This is one of the few modern countries in the world where you can go back in time without ever leaving the current century.
In Japan there are heaps of white elephants to explore, places that used to be frequented and no longer are, crumbling buildings and rusting, steel structures that no one bothers to tear down. And many of these stand right next to new flashing neon pachinko parlors, shopping malls or brand new 20-story apartment buildings. It's an eclectic mix of the "passed" and present.
Japan's "Lost Generation" — those between 25 and 35 years old — would more aptly be named the "Rust Generation." They're the first ones to have to deal with the fallout of the bubble era. But the best thing about calling them the Rust Generation would be the likelihood that the name will be mistranslated somewhere down the line as the Lust Generation.