Junichi Makino Strong Quotations

The trade surplus will continue to shrink because of higher oil prices and sluggish exports. The direct effect of high oil prices on Japan is negligible and domestic capital spending is strong which is also causing imports to rise.

Because male spending is really the slowest to pick up, a recovery there is a strong sign that the overall economy is doing very well.

A deficit because of the Lunar Year holiday is a blip and isn't a concern for the economy. While strong domestic demand is fueling import growth, which partly led to the deficit, it's a good thing because it signals resilient demand.