”. Moreover their alliance is said to have “closed Japan tight to the rest of the world”. This system, however, has also proved remarkably capable in monitoring trends and, when necessary, adapting to changes. This was true, for example, of the two oil crises in the 1970s, which left Japanese industry even more competitive as it became even more efficient in its use of energy and, later, of the re-evaluation of the Yen in 1985 which accelerated the distribution of production capacity, especially to Southeast Asia. But it is a system that gives rise to neomercantile practices rather than the provision of leadership or easy contribution to international public goods.