Aso pledges to make Japan 1st to overcome global recession

Thursday 01st January, 09:32 AM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 27 Total Comments Show All

borscht at 10:43 PM JST - 1st January

which only occurs once in a 100 years

First, I know of no recurring cycle of depression and recession in economics. Second, the Great Depression was in 1930 (about 80 years more or less). And in all of Aso's speech I see no mention of details, how it will be accomplished, who will have to bite the bullet, and how it will all be financed. Obviously a speech to the party faithful, no more, no less.
jacqueshellacque at 11:29 PM JST - 1st January

Is he talking about the 1991 recession? Japan still hasn't climbed out of that one.
medievaltimes at 12:01 AM JST - 2nd January

Nice try...bye bye Aso.
Cortasaurus at 12:31 AM JST - 2nd January

@borscht: actually there is a pattern of economic downfall... It isn't necessarily a depression, but every 10 years the economy falls--unfortunately into a huge depression this time. I think... he got his numbers mixed up? lol.
Taka313 at 04:05 AM JST - 2nd January

Shiuu,

I wonder if that includes government employees taking a pay cut in order to lower taxes?

Actually, many Japanese govt. workers did take a pay cut. And if memory serves me, their pensions were cut too.

There were strikes over it last year.

Taka
jam_sandwich at 05:25 AM JST - 2nd January

I am not holding my breath for Japan... I think Obama has a better chance of turning America around than Aso does of bringing Japan out of a recession, (and first at that I might add). It's just political rhetoric to try and bolster his ailing popularity.
kenjinakasone at 05:35 AM JST - 2nd January

more countries need to generate growth and trade other than the U.S.
it's not the center of the universe you know.
shiuu at 06:10 AM JST - 2nd January

Actually, many Japanese govt. workers did take a pay cut. And if memory serves me, their pensions were cut too.

Does "many" mean "all?" Did "many" take a cut before or after Aso made his "utmost efforts" statement?

I say cut them again. Or at least make "many" mean "all." If they don't like it, they're free to look for a job in the non- guaranteed lifetime employment sector like the rest of the Japanese taxpayers who pay their salaries.

If the Japanese economy is going to dig it's way out, it's got to reverse the trend of piling on new taxes.
sf2k at 08:53 AM JST - 2nd January

how can any recovery function if Japan imports everything it needs and those economies are currently in recession/decline? Huh?????? By definition you will be last, not first in line dumb dumb.

with zero understanding of entrepreneurialship self employment and being allowed by this society to follow your own pursuits, especially among women, Japan will always be last.

But don't let facts get in the way of an argument. Wouldn't want to talk about something substantive.
Simon_Foston at 07:01 PM JST - 2nd January

It's just political rhetoric to try and bolster his ailing popularity.

What it is is empty waffle. You could hear just about any politician anywhere saying the same thing; Aso had nothing specific at all to say about how this miracle is suppposed to be brought about.
LIBERTAS at 03:20 AM JST - 3rd January

With national debt at 250% of GDP, good luck Taro! You'll need it!
renguozhong at 03:01 PM JST - 4th January

frankly, china shud be the first one climbing out of the recession . china is the only hope of the world !
sf2k at 03:25 PM JST - 4th January

Ah no.. China has no more oil or coal and will not ramp up any more production. It's also laying off thousands due to noone buying. Tanker ships are not sailing. If China doesn't collapse as a totalitarian regime that will be a surprise. It's also holding more USA paper (treasury bills) than anyone else, so if China bails, the USA is toast.

If the USA is toast, Canada is too and anyone else. Japan is also because then there is no one to buy Japanese cars. Then you have more layoffs in Japan. Rinse and repeat elsewhere.

Welcome to globalization. Enjoy
ptolemy at 06:21 PM JST - 5th January

Bwaaaaaaaaa haaaa haaaaaaa! Oh sorry Aso, you're serious. Snicker, bwaaaaaaaaa haaaaaa haaaaa haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Zolt at 05:42 PM JST - 6th January

Well, Japan has been in recession for about 20 years now, so they got a head start on everybody else.