Ohayo gozaimasu, as my weeb brethren may say. My fascination with Japan has nothing to do with their storied battlefields or rich poetry, but rather their innovative management and logistics approaches to corporate restructuring. Yes, the Zaibatsu is the subject of this book and it's a doozy of an insight into both the thinking behind corporate takeovers as well as the Nippon mindset.
Understanding that the longevity of the business takes precedence before all else is key in understanding Japanese business practices - it comes even before ensuring low turnover, keeping face, and especially making money. The cultural aspects of the book are well and good, but the impenetrable veil of cultural alienation hides amazing insights.
Takeovers in Japanese firms often have to do with the synergies found in management, and never focus on market-serving or reducing tax liability and similar reasons prevalent in the west. Joint ventures are the most common way that companies are organised and there are various types of familial-business bonds that seal the deal.
I've never done business with the Japanese, but they sound like my kind of people from an economic standpoint. The writing of this book is straight-to-the-point and written from a westerner's point of view peering into Japan, which makes it an overall excellent resource on this subject.
8/10