A previous thread TODAY had an explanation for WWII Japan’s ease of financing their war-machine.
It was to plant opium in fields of conquered China and addict its population.
Of course, China wouldn’t do this today.../
Interesting fact of history.
I’ve had Heroin addicts in my family,
I’ve worked with professional
people that were addicts.
So what you report is very possible.
But smart Heroin addicts don’t pay
much in taxes, as the drug is more important.
and the dumb ones just do what they
need to do to get the next dose.
Hard to supply a war machine on those
economics.
So I presume that you are saying the
Japanese ran/owned all the farms?
Pretty Western thinking.