The Japanese economy is the second largest in the world and is becoming once more one of the most competitive. Despite the stagnation and deflation experienced during the 1990s, Japan has progressively become more aware of the need to be a global player, in particular under the radical administration of former Prime Minister Koizumi. A vigorous approach to intellectual property borrowed from the US and Europe, stressing the importance of innovation, assisted in kick-starting the Japanese economy again and has sustained its increasingly high performance. This book examines how Japan has...