Boston Consulting's Hori has known Makihara for years but doesn't think he's the right sort for the job.

FORBES: Setting sun

Boston Consulting's Koichi Hori has known Makihara for years but doesn't think he's the right sort for the job.

FORBES: A setting sun?

Its president, Minoru (Ben) Makihara, London-born, Harvard-educated, has responded by trying to get into everything from energy pipelines to satellite broadcasting.

FORBES: Setting sun

Similarly, Ripplewood managed to recruit several senior Japanese to its board, including Minoru Makihara, then chairman of Mitsubishi Corporation, the trading and investment firm that epitomises the Japanese establishment.

ECONOMIST: Suddenly, shareholders are beginning to matter