It would be interesting for some researcher to look at the reasons people come to Japan – especially those reasons which are not economically related but through some other cause. My personal guess is that the JET program and other English-teaching opportunities would be high on the list, as would general transfers of expats working for foreign companies.

Disruption in the Job Market causes different reactions in different people. For most of us it makes us more conservative and we're happy to have a job at all. For employers it all but halts hiring, and for recruiters it spells hard times and lay-offs. Whatever the reaction, the result is job market stagnation and an indefinite postponement of career development plans.

Although receiving little media focus, the recruitment industry is facing one of its toughest times yet. What options are left for the struggling industry?

The now ex-finance minister Shoichi Nakagawa may have been under the weather, drunk or sick, you take your pick, but one thing is for sure - the state of the economy is enough to drive anyone to drink.