Scenes of a Stagnant Japanese Economy

Municipal Building
What makes Japan's story so much more frustrating is that not so long ago, it was at the forefront of change. The country remains wedded to the bureaucracy-led policymaking and die-hard devotion to exports and manufacturing that fueled its economic miracle — even though those approaches no longer fit Japan's modern, high-cost economy or keep the country competitive.

• Japan: A Clouded Outlook