[AmericanInTokyo]

Traditional American analyses of Japan (for the last 80 years at least) has been one of a humorous saga occupying two extremes of the pendulum movement.

It alternates (usually in 15-year increments) between the polar opposites of the galvanized paranoia "Japan Will Rule The World!" (Russo-Japanese War, Pearl Harbor, Rising Sun) and the abject triumphalist "Japan Is Dead!" (Hiroshima, Nixon Oil Shocks, Bad Bank Debt). Nasakenai!

The analysis I see on FR keeps true to this American tradition, and has swung fully into the defeatest mode.

It shall swing back in not too short a time.

While the truth of the matter is, (equipped with a knowledge of the the highly resilient, intelligent yet limited Japanese), as always, somewhere in the middle.

[dighton]

Somewhat like Talleyrand's "Russia is never as strong as it looks. Russia is never as weak as it looks."

[Jason Kauppinen]

That was the most inane post I've read here in a while.

[TigerLikesRooster]

RE #18

I don't see any way for Japan to get out of current economic problem unless some drastic political upheaval like Meiji Restoration or Feb. 24 Rebellion. The political process stopped working. Without it, no real reform can be done. Due to 10 year delay, any restructuring will be really painful. I even read that Japanese government is readying a lesigslation which will limit the amount of deposits that will be salvaged by depositors in the event that something will happen to their banks. I heard that the limit is 10 million yen.

So I seriously wonder if Japan can travel any mid-line course as you suggested. Do you perhaps know something I do not know ?