Computerized Bulldozer — The Light and Shadow of Kakuei Tanaka 1970-1976

Computerized Bulldozer — The Light and Shadow of Kakuei Tanaka 1970-1976

The 1970s was a time when Japan was at the height of its rapid economic growth, yet political turmoil and social unrest were brewing. Following the Tokyo Olympics, infrastructure development had progressed dramatically, and the economy was booming. However, at the same time, pollution issues and student protests were intensifying, deepening public distrust in politics. Amidst this, an extraordinary politician rose to the top of Japan's political scene—Kakuei Tanaka. Unlike most prime ministers who came f...

Tanaka's political style was like a bulldozer. He disliked lengthy discussions and pushed everything through with sheer force. In 1972, he accomplished the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China in the blink of an eye, something that many believed was impossible. While traditional Japanese diplomacy relied on careful and prolonged negotiations, Tanaka instead acted on the belief that "things move faster when you talk directly." His swift and bold approach shocked many, but at the ...

Kakuei Tanaka's political strength lay in his speed of decision-making and execution. He was not the type to engage in prolonged deliberation but rather was known for making bold decisions in a short time. On one occasion, when bureaucrats brought a new budget proposal, Tanaka immediately gave a one-word directive: "Do it." Bureaucrats typically spent time carefully discussing matters, but Tanaka would say, "If you have time to think about it, you have time to act." This was the origin of his nickname, "...

However, behind his strong-arm politics, the daily reality of financial dealings and faction management was in full swing. His grand residence in Mejiro seemed far too extravagant for someone who claimed to be a man of the people. His garden was home to expensive koi fish, and politicians and business leaders constantly came and went. A visiting journalist once muttered, "This is too grand a house for the so-called 'prime minister of the people.'" But Tanaka himself retorted, "Ordinary people want to liv...

In 1974, he resigned as prime minister. But Tanaka was not a man to simply disappear. Even after stepping away from the public eye, he continued to wield influence from behind the scenes, directing political moves. However, his downfall came unexpectedly. In 1976, the Lockheed scandal broke. The revelation that bribes had been distributed to facilitate aircraft sales caused an uproar across Japan. Tanaka was no exception—he was arrested. Seeing the once-mighty Tanaka led away in handcuffs was a shocking...

In Japan's political world, no one better embodies the phrase "tumultuous life" than Kakuei Tanaka. Like a bulldozer, he forged paths through obstacles, charging forward without hesitation. Just when he reached the pinnacle of power, he plummeted to disgrace—but he never truly let go. His political style was inherited by later figures such as Noboru Takeshita and Ichiro Ozawa, forming the roots of factional politics in Japan. Strength, decisiveness, and the intertwining of money and power—Tanaka's legacy...

Was he a hero, or a product of his time? That is a question left for those of us living today to answer.