I've seen that show before, and quickly came to the conclusion that the "investors" aren't using their own money. Considering that the same "investors" show up time after time, and they do invest on ocassion (or the show would be long gone) I find it hard to believe that any real business person, as sucessful as they appear, would have becom so sucessful making such foolish investments based on no more info than a 20 minute sales pitch.

My favorite was a pachinko-addict (at least he looked like one) who wanted a huge sum of money to make a chinese carry out joint in Roppongi. He had no experience in the food industry, no chef, no planned location (other than Roppongi), and no financial projections or business plan. The only thing he had was the profound belief in his idea that those little carry-out boxes we often see lawers eating out of on American TV dramas would be the next big fad to sweep Japan.

never saw that one, but sounds typical. You do have a good point about the "investors" not really using their own money, and I would have to agree with you on that one.

I just find it crazy that they have that much cash in one place! I have heard many people comment here that it would be very easy to become a career criminal in Japan. One time some co-workers and I went for lunch near by the office and were seated next to a table completing a huge cash tranaction. We figured the two men were from some kind of insurance or investment company and the other man was giving them his first payment. The one guy was counting two fat envelopes full of 10,000 yen bills, so close to my friend that he could have easily reached out and grabed a million yen in one hand full. When someone says this is a cash society they aint lying.