Mendō Zaibatsu

The family crest of the Mendō Zaibatsu.

The Mendō Zaibatsu (面堂財閥, Mendō Conglomerate^?) is the militaristic mega-conglomerate owned by Shūtarō Mendō's family and the very foundation of the Mendō Clan, comprising all of its collective businesses, financial holdings, cliques, organizations, properties and much more. Their influence spreads across the nation and their assets are worth over ¥5 trillion yen, with their staggering influence allowing them to control over 51% of the country and control their own private army of near-limitless resources.

Status Symbol

The "Status Symbol" (ステータスシンボル, Sutētasushinboru) of the Mendō Zaibatsu is a simple caricature of a grumpy-looking octopus mask with crossed eyes and it is a crest which members of the clan carry on personal charms, with the caricature itself being based on a uniquely-designed hyottoko mask which is in actuality the family's most prized treasure which is usually worn by Mendō's Grandfather and has been passed down from generation to generation.

The Mendō status symbol on Shūtarō's personal charm.

Ryōko's personalized symbol.

The Mendō Mask, the prized family treasure.

Mendō wearing a copy of the family mask for a masquerade.

The clan crest in the 2022 anime.

The reason for the mask and the symbol's appearance is the family's obsession with octopi and their passion for raising them as both pets and companions, having an entire horde of octopi under their care which also double as the conglomerate's mascots and they treasure them as the ultimate status symbol of their wealth and power. Because of their love for octopi, the Mendō Family has the symbol engraved on not just their charms, but even on signs, doors, some of their furniture, personal effects and even etched into the landscape of their private estate which can be seen from a bird's eye view. Because of this love for octopi, the Mendō Clan does not consume takoyaki or any product made from octopus.

Clan Members

Shūtarō Mendō

Ryōko Mendō

Mendō's Father

Mendō's Mother

Mendō's Grandfather

Mendō's Great-Grandparents and their pet goat (deceased)

Mendō's Octopi

Assets

The company has an uncountable number of enterprises, properties and holdings under their control, from theme parks, to stores, hotels, vehicle manufacturers and many others, and many private properties under their ownership all over the country, with even their family estate being of almost immeasurable size.

Known Businesses

• Mendō Hotel Chain
• Mendō Marine Park
• Mendō's Fast-Food Superstore
• Weapons Manufacturer

Mendō Private Army

• Mendō Brigade
  • 1st Corps
  • 2nd Corps
  • Station Tank Corps
  • Infrared Search Group
  • Estate Area Combat Teams
  • Odyssey 20-0
• Kuroko Group (Ryōko Mendō's personal enforcers)
  • Kuroko Cargo-Copter Squadron
• Mendō Mobile Armor Corps
  • Mendō SXR-7000-Tako Mecha
• Mendō Science Research Group
• Mendō Private Police
• Specially Trained Mine-Avoiding Dobermans

Real Estate

• Mendō Estate
  • Ryoko Memorial Auditorium
  • Shū-chan's Treasure Box
  • Many private quarters and recreational areas
• Mendō Private Resort
• Mendō Family Villa

Other Assets

• Mendō Special Metal
• Private Helicopters
• Mendō Clan-line of Heavy Bombers
• Gold reserves to surpass Fort Knox
• Almost every model of warplane imaginable
• Almost every model of tank imaginable

The Mendō Zaibatsu also maintains good relations and a somewhat friendly rivalry with the wealthy sporting goods enterprise of the Mizunokōji Family, with both their eldest sons being friends and rivals since childhood, and both sons having romantic feelings for the daughters of both families and vice versa which suffice it to say has resulted in some highly dysfunctional relationships and destructive courting drama.

Trivia

• Despite the importance octopi have to the known living members of the family, Mendō's great-grandfather instead had a pet goat.
• At the time of its introduction in 1980 (manga) and 1982 (anime), the Zaibatsu was said to be worth ¥5 trillion yen, which when adjusted for inflation would be the equivalent of ¥7 trillion yen ($50 billion USD and £42 billion GBP) in the real world by the time the Zaibatsu was reintroduced in the 2022 anime.
  • ¥5 trillion yen is roughly the equivalent of around $36 billion USD and £30 billion GBP. For comparison, the wealthiest man of 1980 and 1982 was Daniel K. Ludwig with a net worth of around $2 billion USD and the wealthiest man of the 1980s as a whole by 1987 was Yoshiaki Tsutsumi with a net worth of $20 billion USD (¥2.7 trillion yen).

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