While Japan was growing fat and lazy and blowing up the biggest asset bubble in history, the US was busy discovering its technological edge and honing its productivity.

• 当时，日本人越来越富有，但懒惰之情也随之增加，并且吹起了历史上最大的资产泡沫。与此同时，美国却正忙于开发最新技术，提高生产力。