Japan Slides to 4th Largest Economy as Recession and Demographics Take Toll

• Japan loses world's 3rd largest economy status, drops to 4th behind Germany due to weak yen and shrinking, aging population • Japan enters technical recession with GDP contracting for 2 straight quarters impacted by weak consumer spending • Loss of status highlights Japan's economic stagnation and need for reforms like getting more women working full-time • Japan expected to drop further behind fast-growing India and its large, young population in coming years
• Drop to 4th place deals blow to Japan's economic self-esteem and already unpopular PM Kishida