Japan looks to be a positive influence in Asia

Japan boasts a more mature and stable economy than its fast-growing Asian neighbours, and the country's vice-minister of finance for international affairs hopes that the country's role as a leading practitioner of financial diplomacy in the region is backed up by its banks.

The Bank of Japan must wake up and act

The Japanese central bank must use its unique position within the country's political system to eradicate entrenched thinking and kick-start its stagnant economy. Writer Charles Smith

Tokyo advances in global trading race

After five years plagued by setbacks, the Tokyo Stock Exchange has raised its game with the launch of its Arrowhead trading system in January. The exchange's next goal is to successfully accommodate the increased flow of alternative trading in order to cement its position as a rival to the more established centres in the US and Europe. Writer Charles Smith

Split personalities

The role of the Development Bank of Japan in seeing the country through its export crisis is mired in confusion as it is caught between its public past and private future. However, the state-owned Japan Bank for International Co-operation is having no such problems in bailing out the overseas operations of Japanese exporters. Writer Charles Smith in Tokyo