Focus Newsletter

JETRO's Focus Newsletter series provides readers with a bi-monthly snapshot of Japan's macroeconomy, as well as other important topics and trends. It is designed to analyze current developments, including those relating to Japan's economy, its business, financial, investment and political environment, as well as relevant social and cultural themes.  Subscribe online to JETRO Focus

Recent editions have covered issues including rising entrepreneurship and investor interest in Japan, the economic integration of East Asia, changing business and corporate practices, structural and corporate reform and the potential impact of postal savings reform.

 Download the October 2007 Newsletter (360 KB)

Japan Moves To Improve Efficiency Of Service Sector
While media attention is largely focused on political and macroeconomic trends, the economic revitalization of Japan is being achieved largely on...

Japan is a Very Different Place Today than Only Ten Years ago
Whereas once Japanese corporations and banks maintained control through extensive cross-shareholdings, these holdings fell substantially throughout the 1990s and early 2000s when compared to the...

The Service Sector Accounts for Almost 70% of the Japanese Economy
As in all developed economies, Japan’s service sector, which includes healthcare, leisure services, distribution, software services, and a host of other activities, has increased in importance. It now accounts for...

Study Group Identifies Constraints and Steps to Improve Japan’s Service Sector
To address the obstacles that have been impeding growth in Japan’s service sector and to identify policy recommendations and other actions that can address these and other constraints, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) formed a...

Efficiency of Service Sector Important for Both Domestic as well as Global Efficiency
As globalization has progressed and opportunities for modularizing the production process have increased, large Japanese firms have transferred an increasing percentage of the components of the manufacturing process abroad to reduce costs and...

Changes in Japan’s Service Sector Driving New Business and Investment Opportunities in Japan
The desire to revitalize Japan’s service sector is creating opportunities for U.S. and other foreign businesses and investors. First, foreign businesses may be able to supply services—e.g., data gathering, software and IT consulting, and...