Tokyo ? Yasuo Fukuda took office as Japan’s prime minister today, promising to use his skills as a negotiator to win approval for extending Tokyo’s contentious mission in support of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

The 71-year-old, who studied backroom politics at the knee of his prime minister father, cast himself as the steady hand Japan needs after the scandal-scarred one-year term of his youthful predecessor Shinzo Abe, who abruptly resigned two weeks ago.

“There is room for discussion with our opponents, if they are willing to engage with us,” Fukuda said Tuesday in his first news conference after winning election in parliament. “I believe the government and all parties can come together to the negotiating table.”