JAPAN

Main figures
GDP : $5.866 trillion Labor force: 65.7 million (2010 est.) Unemployment rate: 5.1% (2010 est.) Population below poverty line: 15.7% (2009) Budget: revenues $1.638 trillion & Expenditures $2.16 trillion (2010 est.)

Imports & exports

Exports $765.2 billion Commodities transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals Partners China 18.88%, US 16.42%, South Korea 8.13%, Taiwan 6.27%, Hong Kong 5.49% (2009) Imports $636.8 Commodities machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, raw materials Partners China 22.2%, US 10.96%, Australia 6.29%, Saudi Arabia 5.29%, UAE 4.12%, South Korea 3.98%, Indonesia 3.95% (2009)
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Strengths of economy
A stable government with coherent economic policies A more homogeneous population raised to cooperate a better educated workforce Better management A business financing system geared to the long haul rather then the next quarter's profits. People who work 10 hours a day with a 30 minute lunch, and value their career more than their family

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Internal markets problems

The most problematic factors for doing business are the following :

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Banking and financial structure

banks

Security market

Government organizations

The local financial market

City Banks (12 commercial Banks of the large cities) collect savings and use it to provide medium-term financing for business, industry and agriculture. City banks are not permitted to manage trusts or pension funds. Regional Banks (63 local banks) Savings and Loan Institutions (71) they lend primarily to small retail, wholesale and construction firms. Industrial Banks (3) was created by the Meiji government in 1902 to provide long term financing to heavy industry. It raised its funds by selling five-year debentures. After World War II it became a private bank. Two competiting banks were created at that time, the Long Term Credit Bank of Japan and the Nippon Credit Bank.
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The local financial market

Trust Banks (7) - only trust banks that are permitted to manage trusts, pension funds and such.. Postal Savings Bureau - a savings bank operated by the postal service through its 23,000 post offices. Norinchukin Bank - the bank owned by farm and fishery cooperatives employees. It is a major supplier of funds to city banks. The Bank of Japan was established in 1882 to control the money supply and to be the lender of last resort to the banking system.
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Government oraganisations

The Ministry of Finance Japan Bank for International Cooperation Japan Development Bank Housing Loan Corporation postal savings MOFA
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Impacts of the international financial crisis on local financial markets and the economy
36% apreciation of Yen/$ -58% in stock market changes -11% in GDP growth (from june 2007 to March 2009) Increase of short term external debt Decrease in exports and imports Big increase in primary commodities prices, particularly energy (+300% compared to 2000)

Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)