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Web-only Exclusives November 30, 2000 From Our Correspondent: Hirohito and the War A conversation with biographer Herbert Bix From Our Correspondent: A Rough Road Ahead Bad news for the Philippines - and some others From Our Correspondent: Making Enemies Indonesia needs friends. So why is it picking fights? |
THE ASIAWEEK POWER 50
NUMBERS 14-19
14 Kumazaki Katsuhiko
CHIEF OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS, TOKYO DISTRICT PROSECUTORS' OFFICE
BORN Jan. 24, 1943, in Hagiwara, Gifu Pref., Japan
EDUCATION Meiji University, Tokyo
FAMILY Information unavailable
ADDRESS Tokyo District Public Prosecutors' Office, 1-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8903
POWER POINTS The gritty prosecutor, nicknamed "The Bear," shook the cozy government-business nexus at the heart of Japan Inc. His bribery probes brought numerous arrests, seven suicides and the resignations of Japan's finance minister and central bank governor. But he may have gone too far: Kumazaki was recently "promoted" to head a rural prosecutor's office.
SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE WORKERS' PARTY OF KOREA
BORN Feb 16, 1942, in a "secret camp" in Mt. Paektu
EDUCATION Kim Il Sung University, Pyongyang
FAMILY Married, three daughters and one son
ADDRESS Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Pyongyang, North Korea
POWER POINTS With the hermit state facing famine, "Dear Leader" has become an aggressive panhandler. His demands helped scuttle historic peace talks. Some fear he is diverting food aid meant for civilians to the military - underscoring how a hungry North Korea is all the more dangerous.
PRESIDENT, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND CO-CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SONY CORP.
BORN Nov. 21, l937, in Tokyo, Japan
EDUCATION Waseda University, Tokyo
FAMILY Married, one daughter
ADDRESS President's Room, Sony Corp., 6-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0001, Japan
POWER POINTS The embodiment of Japan's business prowess, Idei is steering Sony toward a digital future where global giants dominate all forms of electronic entertainment. Under his guidance Sony introduced breakthrough products including digital cameras, PCs and the hit PlayStation video game system. He even brought a loss-making Hollywood studio subsidiary to heel and into the black with movies such as Men in Black. Idei's success brings clout to Sony. When his mentor, Sony Chairman Ohga Norio, in April warned that Japan's economy was on the verge of collapse and scolded the prime minister for sitting on his hands, global financial markets trembled and the government scrambled to react.
PRIME MINISTER, JAPAN
BORN July 29, 1937, in Tokyo, Japan
EDUCATION Keio University, Tokyo
FAMILY Married, three daughters and two sons
ADDRESS Room 409, Daini Giin Kaikan, 2-1-2 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8982, Japan
POWER POINTS Once a symbol of the reform and resurgence of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Hashimoto helped make himself irrelevant by failing to live up to his own crusading image. He inadvisedly appointed a scandal-tainted political crony to a cabinet post last fall, and former underlings from his stint as finance minister are now charged with bribery. On fiscal matters, Hashimoto has been largely impotent both abroad and at home, where the domestic economy has slumped into a dangerous recession. He's likely to be replaced - except no one else seems to want to inherit his problems.
HOTEL, PROPERTY AND MEDIA TYCOON
BORN Oct. 6, 1923, in Johor Baru, Malaya
EDUCATION Raffles College, Singapore
FAMILY Married twice, eight children
ADDRESS Malayan Sugar Manufacturing Co., 18th Floor, Wisma Jerneh, 38 Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
POWER POINTS The dollar value of his holdings may have halved, but what's that to a multi-billionaire? With typical long-term vision, Kuok, one of Asia's best connected businessmen, is looking to buy. While handing more authority to the next generation, Kuok remains the man in charge, and he is using the tough times to train his successors.
SENIOR MINISTER, SINGAPORE
BORN Sept 16, 1923, in Singapore
EDUCATION Cambridge University, law training at Middle Temple, Britain
FAMILY Married, two sons (including Deputy PM Lee Hsien Loong) and one daughter
ADDRESS Prime Minister's Office, Istana Annexe Singapore 238823
POWER POINTS Far from wilting amid the regional turmoil, the former Singapore leader and champion of Asian Values remains outspoken - and respected. Lee's blast at Suharto in February for not getting the political factor "right" drew Indonesians' ire but now looks prescient. The power of one of the few regional leaders to arrange a smooth succession is fading with age, but Lee's word is still Singapore's bottom line.
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