Japanese electronics-makers like Sony, Sharp and Panasonic once reigned supreme in global markets. But today, they're facing stiff competition from Korean and Chinese rivals in a wide range of sectors, from TV sets to mobile phones.

There is ongoing political debate about the future of Osaka, which is second only to Tokyo as a hub of the Japanese economy. The region was once at the center of the national economy. It was home to Japan's first world's fair in 1970, as well as the headquarters of many corporate giants. Things are changing and its importance on the national economic scene has dwindled. The gap between gross regional production in Osaka and Tokyo has been widening for 60 years.