Letter from Tokyo: No growth doesn't mean no change

The Japanese economy is stuck in neutral with 0.7% average GDP growth since 1992 and has dropped negative for the past two years.

Letter from Tokyo: No growth doesn't mean no change

David Nichols

David Nichols reflects on Japanese women, earthquakes and ad agencies.

This year I have been fortunate enough to spend quite some time in Tokyo on a series of brand strategy projects. Two and a half months to be exact. The Japanese economy is stuck in neutral with 0.7% average GDP growth since 1992 and has dropped negative for the past two years. Yet, it is still one of the biggest consumer-goods markets on the planet.

Clichés are clichés because they are based on truth - karaoke, whisky drinking and...

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