Carlos Ghosn Prepares for the Trial of His Life

After two decades spent logging more air miles than virtually any other corporate leader, these days Carlos Ghosn rarely leaves a small slice of central Tokyo. The longtime head of Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA lives alone in a modest house near the expat hub of Roppongi, getting around by taxi and on foot. Although he still keeps a detailed calendar, his days have never been less full, leaving plenty of time for strolls and bike rides through the city’s winding streets.

Ghosn’s routine might seem lonely, but he’s rarely alone. Unmarked sedans tail him wherever he goes, close enough to make their presence obvious. If he enters a park or a restaurant, men in dark clothes get out of the cars and follow him on foot. A video camera is trained on his front door, allowing the Tokyo prosecutor’s office to keep tabs on who comes to see him. At the end of each month, he’s required to provide a list of everyone he’s met with, whether in a restaurant, at home, or at his lawyer’s office.