LOCKHEED AGENT HAD CONTACTS AMONG TOP JAPANES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01315R000300450058-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 25, 2004
• Sequence Number: 58
• Publication Date: May 11, 1976
• Content Type: NSPR

NEW YO_? T l I P:7 (r ,.Y r t - '_{.
Approved For Release 2005/UWL1 IrAA-RDP88-01315R000$0045. 0,58-Q_ c - t
Ifflop, "I'll
Had `ontcs .'? Japanes
7,1y RICHARD HALLORAN
TtY::o,'avl,-Aft r'tiears
`'
r,f z"-,e name of Yoshio
E-dama has become a house
h J'.I :or't in Jar zn.
i:n::l the Lockheed scandal
r rude three months ago Mr.
cama, the most influential of
J oan's power brokers, deliber-
.e y stayed out of the public
r?r`y. But then he was widely
identified as the Lockheed Air-
caa;: Corporation's secret agent
in promoting the sale of planes
here.
For Mr. Kodama, however,
Lockheed has been only one of
many clients. During the 1R
a-ears he acted for the Los
Angles-based corporation, he
was also involved in numerous
other ventures unconnected
with Lockheed.
?.forever, his range of con-
tacts was far more widespread
than that through which ho
v: orked for Lockheed. His influ-
once reached into Japan's polit-
ical, journalistic and business
worlds. He also had extensive
contacts among the ultraright-
ists and the underworld here.
Some of Mr. Kodarna's con-
tacts and activities were con-
sidered proper by Japanese
standards, but other actions,
while legal, were controversial
in the rare instances when they
became mown. in the latter in-
stances Mr. Kodama seemed to
have violated the tradition of,
the Japanese mediator who at-
ranges the compromises on
which this nation thrives. He
appears to have turned troubled
situations to his own benefit
rather than to have helped the
disputing parties.
Tax Evasion Charges
In still other cases, 'Mr.
Kodama's activities have been
questioned by law enforcement
authorities. Most recently, he
has been charged with tax eva-
sion and is being investigated
for the -possible violation of
foreign exchange controls ?ini
tll,- Lockheed affair.
Charges Brought
In a'.; es- cases, Kodama's
activities Pave bean qustinned
by Icgsi .authorities. To.la~1 he
.as 1-1.lcteu no',;-aaer ,vlth the second larg k::1 O a k: wnet ap )Iur.t; -:'It
I it,np , # i all'S foreign currency est n :firmal circulation here. -nd a Iari;" lr)[:nt 1.1t. t1I'),)ey1
control law by receiving secret .Ir. i{GCla;na h:n 'i1a had. rr r turd ff.-r[ is-. 'aariasort:'S
p avm-nits totaling almost :: l.5
contact; wCn aft i S ,Irn;n,In support i_, . t: ,t. c i,,c ` r p [riy
d Larller~
}
h,'
"
L
ili
f
i
e
ri
OC
li
rom
on
ti 'lrggest pap-r, and "1 tinici o ,fc , i,' and In V...-
t`:as c:larged with t-ix ova- Shimbun, t''r third Ia?;e t. lici teeing t 'n-4 pr'ceded it. Money
5Oil. 1 has sought control of a bank
Because so much about Mr. publishing colnrany an -1 in
fiodama remains a mystery,, fluence within the nations
cauginq the degree of his power and largest advertising a ea-
is impossible. Even so,:he has
helped in naming Prime Min-
isters, forming public opinion
and settling business disputes.
,; lorecver, the United States
e ttr,l I7t~)Li; Cgce Agncy~e-
partrdly thought enough of his
power to maintain a longstand-
ing relationship with him start-
ing sometime in the 1950's.
How long that lasted is not
puh'icly known.
What has become known of
M-. Koclama's role in other
spheres came from the trans-
cript of. a long i[rte.rview two!
years ago, from his memoirs
?:+d other occasional writing,
from published materials -here
and from interviews with peo-
ple-, associated with him.
Some persons said: to have
been associated with Mr. Koda-
ma declined to be interviewed.
Mr. Kodama himself has re-
mained in seclusion at his home
here since the Lockheed scan-
dal became known in February.
His doctors have not permitted
him to see visitors except for
police and tax officials.
