The general feeling in the country, say analysts, is that the generous tax slashing might not be enough to re-animate Japan's economy. Economists suggest the country needs a tax cut of up to three times that magnitude.
Meanwhile, there were further indications that Japan was succumbing to regional woes: The government reported that Japan's trade surplus was up 59 percent in November from the previous year, yet exports to Asian neighbors dropped for the first time in more than three years. The reason: Weaker Asian currencies are making Japanese goods more expensive, while slower economic growth in nearby countries is cutting into demand for goods.