Was Japanese Growth Export-Led?

In three periods of its modern economic history (1913-37, 1952-73, and 1973-90), Japan grew up to twice as rapidly as did other major industrialized countries. This paper investigates whether growth in these years was export-led. The results of five very different tests suggest that domestic forces rather than foreign demand propelled longer-run growth. This was particularly so in the high-growth period of 1952-73. Exports may, however, have been crucial in initiating several cyclical upswings.