Japan may be nearing the end of the lost decades

AGAINST the backdrop of improvements in major economies around the world, Japan's economy has continued to recover moderately.

Exports have started to pick up, recording an increase of 2.4 per cent year on year in May.

Business fixed investment has been on a moderate uptrend as corporate profits have improved, partly due to the weakening of the Japanese yen that has helped to increase the competitiveness of its products overseas.