Did Boeing choose GS Yuasa to supply the batteries to ensure plane sales to Japanese carriers? This report in today's NY Times seems to suggest thats exactly what happened.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/bu...ef=todayspaper
A former Boeing executive confirmed this when we spoke this week. After asking not to be named because of the diplomatic fragility of the topic, he said: “Let me put it this way: we knew the Japanese market would be Boeing’s in return for our selecting these Japanese partners. It was a silent understanding, and there was nothing in writing.” He added that Boeing’s Japanese suppliers had received low-interest loans from the Japanese government repayable only out of future profits.