This chapter argues that it is not enough merely to praise the greatness of Japan and the Japanese, but that Japanese people themselves must become conscious of the reasons for that greatness and of its significance.
Using the Ministry of Finance’s figures on net external assets, it shows that Japan has maintained the world’s number one position for many years and makes clear that Japan is, beyond question, a superpower.

2019-03-25
There are also many books that praise Japan.
However, I feel that there are few books that make Japanese people aware of the reasons and factors behind that greatness, and of its meaning.
Japan is a superpower.
Although at the end of 2015 it was down 6.6% compared with the end of 2014, it still stood at 339.263 trillion yen, the highest in the world.
I hereby republish the chapter that I released on 2018-01-25 under that title.
What follows is a continuation of the previous chapter.
Introduction.
Japan, a superpower.
Many books have been published pointing out the greatness of Japan and the Japanese people.
There are also many books that praise them.
However, I feel that there are few books that make Japanese people aware of the reasons and factors behind that greatness, and of its meaning.
Japan is a superpower.
On May 24, 2016, the Ministry of Finance announced Japan’s net external assets.
Although at the end of 2015 they were down 6.6% compared with the end of 2014, they still stood at 339.263 trillion yen, the highest in the world.
Japan has remained number one in the world in net external assets for twenty-five consecutive years.
Even during the period after the collapse of the bubble economy, which was called the “Lost Twenty Years,” Japan remained number one in the world throughout.
Its gross external assets amounted to 948.729 trillion yen.
Its liabilities amounted to 609.466 trillion yen.
The difference between the two is the net external asset balance, and compared with Germany’s 195.236 trillion yen and China’s 192.3726 trillion yen, Japan stands overwhelmingly ahead, by more than 1.7 times and by more than 140 trillion yen.
This article continues.