noun
politicians, business leaders, and bureaucrats; the worlds of politics, big business, and bureaucracy
Refers collectively to the three elite sectors of Japanese society: political, bureaucratic, and business/financial. Often used in discussions of the 'iron triangle' or collusive relationships among these groups.
政官財の癒着が問題になっている。
Collusion among politicians, bureaucrats, and business leaders is becoming a problem.
彼は政官財の世界に広い人脈を持っている。
He has a wide network in the worlds of politics, bureaucracy, and business.
The 'iron triangle' is a political science term for the close, mutually beneficial relationship among politicians, bureaucrats, and interest groups (often business). 政官財 is a Japan-specific term for the same phenomenon.
Compound of 政 (politics), 官 (bureaucracy), and 財 (finance/business). The term emerged in Japanese political discourse to describe the tripartite elite structure.