In the fourth quarter of 2011,
Japan's gross domestic product (GDP) fell 2.3 percent year on year, exceeding economists' estimations, after a seven percent year-on-year increase recorded in the third quarter.
The Japanese economy, the third-biggest in the world after the United States and China, shrank 0.6 percent in the October-December quarter compared with the previous three months, according to data released by the office of the Japanese Cabinet.
The contraction of the Japanese economy was due to the weakening of exports and manufacturing amid lower overseas demand, the strong yen and flooding in Thailand.