With a recovery like this who needs a recession? That is a bit unfair on Japan. At least it recorded growth of 0.9 per cent in the three months to June after four straight quarters of stomach-churning contraction. That makes it the best-performing developed economy of the hour.

But Monday’s numbers hide a multitude of woes that will hamper the desperate endeavour of the ruling Liberal Democratic party to cling to power in the general elections due on August 30.