"The subject never came up," said a Japanese official who was at the meeting.

But Japanese officials point out that the change will come slowly.

Japanese officials played down the new growth figures, saying they showed that the economy was still growing.

But Japanese officials say there is little chance the companies will agree to this.

Japanese officials still try to put the best face on the situation.

"I think we simply did not realize how many people were lost," a Japanese official said.

Have Japanese officials - finally - turned economic policy around?

But Japanese officials did not say what methods they used.

Other Japanese officials are also expected to visit within several days.

"The pressure may be getting to them," said a senior Japanese official.