I am thrilled to announce that I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on the esteemed podcast
, hosted by the brilliant Kalani Scarrott. We delved deep into a topic that I have been passionately researching for years, the Japanese Bubble-burst:For those who prefer the audio version, here are the links to the podcast episode:
Show Notes:
[00:00:31] - [First question] - Why write about Japan’s Lost Decade
[00:02:38] - Rei’s memories of the bubble
[00:05:07] - How did Japan’s bubble develop?
[00:11:34] - As the bubble popped, how did the Japanese government step in and what did they do?
[00:13:08] - Japanese Banks and the bubble
[00:16:20] - The fiscal structural reform law and why it stunted Japan's recovery
[00:18:48] - How intertwined Governments and Corporations were
[00:24:52] - Judging Japan’s recovery
[00:29:25] - The media’s portrayal of Japan [00:31:48] - Wrapping up
[00:32:56] - Extra resources to understand Japan’s Bubble years
[00:34:33] - Rei’s upcoming work
During our conversation, we explored the reasons why the Japanese bubble got out of hand, and the corruption that ran rampant through Japan's corporate and political systems at the time. It was a dark and turbulent period, but one that is crucial to understanding the history of Japan and its economic development.
As we were discussing the latest happenings in Japan, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes' article for the BBC came up, bearing the rather bold title "Japan was the future but it's stuck in the past." I must admit, his sweeping statements and uninformed opinions struck a nerve with me, and I couldn't help but voice my objections loud and clear.
It's easy to make grandiose claims from a distance, but to truly understand a nation's strengths and weaknesses, one needs to delve deeper into its history, politics, and culture. I, for one, firmly believe that Japan is a country that is continuously moving forward with innovation, progress, and an unparalleled cultural richness.
Thank you Kalani for having me on your show and thank you to all the listeners of
for joining us on this deep-dive in one of Japan's most crucial eras.
Loved having you on mate! Was an absolute pleasure :D