Contacts With Politicians
1'lr. Kodama's major contacts
included leading political fig-
ures, Currently the most prom-
inent of those he named is
Yasuhiro Nakasone, now the
secretary general of the govern-
four times a Cabinet minister
and a potential Prime Minister.
Mr. Kodama also seems to
have had connection through a
mutual contact with former
Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka,
Among jorurnalists, Mr. Yc:a- Jr. J?''anake etettinrt vrca
ma.s `.vr;t:,^.=,s : ling C`!lt 7`tl'.:: ^'; atrr a rti lilt. iii t i son-ac;,
;a'anabe, .,, isststart rear bin `tl L: :[r l?l:erocratic
i[ _, editor ..)d pc;it.icnl el :r ? Y': ls. ,'- c;atretl It45
in Japane e poil,it, [.s often;
considered a weapon, rather,
than a hrdw, with % hich 11:1o1it-1
al :action;; do favors and
cy. ca;npalgn inc cieciruc. t
Other Associates Accorcling In this v rsion, .lr.
Among businessmen. Mr. Ko- Tanaka sent his offer in typical-
,
dama has indicated in inter- lv eircuituoe:s Japanese fashion
views and writingg that his tiro[ g l iis friend, Mr. Osano.
closest associates have been to ::t Kcclama, who was asked
Kichitara Hagiwara, ch isinan ,to sersuar!ee Mr. Nakasone.
of the Hokkaido Colliery and Mr. Tanaka, who was forced
Steamship Company, part of !t.e re iln in December 1974 be
the great Mitsui conglomer:atc tca.s of alleged financial it-
and Masaichi Nagata, form r, rngularitie>, and Mr. Nakasone,)
president of the U~[iel Motion who vl; investigated but ah-i
Picture Company . soly t [lv tl party for his role
Mr. Kodaina has also lu en in the. M72 election, denied that
associated with `I;noru S g i account.
wa, chairman of the N > n[a a Mr. Ko[dama's association
Securities Company. Japan .s with Mr. Nakasone and with
Mr. tVatcrnaho of the Yomiuri
broker,[ye, and fouler newspaper began about 1960.
chairman of the Tokyo Stock During the 1960`a and into flie
no, a ;e, and with Kenji Elsa- 1970's they sometimes worked
no, a pram}hen:t figure fidathent g'tiler on Mr. Kodama'a
. ! ` tl~?`
tourist business and confi
of former Prime Minister 's'aga projects. At other times Mr. Ho-
a worked alone
l
.
am
(
ka.
a
said
that he had support. from many 11 All three were invoived in the
of Japan's ' ," or orga- affair of the Kuzuryu Dam, a
nixed gangsters, and ' uyoku; case that illustrated how Mr.
or ultrt, fists. Kodama tried to exert influence
A sho short, chunky man with le rail btit without publicity.
close-cropped hair, Mr. Kodama- Y
--_,-, z-? ...- ,_-1- ,i In 1961, a dispute arose be-
tively few who were previously
aware of his activities as the
nation's most powerful "kuro-
maku," or wire-puller behind
tha scenes.
power company over compen-11
sat:ion for mines to be flooded
when a dam was built
: theater, derives from tradition-
al Japanese feelings about pow-
: ., t__1
III,,; considered proper compen-
that power should nor ne urt,n- Acc;ardinc to Mr. E?gala, Mr.
dished openly but applied with
Kodama said: "I will try to me-'
finesse from behind a screen.! cliate between you and the pow-
His Fortunes Fluctuated her company. I have already de-
Mr. Kodama, who ran an in- Icided who will participate
telligenceandmateriel procure. iln this work. With Mr. Naka-
meet agency in China during some as central figure, I. will
World War IT, and was accused lIhave Tsuneo Watanabe of Yo=
but not convicted as a war Cal- 1miuri Shimbun's political desk
whom he reportedly helped to'
elect in 1972. Mr. Kcda-na's.
long association with former:
Prime. Minister Nobusuke Kishi'
well documented
b
h
, ,
een
as
Further,. Mr. Kodama has as-i
serted that his allies inclu
m ded
any members of Seirankai, t n
ticians within the governing' . in power during' the postwar
party. era. He appeared to have been
on the rise after Mr. Tanaka
become Prime Minister in July-
1972. -
and 5auchtro ulue of the news-
paper's economic desk work on
this matter."
Approved For Release 2005/01/11 : CIA-RDP88-01315R000300450058-0