[laserboy]

OK I am just arguing with you over semantics then. I meant that the Japanese do invest, just currently not in the stock or real estate markets.

You are correct that in the US the current model of financial thought currently favors investing in the stock market (stocks always go up in the long run, etc.) and real estate market (real estate only goes up or sideways, etc.)and that in Japan most people currently favor investing in bank accounts. I contend that these trends will shift over time.