The Zaibatsu Corporation

For the vehicle company of a similar name, see Maibatsu Corporation
GANG
The Zaibatsu Corporation
The Zaibatsu Corporation logo.
Games: GTA 2
Locations: Downtown, Industrial and Residential Districts of Anywhere City
Leaders: Trey Welsh
Red Valdez
Uno Carb
Type: Organized Crime
Enemies: Rednecks
Yakuza
Scientists
Russian Mafia
Hare Krishna
Loonies
Yutes
Affiliations: Claude Speed
Colors: Black and Gold
Vehicles: Z-Type
Businesses: Pharmaceuticals
Fronts: Zaibatsu Pharmaceuticals
Members: Trey Welsh (deceased)
Red Valdez (deceased)
Uno Carb (deceased)
Flambo Cortez (deceased)
Sacchmo (deceased)
Z-Type gang car

The Zaibatsu Corporation are an organized crime syndicate in Grand Theft Auto 2. They hide behind the guise of a pharmaceutical company, and their website describes them as "the world's last major privately owned corporation". They appear frequently throughout the entire game, as their presence can be seen and felt in all three districts of Anywhere City. They became embroiled into a violent struggle over control of business interests and gang territories with all other gangs in Anywhere City during the period of which Grand Theft Auto 2 is set in.

The following gangs that contests the control by the Zaibatsu Corporation are: Yakuza, the Rednecks, the Scientists, the Loonies, the Hare Krishna, and the Russian Mafia. They were presumed to be the most powerful criminal organization of all in Anywhere City during the time of Grand Theft Auto 2. The top-ranking leaders of the Zaibatsu Corporation frequently refer to Claude Speed by the nickname they gave him, "Gecko". In the film/movie rendition of Grand Theft Auto 2, Claude is shot dead by Zaibatsu assassins sent to avenge for his theft of Zaibatsu merchandise.

The Zaibatsu Corporation still exists in the 3D Universe, selling prescription medicines such as Equanox.

Products of Zaibatsu

Advertised:

  • Zoom Zoom - Energy stimulant.
  • Silky Milky - Breast implants that "feel and taste like the real thing".
  • Doesn't Need Anything (DNA) - Baby food.
  • Hush - Self-reliant sedative.
  • Equanox - Alertness pills (advertised in GTA III).

From their in-game car crushing / manufacturing plant:

  • Medicine.
  • Body armour.
  • Weapons.
Electricity

Zaibatsu owns the electrical power stations in Anywhere City.

Trivia

  • "Zaibatsu" is a Japanese business term, referring to business conglomerates in the Japanese Empire, that have major influence over the country's economy.
  • The Maibatsu Corporation is likely a nod to the Zaibatsu Corporation. In real life, Mitsubishi was one of Japan's original "Big Four" Zaibatsus and is among the influences of the in-game Maibastsu parody.
  • The Z radar icon for Zhou Ming could also pay homage to the Zaibatsu Corporation.

External link