Shock waves went through the Japanese share market last week after ratings of Sony and Panasonic, two of Japan's bedrock electronics manufacturing companies, have been cut to junk grade.

Sometime later this week, our sister publication, Metropolis will mark a significant milestone: its JapanTourist.jp website will surpass Lonely Planet for the sheer number of articles available about Japan in English.

The government announced that it was going to help stimulate the medical sector by creating new guidelines to encourage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to invest in hospitals.

We were surprised and happy to come across a Stanford University paper, which offers some fascinating facts and figures about the make up of the Japanese entrepreneurial community.