The following are some carefully documented weather forecasts I've culled from mainstream press releases. Even the corporate whore press is starting to panic now as the looming Y2K reality looms ever closer. If you peer carefully between the lines and especially in the foreign news sections of the AP breaking news, the outline of global chaos stares one in the face. But judge for yourself based on the following. Y2K progress is spotty and unverified.
Japan is heavily urbanized, heavily dependent on imported energy, food and raw materials.
Cultural and economic barriers make a clear prognosis nearly impossible. We'll just have to wait and see on Japan. I'm inclined to think they aren't as prepared as they claim, but there is no way to prove it until next year. China has written off its interior, entire sectors of its economy, health care, trade and all pirated software. China claims its core infrastructure of banking, transportation, energy and its large cities are Y2K compliant.