Here in this village in central Japan, as in much of the country, construction crews are again busy, small companies are getting loans again and some people are feeling a tad more confident. Whatever the reasons for the movement, whatever the concerns for the future, the passengers throughout Japan seem relieved that at least the vehicle may be going forward again. Any progress in Japan would also be a major relief for the rest of the world, since Japan is the second-largest economy after the United States and by far the largest in Asia.
Optimists believe that Japan has finally bottomed out.
At least, there will be no further deterioration. What is different this time, though, is that the government is battling the recession on many fronts. It is borrowing more heavily to finance its spending, and it is cleaning up the banking system to alleviate the credit shortage. The next sign of Japan's progress comes on Friday, when the government releases its report on the gross domestic product for the last quarter of 1998. Some good news, at least, has been wending its way from the trenches.