JAPAN: The Godfather-san

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Tokyo Harbor. For a man of such wealth, Sasakawa lives modestly. He commutes to his office in downtown Tokyo in a black Mercedes-Benz from a house that is badly in need of repair. Although his power is not widely known, his flamboyant public appearances have brought him a degree of notoriety. A few weeks ago, he dedicated a $14.2 million maritime museum, built in the shape of a 60,000-ton ocean liner and moored in the Tokyo harbor. He attended the ceremony wearing an enormous nautical cap, T shirt and swimming trunks, to the consternation of the guests, including Prince Hitachi, the second son of Emperor Hirohito.

In recent years, as younger politicians have come to the fore, the power of the kuromaku has slipped. And in fact Sasakawa claims to have little personal involvement in politics these days, but he still knows how to operate behind a black curtain. Rumor has it that Kakuei Tanaka became Premier against strong opposition—after the godfather-san made a few calls on his behalf.