http://www.theatlantic.com/international...des/71741/

It makes a few good points, especially if you consider the amount of 'recession' propaganda Japan has had for the last 20 years.

Extremely misleading article. The author cherrypicks a couple of statistics related to foreign trade, and equates them with the economic well-being of the entire nation.

But the statistics of GNI per capita demonstrate that while the average citizen in the rest of the world has largely become wealthier since 1990, the average Japanese citizen has at best moved sideways: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.G...play=graph

yes chuubaka, but isn't that the whole point of the article, that the buisness leaders and government are downplaying figures?

In terms of market share the Japanese are getting hammered in international trade.

I think some significant trends to watch out for in the next 10 years are Japanese firms continuing to lose technological edge to Korean, Taiwanese, and recently Chinese firms and old Japanese farmers continuing to trip up the central government's attempts to negotiate the trade pacts needed to stay competitive.

Chuubaka is right on. For the last 20 years the Japanese economy has just been kind of going along. Not moving backwards, but not really going forward either.

@ zachandhobbes: the author argues that the Japanese economy as a whole has been performing far better than the Japanese government and many foreign Japan experts claim-- that they are "hiding the truth."

The statistics show that unfortunately the Japanese government and foreign Japan experts are correct-- the Japanese economy has been flat for the last 20 years.

You've all defeated the author of the article so quickly! You should challenge them to a debate they mention at the end. Shouldn't take more than a few seconds to crush them and get your donation money, right? ^_-

I would, but I'm not. It's not because I agree/disagree or lack the knowledge, it's just that I don't want to give them the attention. Yep. Plus I just can't be arsed to do it. I'm tired right now. Maybe later, though. When I get some stuff done and whatnot.

Edit: What, you have to be on the list of 10 invitees? Pish posh. Until I see Mr. Fingleton post more statistics with sources and be willing to accept challenges from all comers, I'm going to agree with his detractors, even though I do think the Japocalypse narrative is out of control and overblown.

May 25 (Reuters) - Japan's net foreign assets hit a record high of 266.2 trillion yen ($2.958 trillion) at the end of last year, making it the world's top creditor nation for the 19th straight year, the Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/05/2...7320100524

I just realized that this is the guy that wrote this wonderful book,


Blindside: Why Japan is Still on Track to Overtake the U.S. by the Year 2000 (1995)

LOL