Tokyo Three Generations

Sure enough, being around such an ultra-high school level beauty is therapeutic for both body and mind... I should spend more time with her in the future.

Moreover, it's not just the pleasure of "being with beautiful girls," but also the pleasure of "seeing them having a good time."

It's like a player getting the best cards they've painstakingly drawn and the best stats on their equipment.

However, before Jun Takasaki could savor this joy alone, his father called him over.

"What good thing happened to you today? You look so happy!" Dad asked.

"I played with the girl for a while," Jun Takasaki told the truth.

"Kid, you've finally figured it out!" The old man showed an extremely gratified expression.

However, he quickly became serious again. "Chun, you did a very good job before, which made me very satisfied, so I want to give you a reward."

?

"What kind of reward?" Jun Takasaki asked. "Will you give me extra money?"

"Why is it that every time you talk to me it's about asking for money! Is your family ties really that cold?!" Takasaki Hiroshi cursed angrily.

Then, he explained impatiently, "Anyway, you're going on spring break soon, so here's a chance for you to go home and have some fun. The fan club will cover all your expenses—"

Then, he explained the whole story to Jun Takasaki in detail.

Akita Prefecture, where the Takasaki family's territory is located, is preparing to hold a series of large-scale cultural promotion and tourism events.

Ostensibly, it's to attract tourists and revitalize the local economy, but in reality... it's just a way to legally spend a large portion of the budget.

The Takasaki family's local support group handled a significant portion of the projects.

In this world, it is obviously naive to rely solely on so-called "personal connections." The reason why local forces and enterprises in the support groups have been able to follow the Takasaki family for decades is ultimately because they can gain benefits from it.

In ancient times, samurai were said to "serve the lords" of their families. Samurai were loyal to their lords and would risk their lives for them, and in return, the lords would provide them with protection and a salary, and sometimes even share in their territory.

Even in modern times, the essence remains unchanged. In order to secure the loyalty of these people, the Takasaki family must provide sufficient rewards—loyalty is never unconditional.

Akita Prefecture is a remote prefecture in the Tohoku region. In terms of both population and economic strength, it ranks near the bottom among all prefectures in Japan, and its local economy is not very profitable.

However, this is not a problem. Precisely because Akita Prefecture's economy is poor, it is particularly reliant on financial subsidies provided by the central government in Tokyo. These subsidies consist of local taxes and national treasury expenditures. Although the names differ, they are essentially transfer payments from Tokyo.

This is where the Takasaki family's role comes into play. As long-time members of parliament, they can use their various connections with higher-ups to secure more budgets, projects, and subsidies for Akita Prefecture.

Most of this money will be used to maintain basic local operations, but a portion of it will inevitably be used to maintain the local power of the Takasaki family—in other words, it is a "reward" bestowed by the Takasaki family upon the support group, thus fulfilling the duties of the family head and the samurai.

This system of conduct has been in place for half a century, and if nothing unexpected happens, it will continue when Jun Takasaki takes over the family business.

Incidentally, there is a very obvious phenomenon in the Japanese Diet: the more remote and economically disadvantaged the region, the more likely it is to produce families of members of parliament who have lasted for generations, while the turnover rate of members of parliament in big cities is very fast, with a new batch of people often being replaced every few years.

Besides the fact that villagers are more sentimental and prefer to dedicate their lives to one family than urban residents, there is an even more important reason: these members of parliament are the spokespeople for these regions in their struggles with the central government and their demands for resources. The weaker the local area is, the more it needs a "powerful" spokesperson to increase its bargaining power in the central-local power struggle.

The longer a member of parliament is elected, the more influence they have within the parliament and their party. They may even hold ministerial positions in various parliamentary committees or the cabinet. Their influence is deeply entrenched, and their "energy" to secure resources naturally far surpasses that of newcomers.

Therefore, people are often willing to support a family indefinitely, allowing them to become "daimyo" without using their real names.

This so-called large-scale cultural and tourism event is a way for the Takasaki family to reward their subordinates.

