Article: Japan's Service Economy

Article written by Chieko Nakabayashi, Expert on Japan’s Service Industries, Brussels, Belgium – October 2013

Japan’s service industries have grown significantly as part of total economic activities since the 1970s. This does not mean, however, that Japan’s services are replacing manufacturing goods as national outputs. It rather indicates that the relationship between manufacturing and services has become deeply interdependent. At the core, Japan boasts some of the best manufacturers in the world and requires efficient services to add more value to offer competitive products.  Latest policy  papers  from  Japan  call  for  improving Japan’s  unproductive service industries through innovation in collaboration with for- eign companies.