Once again, it is time for the government's financial stimulus programs. The money is set to be spent on the nation's SMEs, who employ at least 90% of the working population. With JPY9 trillion up for grabs, it's a sure bet that everyone will be trying to get their share. But what will that mean for bad loan diligence? Won't a loan rush help out companies that shouldn't be in business any longer?

With fuel still at record-high prices, Japan's innovative and forward thinking agencies are continually looking for new power sources. Although Japan has a distinct lack of natural resources, one gas it does have - Methane Hydrate - could be the answer to a new alternative energy source. But how viable is it really looking to move forward with it's extraction and usage?

What do you know about Lysine? Well, it's an essential amino acid, is used as poulty and swine feed, and it's at the center of a global patent war between Japanese food manufacturing giant Ajinomoto and China's Global Bio-Chem Technology Group. Why is it looking likely that Ajinomoto will lose? And what will be the effect?

Last Thursday, Japan’s largest independent distributor of foreign books and magazines, Yohan Inc., went bankrupt. The company has shutdown completely, firing all of its staff, closing the office, and leaving a reported ￥6.5billion of debt. We take a look at what possibly went wrong and what could’ve been done better.