Political parties in Japan seem to be dominated largely by "big business." Again, there is rather a comparison with American political parties; the politicians are usually not men of great wealth, but seem to come from official ranks and parliament, But there are two kinds of "Big Business" in Japan, that of Tokyo and that of such a city as Osaka, The great houses, controlling hundreds of millions of yen of capital, which have their headquarters Tokyo, represent the old families, extent the great feudal who daring the Meiji period and after, turned their large fortunes into industry and commerce for the reconstruction of Japan into a modern state. In some of these enterprises, there is the money of the Imperial amily. Some of the men controlling these enterprises are members of the nobility; others are taken out of Government service for the purpose. There is an intimacy between these capitalists and the Government and the remains of feudalism.
But Osaka is very different. It is what in America might be called "hard boiled." The Osaka business men have made all their money in trade and industry. They have risen to the top through sheer ability and work. They have not the social prestige, the intimacy with greatness or the access to wells. of capital that Tokyo knows. What they have, they have made. The Osaka business man, in the past, has not been much of a factor in politics: he has not had the time, inclination or the forwardness. Hi has been reticent about interfering in such matters. But he is now stepping out more and more. Osaka combinations of capital are beginning to rise to heights hitherto known only in Tokyo. The failure of the 15th Bank, involving so much aristocratic money, has given saka a chance to push forward as the efficient bourgeoisie and the Osaka business men are now becoming an important factor in Japanese politics. More will be heard of them during the next few years and the politicians know that, for they are consulting with them more and more.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.