HONJO, Akita Pref. -- Gigantic pillars soar toward the sky in a mountainous area 7 km north of the city of Honjo in southern Akita Prefecture, symbolizing the power of Kanezo Muraoka.
They are the support pylons for an elevated expressway under construction and slated to be completed by 2007.
Since 1997, Muraoka Construction Inc., a local builder, has won contracts every year with Japan Highway Public Corp. to build part of the expressway. The contracts have thus far amounted to 2.6 billion yen.