Despite recent upheavals, Japan remains one of the dominant economic powers at the end of the twentieth century. Yet the Japanese economy is one of the most misunderstood phenomena in the modern world. Aimed at graduate courses on Japan, this book will be indispensable both for students and instructors alike. Lucid explanations and comprehensive and rigorous analysis make it a natural choice for any interested in comprehending the rise of the Japanese economy.
Although the book, or textbook, draws on rudimental economic models to describe Japan's idiosyncratic economy, the text is a bit heavy in detail. Could be a good or bad thing, depending on you. I learned a lot of basic micro- and macroeconomic concepts and I found it to be a great read overall. It definitely gravitated me towards reading articles I would have otherwise skipped if I hadn't read it.