Japan's space program: an opportunity for growth?

by Scott PetersonIt seems to me that a sector that Japan could be a solid competitor globally would be in the commercial launch business. Basd on my cursory scan of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's page on it's H-IIA-primary large-scale launch vehicle, the vehicle could be competitivewith other commercial launch ventures, such as International Launch Services and Sea-Launch.In addition,

The Bank of Japan's decision and the underlying data

The BoJ decided not to change the overnight rate, which was not a surprise. However data that was released in the same time frame is concerning. GDP data was released which showed that annualized Q1 GDP growth of 2.4%, was a sharp sequential decline from a revised 5.0% (previously 5.5%). SeekingAlpha quotes a Tokyo analyst to the effect that "the BoJ will hold at 0.5% over the next three to six

Another high-value export possibility for Japanese manufacturers

Financial Times Deutschland posted a report recently that describes how "China's introduction of locally assembled Japanese "bullet trains" shows that the country has completed the transfer of foreign world-class high-speed rail technology, Beijing's Ministry of Railways has claimed. Lightly modified versions of Japan's E2-1000 Shinkansen went into service on lines around Shanghai recently but

Potential new export market for Japanese manufacturers

According to Aviation Today, "Boeing’s jetliner product rejuvenation coupled with Lockheed Martin’s F-35 and broad U.S. defense export market dominance means expansion of the United States’ share of the industry, and with it dominance in leading edge technologies in such areas as avionics."The military aircraft sector seems like a logical business for a large Japanese conglomerate to invest in.

Exports and Mayonaise in Japan

By Claus Vistesen(cross-post from Alpha.Sources)Many things can be learned from the recent report on Japan's trade surplus which saw a whopping increase on 36.9% y-o-y in March. Japan's current account surplus widened to a record in March, as exports to Asia and Europe helped counter slower growth in shipments to the U.S. The surplus expanded 36.9 percent to 3.32 trillion yen ($28

The state of the Japanese stock market

by Scott PetersonCarl T. Delfeld over at SeekingAlpha asks "Is Japan's Stock Market on a Downward Spiral?"...he points out a couple of facts that I hadn't noticed before:-"Having comprised a third of global market capitalization in 1990, Japan's market capitalization is now less than one tenth that of the world's $49,900 bn"...-"Michiyo Nakamoto of the Financial Times goes on to say that in a

Likely Effects of Interest Rate Hike by the Bank of Japan

by Scott PetersonThe Economist describes how "a few brave economists believe, to the contrary, that higher interest rates would actually encourage (Japanese)households to spend more, not less."I thought the most interesting piece of information from that story was the fact that personal savings rates in Japan have actually been falling essentially since the ZIRP was put into place("the sharp fall