UPDATE 1-Japan logs record trade gap in 2012 as exports struggle

*Japan 2012 trade gap hits record 6.9 trln yen. TOKYO, Jan 24- Japan logged a record annual trade deficit in 2012 as exports continued to slide in December in a worrying signal that the effects of a weaker yen and the new government's moves to boost the economy with fiscal and monetary stimulus have been slow in coming.