The name is not important; what matters is that the project is legally approved and the money is legally spent, reaching the right people. As for how many tourists it can attract or how much revenue it can generate, that's another matter.

"When you get back, visit your grandfather. He must be lonely living alone in his hometown." In closing, Hiroshi Takasaki also told his son, "Also, to make this a success, we've invited some very famous celebrities to be our promotional ambassadors... You can even go on a paid trip to see your idol."

"Following celebrities? Who follows celebrities these days?" Jun Takasaki scoffed. "Which big star?"

“Mori Minami.” Takasaki Hiroshi revealed a subtle smile. “Back then, she was an incredibly beautiful woman… I even pursued her, but unfortunately, I didn’t succeed.”

31, Remnant

Not long after receiving his father's instructions, taking advantage of the spring break, Jun Takasaki and Kenji Sakura boarded a Shinkansen train bound for Akita Prefecture.

To travel from Tokyo to Akita Prefecture, you need to take the JR East Akita Shinkansen "Komachi", and the total journey takes about 4 hours.

Speaking of which, this Shinkansen line has a great connection with the Takasaki family.

According to the early plans for the Shinkansen high-speed rail, it was not intended to pass through Akita Prefecture, which is close to the Pacific Ocean. The Tohoku Shinkansen, which was finalized in 1971, runs through Tokyo, Morioka, and Aomori. Akita Prefecture has long been excluded from the Shinkansen network and has been jokingly referred to as the "national railway island."

The Japanese National Railways Group had its reasons for planning the Shinkansen, such as Akita's small population, the difficulty of construction, and low economic benefits.

Perhaps such concerns are indeed valid, but the locals find it unbearable and have been petitioning for years to extend the Shinkansen line to their area.

However, for various reasons, this fervent call has gone unanswered.

In 1987, the Japanese National Railways was considered a huge burden by the government due to its excessive debt. As a result, the Diet passed the Japanese National Railways Reform Law and other related bills, determined to dismantle the National Railways.

In the end, the National Railways was split into seven independent companies, and Japan's massive railway construction boom came to an end.

The bursting of the bubble economy in the 90s dealt a heavy blow to the people of Akita. The rapidly shrinking economy and the deteriorating central government finances made the government even more unwilling to consider continuing to invest heavily in the Shinkansen.

However, even in this desperate situation, people from all walks of life in Akita did not give up. The governor of Akita Prefecture, the prefectural assembly, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry continued to petition and lobby in Tokyo, hoping that the government could fulfill this long-cherished wish that had lasted for decades.

As local Akita Diet members, the Takasaki family naturally couldn't stay out of it. Takasaki Jun, who was already a senior member of parliament at the time, took the lead and used all his connections to win over, lobby, and threaten people.

Finally, under the pull of various forces, the government's attitude softened.

At this point, a "compromise" was put on the table, becoming the final point of convergence for the interests of all parties.

The Akita people's original proposal was the Ou Shinkansen—a brand new, standard-spec Shinkansen with a speed of over 260 km/h, running directly from Tokyo to Akita.

However, the final plan changed to a "mini Shinkansen" renovation scheme that would not build new Shinkansen tracks, but instead directly modify the existing railway lines, converting the original narrow gauge to standard gauge and straightening the curves on a small scale.

So in 1997, when the Japanese economy was in complete collapse and almost all industries were in ruins, the Akita Shinkansen miraculously opened.

However, this "small-scale" mini Shinkansen, while connecting Akita Prefecture to the Shinkansen network, only allows trains to reduce their speed to 130 kilometers per hour after entering Akita Prefecture, a 50% reduction compared to the standard Shinkansen.

In any case, the "compromise" at least solved Akita's immediate problem and satisfied the pride of the prefectural residents. Although the outcome was not perfect, everyone could understand the difficulties of the overall situation and it was hard to complain anymore.

The opening of the Akita Shinkansen became the greatest political achievement of Jun Takasaki's political career. Thanks to the gratitude of the people of Akita, he received the highest number of votes in all the parliamentary elections he had ever participated in, which also laid the political foundation for his son Hiroshi Takasaki to succeed him.

