Via Bloomberg
Japan’s export growth slowed in September and the nation extended a record run of trade deficits, underscoring the challenge for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in sustaining momentum in the world’s third-biggest economy.
Shipments (JNTBEXPY) increased 11.5 percent from a year earlier, the weakest pace in three months, a finance ministry report showed in Tokyo. That compared with a 14.6 percent gain in August and the 15.6 percent median forecast of 24 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Imports (JNTBIMPY) climbed 16.5 percent, leaving a trade deficit of 932.1 billion yen ($9.5 billion), an unprecedented 15th straight shortfall in data back to 1979.
Second is demographics via Mish and the Guardian (not only are the young not marrying and baby production is a the lowest level EVER in Japan - they are not even having sex)
Maybe The Vapors had a point.
Here is a Vice segment on the phenomenon. IMO Technology is playing a significant role.