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Japan wasn't blessed with a lot of natural resources and eventually diverted some their Trade dollars into domestic and industrial growth. Their economic strategy was simply import raw materials, manufacture goods, and export. It wasn't until a few years after 1896 Japan began printing banknotes in need of cash.
Thanks @cve3 💀

And there shall be a time again. Unfortunately I believe it won’t be until this whole thing fails and from collapses to ashes…