While the media have highlighted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's large-scale government spending on public works, and high expectations for his so-called Abenomics drove share prices up and weakened the yen, the important question is; what industries does Abe's administration want to promote as driving forces of the economy?

Abe's administration roughly identified such growth sectors, including energy-efficiency technology, in the emergency economic measures to revitalize the Japanese economy announced Jan. 11.

Abe's selection of growth sectors do not perfectly mirror that of the previous administration led by Yoshihiko Noda, but both identify environmental technology, medical technology and inbound tourism, among others, as growth sectors the government should promote.