Japan's fiscal death is a warning to the West

[Art_from_Ark]

9. Japan has been exporting manufacturing jobs to the US since the '80s

So that's nothing new. Japan has also been exporting manufacturing jobs to other countries because it has been getting hammered by the exchange rate, with the yen being valued excessively high versus the dollar.

However, Japan is a country that has had more than its share of adversity and is pretty good at "thinking outside the box" to solve its problems. Instead of falling into self-pity because of the nuclear problem, there is a greater push to develop alternative energies, promote energy conservation, and encourage owners of homes and buildings to install solar collectors and panels.

On edit: Here is a link to Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO's) web site which provides constantly updated information about supply versus demand. Right now, in the middle of peak demand, demand is 85% of capacity in TEPCO's service area, which TEPCO calls "stable".

http://www.tepco.co.jp/forecast/index-j.html