Of course, his immense power was also related to the political climate at the time. In the late 90s, although the bursting of the bubble economy and factional infighting severely damaged the Heisei Research Institute, to which Jun Takasaki belonged, it still maintained a mainstream position in politics thanks to the power it had accumulated over the years. However, after the turn of the 21st century, it quickly entered its "sunset period," overtaken by its old rival, the Seiwakai, and firmly suppressed to a non-mainstream position.

Thus, his political career became rather uneventful after that, never achieving such heights again. The Akita Shinkansen also became the final chapter in Takasaki Jun's entire political career.

The shifts in the political landscape after the turn of the 21st century made Jun Takasaki increasingly feel old and powerless. He gradually became less active within the party and began to keep a low profile, focusing solely on ensuring his son's smooth succession. He finally succeeded in handing over power in 2012, then left Tokyo and returned to his hometown to live in seclusion.

Unlike many Showa-era veterans who remained active after retirement, Jun Takasaki's retirement was truly low-key. After going into seclusion, he never made any public statements or accepted interviews. Apart from occasionally receiving visits from a few old friends, he almost completely withdrew from the public eye.

However, within the Takasaki family, in the eyes of the Takasaki supporters, and in the eyes of all the close and vassal forces surrounding the Takasaki family, Takasaki Jun was still the true head of the family, the "master" who guided everyone forward.

Takasaki Hiroshi, who enjoys a life of debauchery and extravagance, can only earn respect from others, not the same reverence as a master.

Jun Takasaki, who lives in Tokyo, usually doesn't feel any respect for this kind of deference. However, every time he returns to his hometown and sees the respectful attitude of the people around his grandfather towards him, he can truly feel the weight of the "head of the family".

Jun Takasaki and Kenji Sakura traveled in first class on the Shinkansen and, after several hours of travel, arrived at the JR train station in Akita City, Akita Prefecture.

After getting off the bus, they walked out of the station, where a car was already waiting to pick them up in the parking lot.

They got into the car, and after a ten-minute drive, they arrived at the gate of a house located next to Tianze Lake.

Lake Tazawa is known as the deepest lake in Japan, surrounded by beautiful scenery. This particular residence is quite large and well-located, offering views of the distant sunset and snow-capped mountains from just the entrance. The residence itself is a traditional Japanese structure, unassuming in appearance, with only the words "Takasaki" hanging at the entrance to remind occasional travelers that this is a private residence and should not be trespassed.

Although it doesn't look impressive, this is the "main castle" of the Takasaki family.

The patriarch, Jun Takasaki, lived in seclusion here, and the headquarters of the Takasaki family's support group was also located in a nearby residence. Almost all of the Takasaki family's affairs in Akita Prefecture, whether it was elections, financial transactions, or personnel deals, were conducted here.

Incidentally, the secretary-general of the support group headquarters is Sakura Kenji's father, Sakura Satoshi, who can be considered the chief writer and elder of the family.

Because it was arranged in advance, the car carrying Jun Takasaki quickly passed through the gate and drove in.

Not long after, Jun Takasaki came out of the garage, walked through the small Japanese garden, and went straight into the house.

My grandfather is over eighty years old. Although he is still relatively healthy, he is still suffering from various underlying health conditions. Therefore, there are always medical staff and servants stationed here, making it even more lively than the Takasaki family mansion in Tokyo.

Everyone who passed by stopped and bowed to the "young master" who was returning home. Takasaki Jun also put aside his usual arrogant attitude and patiently greeted everyone.

Walking on the wooden corridor, even though I had taken off my shoes, it still made creaking sounds—after all, this house was as old as my grandfather, and no matter how carefully it was maintained, its decay could not be concealed, and all we could do was try to make up for it.

Jun Takasaki didn't feel much attachment to this old house. He grew up in Tokyo and was used to that urbanized, Westernized lifestyle. He wasn't interested in the Japanese style that the Showa-era old man was obsessed with, and just felt that it was cramped to live in.

He even secretly thought that if he were to take over the family business in the future, he would simply demolish the place and rebuild it into a Western-style mansion.

