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Japans 'Lost Decade' 1992-2002?' Some would argue that Japan never climbed
out of the economic recession that saw the 2nd largest economy throw 'stimulus pkg.' after stimulus pkg. with no impact or effect.
The latest economic down cycle has pundits argue that Japan will weather this latest financial meltdown just fine? Note
However, that image has come crashing down as the Japanese government announced that the fourth quarter of 2008 saw the fastest contraction for the economy (in terms of GDP) in 35 years. A NYTimes article entitled: “Japan’s Economy Plunges at Fastest Pace Since ’74,” describes how the Japanese economy, which is heavily reliant on exports, is suffering heavily now that the effects of plummeting global demand is taking hold:
These Numbers posted after US 'stim pkg.' to Citi-BofA note this period is
during a period of a uptick in the Japans Stock Market for the same period.
Mar. 16,2009
The following are some of the well known Japanese companies with the month-to-date performance:

1. Sony (SNE) - 17.03%

2. Nissan Motor (NSANY) - 16.50%

3. TDK (TDK) - 14.53%

4.Kyocera (KYO) - 12.11%

5.Fujifilm (FUJI) - 6.29%

6. Hitachi (HIT) - 6.26%

7. Canon (CAJ) - 2.27%

Honda (HMC) and Toyota (TM) are down less than 5%.

Now these numbers are'nt bad compared to German and US companies during this same economic down cycle. But the Japans Stock Markets only represent 18% of their pre 1990 'Lost Decade' bubble value and this is 2009? Do the math it doe'snt take a rocket scientist to figure this out.

The Moral of Japan's Lost Decade
by: Lok Sang Ho February 24, 2009
My statistics indicate that Japan’s Lost Decade had much to do with the strong Yen. As an export-dependent economy, the strength of the Yen simply strangled the economy to a halt.

Put simply, Japan had experienced such strength in its currency that its export machine was stalled. With Japan’s huge population and small resource base, Japan had to rely on exports to provide employment and to be able to import. Theoretically, Japan could earn big investment income from abroad and recycle them, but while investment income from abroad did help tremendously, it is not reliable, and “recycling” is not so easy in a market economy that wants to minimize taxes and transfers.

The Yen had appreciated by 40 per cent against a basket of currencies by the end of 1993 and by as much as 56% by the second quarter of 1995. In contrast, the US dollar had depreciated by 11% by the second quarter of 1995. Although the Yen started falling after the middle of 1995, by 2000, the Yen remained 50% above the value a decade ago. Only depreciation of the Yen in the 2000s helped push the Japanese economy out of recession.