Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

zaibatsu

Noun

/zaɪˈbɑːtsu/

Definition

A Japanese term referring to large family-controlled vertical monopolies that dominated the Japanese economy before World War II.

Examples

The zaibatsu were instrumental in the rapid industrialization of Japan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
During the Meiji Restoration, many zaibatsu emerged as a result of government support for industrialization.
Prominent zaibatsu such as Mitsubishi and Sumitomo shaped Japan’s economic landscape.

Meaning

Zaibatsu were powerful business conglomerates that played a significant role in Japan’s economic industrialization and were characterized by a centralized management and control over various industries.