The Coming Week in Asia: Debate Rages over Japan's Economic Prospects

TOKYO -- The jury is still out on Japan Inc.'s prospects for growth, with foreign and domestic investors seemingly split over the economy's prospects.

The release of second-quarter gross domestic product data this Monday will add further fuel to the ongoing debate.

Bulls say that if the GDP comes in at the expected 0.8% rate, it will represent a further surge in economic activity and indicate two consecutive quarters of growth. Bears, however, are scoffing at what they call a paltry growth rate, although the government has spent 117 trillion on nine economic packages over the past eight years. ...