[ruffedgrouse]

"Japan's living standard is lower than the country that serves as its primary export partner (the United States). That's the only one that really counts" Are we a neighbor of Japan?! Wow, the earth really did move!

[Alberta's Child]

I never said anything about "neighbors."

My original point specifically included the term trading partners, and you suggested that "Japan puts the lie to this theory" because it has a lower standard of living than its neighbors.