Zaibatsu

A Zaibatsu was a large, powerful family-controlled business group in Japan, especially prominent before World War II. These conglomerates consisted of core companies in industries like banking, manufacturing, and trading, interconnected through shareholdings and family ties. They held significant economic influence, shaping Japan’s industrial growth and policy decisions. After the war, the Allied occupation aimed to dismantle Zaibatsu to promote economic democratization, leading to their breakup into smaller, independent companies. Today, some former Zaibatsu companies still exist as major corporations, reflecting their lasting impact on Japan’s economy.