What the heck? Why is Japan in so much debt?? [View All]

[quinnox]

I was reading an article about the nuclear plants and saw this -

"Initial estimates put repair costs in the tens of billions of dollars, costs that would likely add to a massive public debt that, at 200 percent of gross domestic product, is the biggest among industrialized nations."

How did Japan get in debt so high? Aren't they supposed to be careful and frugal with money? I can understand the USA being in debt because of all the absurd defense spending, culture of borrow everything, and nonsensical tax structure to give rich as much as possible but what did Japan borrow all their money for?