Japan reports record Y6.93 tril trade deficit in 2012

"weak yen" - what nonsense. The yen has been hugely over-valued for several years now. Not that I'm complaining, but it can hardly be expected to last.

ohhh I know... why don't we have a massive spend up? Let's borrow trillions of yen from our future disenfranchised generations and hand it out to our mates in construction!!!! Everything will look rosy through my borrowed rose-coloured specks and all the old sods in farms and selling concrete who vote for me (wink, wink with their double, triple votes) will be happy!

japan_cynicJan. 24, 2013 - 10:50AM JST

"weak yen" - what nonsense.

Weak yen is great for export, but absolutely horrible for energy prices, especially now that nearly 90% of energy comes from outside the country and they are paying 20% more just in currency prices.

I know! Just print more money! And do more needless construction all over the country! And continue to piss off one of the most trading partners! That'll solve it!

If they don't start to think outside the box, nothing is going to change!

This will only get worse for the next decade until they figure out a way to generate power other than using nuclear plants and build it but then that will also cost a heck of a lot too.

not cool...!!!!! but spend like there is no tommorro.....................................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LilicJan. 24, 2013 - 12:52PM JST

If they don't start to think outside the box, nothing is going to change!

They came up with Abenomics, but I am afraid it will lead to more distruction for a long run.

Elderly japanese are too conservative and owned too much yen, so weak yen policy is trying to push them to either invest more or let their properties devalued, it looks ok for domestic market, however complain or something like that from outside is unavoidable.

complain or something like that from outside is unavoidable.

Japan has just open the pandra box- a currency war. G20 members including Germany are now threatening Japan that they will devaluate their currencies to open end as well after 2014. So what does it mean to Japan? Well, your devaluation of yen plan will have no effect to exporting. You just make your savings to worthless paper for no reason.

Switch the nuclear reactors back on and problem solved.

Switch back to a place where no one can live if there is just one more lie....one more tepco mistake...yea right!! problem solved...!!!...no worrie's mate...!

JaymannJan. 24, 2013 - 11:28AM JST

I know... why don't we have a massive spend up? Let's borrow trillions of yen

tmarieJan. 24, 2013 - 11:53AM JST

I know! Just print more money!

Both of you are completely off topic, these are trade deficits, not fiscal deficits, and the government doesn't do anything directly. The entire thing is from the largest power companies anyway, they average out an extra 500 billion yen a quarter in costs due to fossil fuels.

What did you expect, a picnic? The pineapple is really sour.

Well, let's build more nuclear plants everywhere and it will be fine :)