Description:This book is exceptional in that it employs an approach rarely used by foreign scholars on Japan who rely heavily on macroeconomic data. JAPAN ON THE UPSWING is backed by forty years of the author's experience in marketing as well as by his expertise in science and technology. It is an easy read, free from pretense and jargon. Iwamoto minces no words when discussing policy makers whose fiscal mismanagement and multimillion-dollar deals with mobsters brought about a decade of financial depression for Japan.
American readers will learn how the bubble was created and why, after the bubble burst, many Japanese companies went belly-up. We also learn how Prime Minister Koizumi took over in 2002 and by getting tough helped in the recovery of such major companies as Sony, Panasonic, and Canon. Especially interesting, for example, is Panasonic's story of losing some $3.7 billions in 2002 and managing to report profits in 2005--net financial assets of over $6.5 billions.
Richly documented with a host of intriguing anecdotes involving racketeers, corporations, and government officials, this is a must read for anyone interested in Japan and its economy.