Japan

The Global Encyclopaedia of Informality, Volume 1

“…This practice is common in Japan and is known by the term amakudari (天下り-descent from heaven, derived from ama meaning heaven and kudari meaning descending). Through amakudari, the government is able to influence and control decision-making within a company; in return, the company benefits from close ties to the government through the retired bureaucrats (Kevenhörster et al 2003). This practice has often been associated with corrupt activity as the government-officials-turned-managers help to acquire public contracts, delay inspections and ensure various forms of preferential treatment through their jinmyaku network within the administration (Suzuki 1989;van Wolferen 1993).…”