Japan's core prices down in February

This does not look good for Japan, especially following other recent news.

Japan's core consumer prices down 0.4 percent in February
Core consumer prices in Japan sank 0.4 percent in February from a year earlier, the government said, indicating mild deflation was still haunting the world's second-largest economy. February marked the fifth straight month of a year-on-year decline, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications... Month-on-month, core prices slipped 0.1 percent.

Core consumer prices in Tokyo, a leading index of nationwide trends, rose 0.4 percent in March from February but fell 0.5 percent from a year earlier.

Perhaps the Tokyo inflation rate points to a turnaround in the months ahead. Otherwise, one would have to ask whether Japan can achieve a sustainable recovery if it continues to be plagued by deflation.