What do you do if you are Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and the "structural reform" policies you have been advocating with tight lips and a steely gaze are now hit by the deflation you have caused? Simple. You do an about-face and tell the world with tight lips and a steely gaze that you are now absolutely determined to fight the deflation.

It is a good example of what they call "match-pump" in Japanese. First you start the fire. Then you claim kudos for trying to douse the flames. Japan's light-headed media will probably go along with it all.

You will also continue to receive cheers from Western pundits and their Japanese acolytes eager to prove that the stock-market upturn sparked by your about-turn as well as signs of U.S. economic recovery somehow vindicate your original prodeflation policies.