ese pottery, highly prized abroad, was one of the country's first export products.
Since 1973, when most Western economies were first becalmed rising oil prices, Japan's star has seemed to shine brighter than ever before. But many Americans forget that Japan's econ- omy has outperformed most others during much of this century. If there is a secret to this success, it is the Japanese ability to adapt quickly to new conditions and the Tokyo government's encouragement of change. Here, historian Peter...