The Liberal Democratic Party's largest faction, led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, held its annual fundraising party April 21 at a Tokyo hotel and generated the majority of its annual revenues -- all in one night.
The Hashimoto faction appeared desperate to draw a big turnout to the affair to demonstrate the group's power, as a rival faction led by former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori was holding its own event at a nearby hotel.
"It's great. (Attendees) have packed the room from corner to corner," LDP Executive Council Chairman Mitsuo Horiuchi, an invited guest, said of the 4,200 people who filled the Tokyo Prince Hotel banquet hall. The guests, mainly business representatives, paid at least 20,000 yen for a ticket to the event, which included light meals and drinks.