In Chapter 9, author and lawyer Shin Ushijima reveals the inherent biases of a postwar gilded age and sets the stage to understand modern corporate governance.
Author and lawyer Shin Ushijima with his latest book, "Japan for Sale." (©Japan Forward)
Corporate Japan is changing, and so are the complex relationships between the business world and the individual human beings who own, manage, and make it work. Author and lawyer Shin Ushijima uses his rare talent to weave a fictional story about love, loyalty, betrayal, war and peace, and the collapse and rebirth of the protagonists as well as their country. Join us below for the next chapter in this gripping saga.
Find earlier chapters through the Table of Contents
Chapter 9: Japan for Sale!
The Destiny of the Baby Boomer Generation
That's right. Reiko Nishino was also there at Akiyoshidai. That is to say, that was just Ohki's recollection, although he did not actually remember talking to her during the school trip. But, yes, Reiko was definitely at the cave. As he recalled, she was wearing a white sun hat.
Ohki had undoubtedly been aware that his classmate was in the same place, Akiyoshidai, and staying at the same inn. Reiko must have been on his mind every time he caught a glimpse of her, whether she was in his vicinity or walking in his direction. And, of course, Reiko Nishino would have been in the group photo taken on that occasion. She would have been wearing that hat for sure. Her gaze averted from the camera. Typical Reiko.
There was one other old object on Ohki's desk. This was a wooden pen tray with a daffodil pattern that Ohki's father had carved as a hobby during the four years from 1955, when their family lived together in Tokyo. More than 65 years had passed since his father made it for him. Ohki had been 10 years old at the time. He could pinpoint the exact year because their family moved from Tokyo to Hiroshima when he was 10.
Ohki held the entrance door open and let Reiko go inside first. To their immediate left was a spot where ikebana flower arrangements were displayed year-round.
Flowers in the Lobby
"Oh my, cherry blossoms. Seems a bit early for them."
"Yes, you can view a cavalcade of the five different types of cherry blossoms changing places here every year. But apparently the next display will be of peach blossoms."
"Hmm, they've decorated with fresh flowers. That's amazing. There's even a plaque with the name of the ikebana teacher on it."
"It's nothing particularly amazing, but I've been asking that teacher for help for a long time now. Our clients often remark on how nice it is to see fresh flowers in the ikebana arrangements. Some people say they look forward to the scent of lilies. I enjoy that too. We've devised a way that allows us to take a cherry blossom viewing trip all over the country without leaving the office. However, the 45th floor is mainly for customer service. My own office is on the 46th floor. So I don't get to see it multiple times every day."
Beyond the fresh ikebana, there was a small space resembling a tokonoma alcove decorated with lacquer, the interior designer's particular preference. It was a work by the designer Takashi Kobayashi, whom Ohki had been commissioning ever since he opened his new law office, the Ohki Law Office, in the Aoyama Twin in 1987. Kobayashi had a refined aesthetic sense, and he once invited Ohki to go to the town of Ono, in Gifu Prefecture, to look at some stone he thought would be right for his office entrance.
Ohki thought that he must have had a lot of free time back then. Or perhaps, more than that, he was just happy that his own office was finally taking shape and would soon become a reality.
Silver, Not Gold
Just like the office where Ohki had worked until just a short time before, his own office's entrance hall interior would feature black granite with the office name in polished brass lettering. In those days, Ohki was still under the spell of that kind of thing. In addition, there was a small partition wall in a deep scarlet shade called Kokihiiro, which was installed out of the designer's personal liking. That was a pleasant surprise to Ohki.
Continuing straight ahead, Reiko Nishino saw the sign with the name of Ohki's office fixed to a large, dark green wall. She stood in front of it, with the sign above the height of her head. In English, it read "Ohki & Partners" and below that "Attorneys-at-Law." His firm's nameplate was no longer made from polished brass. It was now made from gleaming silver metal.
After all, times had changed, and using gold for the name of a law firm was out of fashion. Silver seemed to convey the more subdued spirit of the age. It seemed to evoke a cool feeling. Ohki himself often preferred to wear a platinum watch rather than a gold one.
