Retail sales off to strong start in Japan

Japanese fashion specialists, electronic retailers had strong sales on their first day of business in the new year.

$40-400 mystery bags (leftovers from the previous year sold at discount prices) were sold out at Japan's Akiba multimedia store.

Flat-panel TVs are going like hotcakes…

Seibu Department Stores in Tokyo set a first day revenue record with $16 million in sales.

Daimaru in Osaka also broke a 16 year old sales record.

Takashimaya's Osaka branch welcomed more than 200,000 customers. Yikes! Don't tell my wife…she'll definitely wish she were there.

Looks like more of the same for Japan's economy this year…or better, if consumer spending picks up.

Still, one day is too early to tell. But a good start is often more than half the battle.

What do you think?