The final 10 years of the 20th century have been called a "lost decade" for Japan, which continues to suffer woes from the burst of the late-1980s bubble-economy. Japan's comeback as a globally competitive economic powerhouse will require fundamental reforms not only in the industrial and financial sectors but also in government administration, politics and social systems, including education, the judiciary and immigration. The Japan Times will run a yearlong series of articles examining the prospects of such initiatives. By HIROSHI YAMAGIWA Staff writer Some breathed a sigh of relief when Ryutaro Hashimoto, an aggressive reformer during his stint as prime minister several years ago, recently joined the current Cabinet of Yoshiro Mori.
Kenji Eda, a former Ministry of International Trade and Industry official, was not among them.
Eda, who served under Hashimoto when he was prime minister, remains worried about realigned government ministries and agencies that debut Jan. 6.