Ohki ushered Nishino-san into a conference room, with the prime minister's official residence visible below. However, part of the windowpane had been covered with a frosted matte finish to prevent people from looking directly into the prime minister's residence.
A Perfectly Rehearsed Routine
When the Great East Japan Earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, Ohki had been in this very room talking with a lawyer who had come from India. One of his secretaries had just brought them tea. At that time, it felt like being in a boat, rocking on the waves, slowly, for a long time, seemingly endlessly. He recalled how the secretary was gripping the table with her fingertips. Her facial expression was tense.
As if it were a previously rehearsed routine, Ohki pointed out to his visitor the Diet Members' Office Building, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Prime Minister's Official Residence. He would also explain the difference between the prime minister's office and their official residence.
The Capitol Tokyu Hotel could also be seen off to the left. Depending on his guest's age, he might add that it was formerly called the Tokyo Hilton Hotel. That was where The Beatles stayed when they came to Japan.
No matter who the visitor might be, Ohki followed the same script every time. The only difference was whether he delivered it in Japanese or English.
"Sure, the Beatles' hotel. I know that," Reiko said. "I remember them coming down the boarding stairs from their JAL flight wearing happi coats. We were 17 at the time, you know."
She placed her lemon-yellow handbag on the seat of the black leather chair and then set the paper bag she had been carrying on the table. The bag was from the upscale fruit parlor Senbikiya. It held a box with noshi (decorative paper wrapping) attached. Ohki himself often sent gifts of Senbikiya products. After all, if chosen correctly by season, there was no better gift than fresh fruit. And at that time, strawberries were definitely the best choice.
Hint of a Proud Smile
After bowing and exchanging name cards, Reiko Nishino relaxed her facial muscles as she sat down in a chair opposite the large conference table. It was as if to say that she was extremely pleased to be meeting with Ohki.
"She reminds me of someone," Ohki thought to himself.
Immediately, it dawned on him that it was the writer and politician Shintaro Ishihara. She had that same kind of winning smile that never failed to draw people in.
Reiko sat down in front of Ohki with that smile on her face. It was the very same chair that Shintaro Ishihara had sat in before.
"Fortunately, I was in today," he said. "But what would you have done if I hadn't been here?"
When Ohki asked her that, Reiko just continued smiling.
Never losing her composure, she said, "I could just come again."
"Hmm, I thought that custom of suddenly visiting people like that was a thing of the past and had long since disappeared in this day and age. But I find meeting unexpectedly like this strangely endearing. It was a feeling I had completely forgotten. I never imagined that it would be you, and no one else, who would remind me of this."
"Maybe so."
Reiko's cheeks relaxed slightly in the hint of a proud smile. There was no doubt that her intentionally avoiding making an appointment had been a stratagem. She had gambled and won.
Reiko's Case
"So, the case you wanted us to take had to do with your second son and the company, right? But I was shocked to hear that the deceased's eldest daughter wasn't his biological child. Nevertheless, your second child is definitely a child you had with that individual."
"Correct. There's a reason why things turned out that way at that time."
Ohki did not attempt to lead the conversation. He knew a person would talk when they were ready.
"So you want to consult about the inheritance left by the biological father of your second son, who was your husband, your spouse. However, this boy's biological father had a previous spouse. But the eldest daughter born in that previous relationship was not your husband's biological child.
Meanwhile, a child was born between that man and a woman, namely yourself, and that child is your second son. Is that right? And your husband, in other words, the biological father of your second son, was the owner and president of a company called Hiroshima Kosan, holding 90% of its shares, with his oldest daughter having nominal ownership of the remaining 10%.
"The company's tax accountant says the company's market value is around ¥10 billion. Is that summary of the matter more or less correct and complete?"
Follow the story as it continues.
(To read the book in Japanese, please visit the publisher's website.)
READ Other Books in English by Shin Ushijima:
Author: Shin Ushijima
Ushijima & Partners, Attorneys at Law
Translation by: John C Carroll
(Edited by Susan Komori, Japan Forward)