Labels:text | screenshot | font | document OCR: INSIGHT The biggest clash after Tanaka was in- boss ridiculed Takeshita in public. He also barred between Tanaka dicted for having ac- the faction from fielding a prime ministerial candi- and Kanemaru was cepted US$1.7 million date, fearing it would affect his comeback The ban over Takeshita from US defence con- put a brake on the aspirations of the younger fac- Noboru, a tractor Lockheed Corp: tion members. "I'm dedicated to Ta- The first move to break away from Tanaka came politician who naka. But given a cho- in January 1985. At Kanemaru's command, 25 never hid his ice between him and Takeshita backers met in secret, ostensibly to form ambition to govern Japan, I'll pick Japan." a "study group" to review political topics. Included Japan Tanaka got even in in the group was Ozawa Ichiro, Kanemaru's heir 1984. Kanemaru was apparent as LDP kingmaker. due to become LDP secretary- general, one of three By the time Tanaka discovered the plot, it was top party posts. But Tanaka decided to install too late. Nearly 80 faction members had joined someone less insolent. As consolation, the Old Takeshita's group when it officially split off in 1987; Man offered Kanemaru the post of Lower House just 13 members remained loyal to the Old Man. chairman. Ostensibly a promotion, it was actually a seat for politicians put out to pasture. Kanemaru The Thief knew that. Adding fuel to the feud was the fact that One month after the uprising began in Tanaka had ordered an intemal audit that discov- 1985 Takeshita, then Finance Minister, ered Kanemaru was spending a colossal sum to was worried, not so much about over- buy off the opposition. coming Tanaka, but about ministry appointments. The biggest clash was over Takeshita Noboru, "Don't we need to secure the post of Construction a politician who never hid his ambition to govern Minister soon?" he asked. "Don't worry about it," Japan. It irked Tanaka to know that a rival was Kanemaru replied smugly. "We already control that lurking nearby. As the decade wore on, the faction ministry"
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