King Of The Zombies
The drive to be No. 1 came at a price. As with many other Japanese companies its size, Daiei’s rise was fueled by easy credit from friendly banks. In the mid-1990s, as the bubble burst, the banks feared widespread default on these loans. So they dispensed more cash, desperately trying to keep big borrowers afloat. In one recent tally, the Oriental Economist, a monthly newsletter, identified 66 Japanese companies with debts greater than $1 billion and share prices below ¥200 ($1....