Audience: Students; Grades: 9-12; Subject Areas: Social Studies. (2017) In the middle of the 1980's, finance took over the main role in the Japanese economy, and the country headed toward an era of financial capitalism. The Japanese, who became an economic giant eventually, immersed themselves in the money game. Real estate values and stock prices escalated giving birth to a "bubble economy." However, this unprecedented booming economy suddenly "burst," and the foundation of Japan was greatly shaken. What happened to the Japanese after the 1980's when the global economy underwent a major change? This episode spotlights what Japan's bubble economy really was, from interviews with more than 100 key figures of the bubble.