2002 Reports

Can Japan's ailing banking system be cured?

Shiozaki, Yasuhisa

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I am very pleased to join you at this conference of
Japan Society and the Center on Japanese Economy and Business, Columbia University. Bill Clark
and Hugh Patrick gave us the topic of today, “Can Japan’s ailing banking system be cured?”. To
speak about it is obviously a daunting task not just for me but also for any policy makers in Japan. I
suspect they have been declined by many Japanese government officials before me. While I would
be proud to be the speaker of the last resort -- although I am not so sure if the last resort is such a
wonderful thing -- Hugh Patrick told me I was actually their first choice."