For years, pundits called Japan the land of the setting sun. They said that for an economy as mature as Japan's, growth would be impossible. They said that our public debt was unsustainable. They pointed to our supposed psyche of resignation as a symptom of relative decline.
But now such voices are rarely heard. Japan's economy has swung from negative to positive growth and is on the verge of breaking free from chronic deflation. This spring, wages will increase — a long overdue development that will lead to greater consumption. Our fiscal position has also improved steadily, with my government on track to consolidate public finances.
And, as the economy has turned around, Japan's people have become more vibrant and upbeat — a mood reflected in public enthusiasm over the choice of Tokyo to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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