Japan on the Rocks

There was a time when we thought, with good reason, that Japan, Inc. was going to buy the world. We studied Japanese management and wondered how we could emulate their success. About twenty years ago this all collapsed.

Nobody talks about Japan, Inc. anymore. The economy of Japan has been in the doldrums for the better part of twenty years. The population is shrinking and their politics seem self-destructive. This collection of symptoms has been called the "Japanese Disease."

Here is an article in The Japan Times that lays out the problems and is mildly optimistic about the outcome, if only the Japanese will hang tough. If you are interested in Japan and can ignore the mild optimism at the end, the article is worth your time.