The Keiretsu

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## Keiretsu

The **Keiretsu** (系列, "system") is a massive, ultra-wealthy coalition of wealthy corporations in Japan that descended from the WWII era *zaibatsu* corporations which held monopolies across multiple Japanese industries, bribing politicians in exchange for lucrative contracts. The keiretsu emerged after the end of the Second World War with the Allied powers abolishing the preceding zaibatsu, leading to a renewed force of corporate power to overtake the Japanese economy. Despite their negative connotation, the keiretsu are a tolerated presence in the Japanese economy and are considered to be essential to the stability of the country's economic prosperity. They wield immense power in modern Japanese politics, economics, and even the dealings of the discrete Battotai in the Shinto world.

## History

The **Keiretsu** are the successors of the early *zaibatsu* companies that were once led by samurai families who became entrepreneurs with the introduction of the Meiji era and its industrialization. These businesses grew powerful at an exponential rate in the Meiji era all the way into the Second World War with companies such as Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, and Toyota becoming industrial powerhouses in the national market. Because of intensive state support, these companies developed powerful footholds in Japanese society and the East Asian market, often using forced labor from captured prisoners throughout World War II.

By the end of the Second World War, the *zaibatsu* were abolished by the American occupation forces who rendered them to be undemocratic and monopolistic. Despite these efforts to crack down, the *zaibatsu* evolved into what is now recognized as the **Keiretsu**. Persisting to the present day, the **Keiretsu** developed a similar amount of power to what the *zaibatsu* once possessed, influencing local and even national politics with their vast resources. When it came down to the Battotai, the **Keiretsu** considers their relationship to be one of mutual benefit in which the Battotai would receive a "generous contribution" of resources, funding, and heavy equipment, in return for "prioritized protections" for **Keiretsu** assets. Despite the exploitative nature of this relationship, the **Keiretsu** has functionally replaced the state support that the Battotai once had, and has become the solitary source of revenue and support that the regiment could depend on. In recent decades, many Shugo have attempted to weaken the hold of the **Keiretsu** and their influence on Battotai policies. Alas, such efforts have been futile and displays little fruition.

## Functions and Purpose

The Keiretsu are a formal alliance of ultra-wealthy corporations such as Toyota, Honda, Mitsubushi, and many other companies that dominate their respective markets, whether it be in banking or automobiles. However, it is because of this great influence that the Keiretsu are ironically the best patrons of the Battotai: offering aid in grant money, transportation, food, and other heavy equipment for the Battotai's needs. Simultaneously, such support comes with considerable cost to the Battotai's mission as these Keiretsu corporations expect priority protection for their assets, especially when it comes to Oni attacks on their facilities. At some points, this relationship was further abused with the demand that Battotai swordsmen be used as personal bodyguards for corporate meetings.

Despite this pressure, many Shugo such as Misao Yamada and Reizo Yasunaga have deliberately ended the practice of sending swordsmen to become glorified security guards, asserting that the Battotai's duty is to the people rather than to business. For this reason, the Chugoku and Kansai regions have experienced notable reductions in material and financial support in recent years.