Feb. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Takuji Okubo, chief Japan economist at Societe Generale SA in Tokyo, talks about the nation's economy and central bank monetary policy. Japan posted a record trade deficit in January as the yen’s strength and weaker global demand eroded manufacturers’ profits and slowed the nation’s recovery from last year’s earthquake and tsunami. Okubo speaks with John Dawson on Bloomberg Television's "First Up." (Source: Bloomberg)