Examining Japan's lost decades / edited by Yoichi Funabashi and Barak Kushner.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Funabashi, Yōichi, 1944- editor.

Kushner, Barak, 1968- editor.

Series:

Routledge contemporary Japan series ; 59.

Routledge contemporary Japan series ; 59

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Japan--Social conditions--1989-.

Japan.

Social conditions.

Japan--Economic conditions--1989-.

Economic conditions.

Japan--Politics and government--1989-.

Politics and government.

Japan--Foreign relations--1989-.

International relations.

Diplomatic relations.

Economic history.

Physical Description:

xxxiv, 338 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2015.

Summary:

"This book examines five features of Japan's 'Lost Decades': the speed of the economic decline in Japan compared to Japan's earlier global prowess; a rapidly declining population; considerable political instability and failed reform attempts; shifting balances of power in the region and changing relations with Asian neighbouring nations; and the lingering legacy of World War Two. Addressing the question of why the decades were lost, this book offers 15 new perspectives ranging from economics to ideology and beyond. Investigating problems such as the risk-averse behaviour of Japan's bureaucracy and the absence of strong political leadership, the authors analyse how the delay of 'loss-cutting policies' led to the 1997 financial crisis and a state of political gridlock where policymakers could not decide on firm strategies that would benefit national interests. To discuss the rebuilding of Japan, the authors argue that it is first essential to critically examine Japan's 'Lost Decades' and this book offers a comprehensive overview of Japan's recent 20 years of crisis. The book reveals that the 'Lost Decades' is not an issue unique to the Japanese context but has global relevance, and its study can provide important insights into challenges being faced in other mature economies. With chapters written by some of the world's leading Japan specialists and chapters focusing on a variety of disciplines, this book will be of interest to students and scholars in the areas of Japan studies, Politics, International Relations, Security Studies, Government Policy and History"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Japan's demographic collapse and the vanishing provinces / Seike Atsushi

Monetary and fiscal policies during the lost decades / Kenneth Kuttner, Iwaisako Tokuo, and Adam Posen

The two "lost decades" and macroeconomics : changing economic policies / Kobayashi Keiichiro

Making sense of the lost decades : workplaces and schools, men and women, young and old, rich and poor / Andrew Gordon

The two lost decades in education : the failure of reform / Kariya Takehiko

The Fukushima nuclear accident : lost opportunities and the "safety myth" / Kitazawa Koichi

The last two decades in Japanese politics : lost opportunities and undesirable outcomes / Machidori Satoshi

The Gulf War and Japan's national security identity / Michael J. Green and Igata Akira

Foreign economic policy strategies and economic performance / Peter Drysdale and Shiro Armstrong

Japan's Asia/Asia-Pacific policy in flux / Shiraishi Takashi

Okinawa bases and the U.S.-Japan alliance / Sheila A. Smith

Japanese historical memory / Togo Kazuhiko

Japan's failed bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council / Akiyama Nobumasa

The stakeholder state : ideology and values in Japan's search for a post-cold war global role / G. John Ikenberry

Conclusion : something has been "lost" from our future / Funabashi Yoichi.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781138885752

1138885754

OCLC:

893453538