The zaibatsu are any large capitalist enterprise of Japan before World War 2, this is similar to cartels or trusts but usually organized around a single family.

One zaibatsu might manage companies in all the necessary areas of economic activity.

Every zaibatsu owned banks because they used them to mobilize their capital.





The zaibatsu’s had already grown before 1900’s but mainly during the 20th century they grew rapidly during WW2.

The Zaibatsu

The four main zaibatsu were the Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, and Yasuda. These zaibatsu were created after the Meiji Restoration in 1868.