LOL, WHAT? It does not, it had. That is way past. Why do you think Japanese manga are that good? Because designers and artists rather choose such lifestyle over applying their artistic skills at a corporate where they are minimally compensated (the inventor and researcher who came up with blue light LEDs got a wet handshape and a few yen for his efforts; he left in disgust for the US and never returned to Japan remaining a deeply depressed and disappointed man). Of course does Japan sport some niche industries and products but way not enough to pull the economy back on track. Japan in transition? Are you Japanese? Do you live in Japan? With all due respect if you are not then you are obviously not seeing what most (including me) see having lived in Japan and still living in the region for a long period of time. What transition are you talking about? Please elaborate? Printing some money does not transition x to y at all.
Japan has tremendous engineering and design capability -- Look what Fujifilm is doing for example. They are now the world's leader in mirrorless camera development. And there are dozens of other tremendously innovative Japanese Companies. You are selling Japan short. A Big, Big mistake! Yes, there are problems. They are fixing them. Japan is in transition.