As subject

What's the cheapest/most convenient way to deal in the shares of the Japanese companies?

A Japan fund is probably the best/easiest option - check performance here. Select '2' and it's 12th one down.

http://www.citywire.co.uk/Funds/Home.aspx

Hey man, all the action is in China innit.

Sometimes it pays to buy where the action isn't right now.

Japan has done very nicely out of the China boom, and will continue to...

I am thinking also about getting into Japan (hopefully before the carry trade unwinds further)

I have a Japanese fund as part of my pension, Toyota, Sony, Mitsubishi etc. seem to be very good companies.

Could they be on sale cheap now?

Japan has been in deflationary recession for 18 years. I figure a turnaround must come eventually.

Anyway I have 10% of my pension fund there in the hope Japan will recover.

I trade through Interactive Brokers. Through them, you can trade Japan, USA , UK, Germany wherever.

Here is a list of stock exchanges available: http://individuals.interactivebrokers.com/...p;ib_entity=llc

Edit to add: The commissions are ridiculously cheap and a top platform too.