No. 193 [0788-0791] ( March 22, 2011 )
Theme:Promoting the Industrialization of Agriculture and Agriculture-Commerce-Industry Partnerships

Policies designed to realize the government’s New Growth Strategy include efforts to strengthen ties between agriculture, forestry and fisheries, which serve as the heart of local industry, with commerce and industry to generate synergy and stimulate local economies. In this issue, we look at the industrialization of agriculture and agriculture-commerce-industry partnerships as promising new business models.

No. 192 [0785-0788] ( February 21, 2011 )
Theme:Economic partnership

Amidst the meteoric rise of the newly emerging economies stage, interdependence continues to deepen in the global economy, accompanied by an economic partnership drive among developed economies. Faced with these trends, Japan too needs to strengthen and expand its high-level economic partnerships as a key policy agenda in terms of shaping economic growth. In this issue, we look at the significance of the 2010 APEC Japan, Japan’s economic partnership program for the years ahead, and issues requiring urgent attention to that end.

No. 191 [0777-0784] ( January 20, 2011 )
Theme:New Directions for 'Cool Japan'

In this special New Year issue, we asked a number of key figures to sum up the past year and preview Japan’s prospects for 2011. Their incisive economic, political and cultural observations throw into relief Japan’s present and future, as well as the shape to which Japan should aspire.

No. 190 [0773-0776] ( December 20, 2010 )
Theme:New Directions for 'Cool Japan'

Proactive initiatives to export Japan’s culture industry, lauded offshore as ‘Cool Japan’, are drawing attention as a key element in Japan’s New Growth Strategy, prompting METI to establish the Creative Industries Promotion Office this June. This month, we look at what the government is doing to promote ‘Cool Japan’, and explore the potential of this ‘soft’ power as an economic driver.

No. 189 [0769-0772] ( November 22, 2010 )
Theme:Inversion of the age pyramid and industry creation

As Japan struggles with the onset of fully-fledged age pyramid inversion--a falling birth rate and a swelling elderly population--the government is working to boost the birth rate while also exploring new ways of expanding domestic demand and capturing offshore demand in the newly-emerging economies and elsewhere to underpin Japan's economic growth. This month we focus on inversion of the age pyramid and industry creation, examining the relationship between a graying society with fewer children and the economy and industry in terms of the import for future economic growth.

No. 188 [0764-0768] ( October 20, 2010 )
Theme:New Growth Areas

METI’s Manufacturing Industries Bureau recently established five study groups to look at next-generation vehicles, water business, textiles and fashion, the Chemical Vision and innovation in biotechnology. Here we look at challenges for Japan and steps to be taken in four of these areas, for which growth strategies have been designed to take advantage of Japan’s experience and technological strengths with the aim of contributing to the wider world.

No. 187 [0760-0763] ( September 21, 2010 )
Theme:White Paper on International Economy and Trade 2010

This month’s issue focuses on the White Paper on International Economy and Trade 2010. How will the government utilize the globalization of the Japanese economy and directions toward economic recovery to lock in new growth? Breaking Japan out of its long-running recession will require a range of measures.

No. 186 [0756-0759] ( August 20, 2010 )
Theme:2010 Energy White Paper

This month’s issue focuses on the 2010 Energy White Paper. Against the backdrop of rapid economic development in the newly-emerging economies, energy security and the critical nature of the global warming issue have moved to the forefront of global consciousness, with the international energy situation approaching a major turning point. Abundant experience and advanced technologies position Japan as a potentially key player in realizing low-carbon societies and greater energy security.

No. 185 [0752-0755] ( July 20, 2010 )
Theme:White Paper on Manufacturing Industries in Japan 2010

In this issue, we focus on the White Paper on Manufacturing Industries in Japan 2010. With manufacturing industries in Korea, China, India and other newly-emerging economies becoming increasingly competitive in the global economy, what does the White Paper have to say? From the numerous challenges a vision is emerging for a new style of skilled manufacturing for Japan.

No. 184 [0748-0751] ( June 21, 2010 )
Theme: 2010 White Paper on Small and Medium Enterprises in Japan

This edition focuses on the 2010 SME White Paper. Small and medium enterprises have long underpinned Japan’s economic growth, adapting themselves in response to the changing times. As such, SME efforts to adjust to trends such as inversion of the age pyramid and ongoing globalization could be said to lay out a path towards the revitalization of the Japanese economy.