When he graduated from Stanford, Mori said he felt that Japanese society was cautiously optimistic.

FORBES: The Entrepreneurship Vacuum in Japan: Why It Matters and How to Address It

Prime Minister Mori, in fact, said while visiting a computer lab at a junior high school last week, that had been his first computer lesson.

CNN: From Our Correspondent: A Gift From Korea

As wags have said, Mr Mori may be one of the worst Japanese prime ministers in living memory, but his job is nevertheless one of the safest in the country.

ECONOMIST: Why Japan��s Mori must go

In a joint statement, Japan's Premier Mori and French President Jacques Chirac said they accepted that many people were worried by the growing globalisation of the world economy.

BBC: EU, Japan call for new trade round

An Ipsos MORI poll in August showed a public no longer squarely behind the status quo: 37% said the licence fee was not the right way to fund the BBC, and 47% denied it was good value.

ECONOMIST: The future of the BBC