OSAKA — When Yoshihisa Akiyama steps down as head of the Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren) next Monday, he will leave behind a booming Kansai economy thanks to the federation's focus on greater trade with China.
But at the same time, the region is awash in debt for public works projects that Akiyama and other federation leaders pushed for during his eight years as head of the powerful business lobby. Kankeiren got these projects funded despite concerns that they were not economically viable. Doubts were voiced by local politicians and business leaders, citizens groups, residents, and even people in the Finance Ministry.
Akiyama, who is also the chairman of Kansai Electric Power Co., has long been one of the most powerful business leaders in the Kansai region. As head for eight years of Kankeiren, of his main jobs was pushing the group's economic agenda with the bureaucrats in Kasumigaseki and politicians in Nagata-cho.