There are always alternative economic pathways available to stop a pathological situation. Crises are not results of an objective economic automatism, but of failing cognitive adaptation to changing conditions; one text for your perusal is attached. It is my informed guess that Japan will become again a part of Asia, but it will stay 'Western'. Monetary policy will be sureley decisive for economic reorientation. Have just read Kaname Akamatsu, whose flying-geese model is the only Japanese economic theory that made it to the 'outside world', due to his philosophical talent. In any case, Pacific economic cooperation will be essential and allowing for creative economic thought.