Both are suspected of making payments of millions of yen to a so-called "sokaiya" corporate extortionist, Terubo Tei, since 1995.

BBC: Japanese police raid Mitsubishi, Toshiba headquarters

That was the name used on ransom demands made by an extortionist who in 1984 poisoned the sweets made by two Japanese confectionery firms.

ECONOMIST: The crazies and their poison

S. agent named Jeff Novitzky, whose biggest claim to fame, before all this, was helping to bring down an extortionist California kickboxing instructor who brandished a samurai sword and called himself the Immortal Tiger.

NEWYORKER: King of Walks

But neither are we obliged, by self-interest or self-respect, to be played by every extortionist who comes our way, seeking the prestige of our company and the things we have to offer in exchange for being kept safe from harm.

WSJ: Bret Stephens: North Korea and Iran Are Practicing Extortion