The Japanese economy is the second largest in the world, behind the United States. Although Japan has 1.5 million corporations, only about eleven hundred of these companies, or less than one-tenth of 1 percent, employ more than two thousand people. As such, the Tokyo business world consists of many small companies, with economic power concentrated in the hands of few, large corporations. And these manufacturing giants—such as Sony, Toshiba, and NEC—employ tens of thousands of people. Most maintain their corporate offices in Tokyo and wield great power in Japanese government and society.

The auto workers of Japan, for example, produce about 11 million cars, trucks, and buses every year—more than anyone else in the world. In districts around Tokyo, companies such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and others manufacture products for worldwide sale. In addition, as the capital of Japan...