Tokyo

THE Group of Seven (G-7) advanced economies have been eclipsed lately by the rise of the broader Group of Twenty (G-20) group, which includes key emerging as well as advanced economies. But a shift in global economic policy priorities could help Japan push the smaller group back to centre stage in May when it hosts the G-7 summit in Ise-Shima.

This, some say, would help Japan reassert its former status as an economic policy leader among Asian nations while also upstaging China, which is due to host this year's G-20 summit in Hangzhou in September.