The Lockheed Scandal of the mid-1970s involved kickbacks and political donations paid by Lockheed, the American aircraft manufacturer, to Japanese politicians in return for aid in selling planes to All-Nippon Airlines. The scandal forced the then-prime minister, Tanaka Kakuei, to resign as PM and as a member of the ruling Liberal-Democratic Party. Various politicians and business leaders were also disgraced. Oddly, remained in firm control of the party’s largest faction for several years after his resignation and the voters continued to elect him. He was eventually tried in court, but the scandal did not bring an end to corruption in politics.
