'Japan's decline' in world context

Comments on Gerald L. Curtis “‘Japan’s decline’: an unhelpful diversion?” 10/12/2012, http://theconversation.edu.au/face-value-where-to-look-when-you-want-to-read-someone-11219

A very interesting article.

Given the GFC that has shown some similarity to the Japanese case in the early 1990s, the interest on the Japanese economy since the early 1990s has probably and largely shifted to the general economic concerns with the US economy in recent times.

Western economists didn't show much interest in understanding and solving the economic issues that Japan had from the early 1990s until probably the late of the first decade in the 21st century.

Those who had supported the Japanese economic model were having troubles with the new reality, while those who had argued against that model took the pride when the very model economy was in trouble. Those who had had little interests continued their indifferences.

Now part of the problem that Japan has had has been with the world largest economy, so economists have to show some interests one way or another. It is no longer ignorable anymore and become a serious challenge to many economists.