This paper examines how the Zaibatsu or "
financial dominator" family
enterprises in Japan included many names that we still hear in our everyday lives such as Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, etc. It looks at how these powerful family enterprises that were not only successful conglomerates but also political powerhouses, influenced much of the Japanese expansion that eventually led to the
war over the Pacific during World War II. It provides an
introduction to how the Zaibatsu helped Japan reach its height of power and why McArthur made it his agenda to break up these family enterprises. Includes tables and diagrams. Outline Introduction The Emergence of the Zaibatsu The Reasons The Heavy Industries The Financial Powers The Seisho Status Conclusion