In the Nikkei, a bit of downer the start the new week:

  • Japanese listed companies aiming to chalk up record earnings this fiscal year will face a host of challenges:
  • overseas slowdowns, notably in China
  • continuing labor shortages at home

On the bright side:

  • Structural reform and growth through mergers and acquisitions should prove key to their success.

The piece is here, it is brief but there's enough in it you want to shed some tears for the fate of Japan Inc.