to the people's expectations. I want each one of you to engage in politics in a manner such that your achievements will be understood by future generations as having changed Japan's politics. Also, the senior vice-ministers and parliamentary secretaries must listen to the various opinions of the Diet members and assume the role of leading them. I want you to have a grand vision as you carry out your tasks that you are the ones who lead the nation and the people in the right direction. We have great expectations for you."