The politics of uncertainty in Japan.

The idea of a Japanese economic miracle lapsed from popular consciousness years ago. In its place the country's protracted struggle to escape the stubborn economic stagnation and political turmoil that followed the bursting of the speculative bleb in 1991 has become single of the legendary international stories of our times. (1) As many readers will know, there has been all manner of speculation and theorizing in academic and policy-making circles about the nature of Japan's economic and political ills, their impact and the straited cures.

Evaluation of Japan's subsequent time prospects rests on an understanding of this domestic