Can Japan regain shipbuilding might with US$6.3 billion funding plan?

Japan is forging ahead with an investment plan that could see as much as 1 trillion yen (US6.3 billion) pumped into its shipbuilding sector as it tries to wrest back greater control of a key strategic industry. However, analysts said money alone would not be enough to restore Japan’s former standing in a sector now dominated by China, with higher costs, labour shortages and years of lost capacity all standing in the way.