Retail sales for December were 5.7% below the same month of the previous year, said METI.

BBC: Japan retail sales fall

He said that those proposing METI should involve more of humanity in the debate and must accept that a moratorium may be necessary.

ECONOMIST: An argument over whether to send messages to aliens

As a deputy minister in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), he has six policy areas to oversee, which range from global warming to the troubles of Toyota, the carmaker.

ECONOMIST: Tackling Japan's bureaucracy

Those opposed to METI argue that broadcasting signals into space announcing the location of Earth is tantamount to ringing a dinner gong for any carnivorous, colonising or anti-social aliens who might be listening.

ECONOMIST: An argument over whether to send messages to aliens

In policymaking ministries such as METI, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, civil servants say that by and large the transition has occurred smoothly and information has flowed easily between elected and non-elected officials.

ECONOMIST: Tackling Japan's bureaucracy

The number of foreigners who have completed their studies in Japan is pitifully low compared with other advanced economies: 0.7% of the total, compared with 29% in Australia, 16% in Britain and 13% in America, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

ECONOMIST: Insiders and outsiders