Introduction

Abstract

While the overt purpose of this book is to provide factual material about Japanese financial markets and to debunk myths, there are also several other purposes. The book is intended as a primer on the most relevant aspects of the economic history of Japanese financial markets, and on how markets have changed, especially over the past 20 years. Indeed, the book can serve as a primer on how markets work now, who the relevant participants are, what the role of government is and the relation between Japanese financial markets, the economy and the government. In order to deal appropriately with such a wide brief, the book will cover many topics and many time periods. In all cases, however, the analytical perspective will be that of political economy. That is, we deem relevant matters that are related to the economy and polity of Japan.