A good analogy is that it was a bit like Operation Gladio[1] but for Japan. A short article from the LA Times (1994): https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-09-mn-48400-...
A longer article from NYT (1994): https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/09/world/cia-spent-millions-...