Japan Shows Its Economy Can Grow Even as the Population Shrinks

Passengers board a train on the Toyoko line operated by Tokyu Corp. at Shibuya Station in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, July 18, 2017. July 24 marks the first dry run of a 'Telework Day' encouraging people to work from home as the city gears up to host the 2020 Summer Olympics. Authorities are seeking ways to make room for 920,000 spectators expected to visit Tokyo each day during the games.Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg

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By Yoshiaki Nohara and James Mayger

November 15, 2017 at 4:49 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Don’t write off Japan yet.

Despite its aging and shrinking population, the country has chalked up seven straight quarters of economic growth. And taken on a per capita basis, Japan is holding its own with other global economic heavy weights.