Of course, this is just wishful thinking. No matter how Westernized they become, the Takasaki family must adopt a "conservative" stance when facing the conservative and nostalgic voters here. No one can interfere with their extravagant lifestyle in Tokyo, but here they can only adhere to tradition.

With this thought in mind, Jun Takasaki walked and stopped along the way, finally arriving at the door of a room at the very back of the house—his grandfather's bedroom.

"Grandpa, I'm back!" he shouted.

"Chun, you're back..."

A lazy reply came from inside very quickly. "Come in."

Although his voice sounded old, it was still strong, which indicated that his health was still good.

After hearing his grandfather's reply, Jun Takasaki reached out and opened the door to both sides, then quickly walked inside.

Soon, in his line of sight, a gaunt old man dressed in a home kimono was half-lying on the tatami mat, staring blankly at the neatly trimmed plants under the eaves.

The room was simply furnished. Aside from documents scattered throughout, there were two vases in one corner, two Japanese swords on a rack, and above that hung a calligraphy banner with only two lines and eight characters:

"It nourishes things silently, and its noble spirit is pure and simple."

To be honest, although the characters are written neatly, the calligraphy skills are not very good.

However, Jun Takasaki knew that its historical significance to the Takasaki family far exceeded that of any calligraphy master's work.

Because it was a piece of calligraphy by Kakuei Tanaka, Takasaki Jun's political mentor and the founder of a faction, specially given to him, it can be seen as proof of the young politician's "discerning eye".

During the Showa era, most politicians took pride in their calligraphy skills. Whether it was Shigeru Yoshida or Eisaku Sato, both were considered masters of calligraphy. Even a nouveau riche real estate developer like Kakuei Tanaka, after entering politics, diligently studied calligraphy, cultivating an air of refinement. His arch-rival, Takeo Fukuda, who also served as prime minister, was a recognized calligraphy enthusiast in political circles, possessing near-professional calligraphic skills, excelling in regular and running scripts, which were highly admired by his contemporaries.

Under the influence of the "bosses," the young politicians within the factions developed a strong habit of studying calligraphy and exchanging calligraphic works.

Unfortunately, in modern times, for various reasons, this trend has gradually faded away, and only some old-fashioned politicians still adhere to this tradition.

In short, after entering politics, Takasaki Jun always regarded Tanaka Kakuei as his idol and the goal to follow. He not only followed Tanaka's lead in politics and was content to be a voting machine for the Tanaka faction, but also learned in every aspect of life and developed excellent calligraphy skills. This young man's "ambition" was also noticed by the Dark General, who favored him.

The fact that the calligraphic work was personally delivered is proof of this high regard.

It was precisely because of his elder brother's appreciation and support that Takasaki Jun was able to rise rapidly through the ranks within the faction, becoming a highly influential politician in just 20 years. To show his respect, he even consulted his elder brother's calligraphy when naming his children and grandchildren.

However, the past is gone like smoke. General An has been gone for 30 years, and the young politician he once valued has entered his twilight years. Time has destroyed almost everything, and the most glorious people and events have vanished into thin air, leaving only a few lines as a remnant of memory.

Upon seeing his grandson arrive, the usually expressionless old man finally broke into a smile on his wrinkled face, and gently raised his hand to greet his grandson.

"Chun, come here and sit next to me."

Jun Takasaki obediently walked to his grandfather's side and sat down.

The contrast between the handsome, spirited young man and the gaunt, withered old man was striking; the difference was enormous, even just in terms of physique.

When Jun was born, his father, Kiyoshi Takasaki, was already in business, but he had not yet made a fortune. As a result, his childhood was quite difficult, which affected his physical development. So, although he was handsome when he was young, he was only a little over 160 cm tall.

So when his grandson sat next to him, he was much taller than him.

However, the old man was very happy about this.

He reached out and touched his grandson's face. "Finally, you've deigned to come back and see your old man..."

Although he always acted fearless in front of his father, when facing his grandfather and the true founder of the Takasaki family business, former Diet member Jun Takasaki, who had weathered many storms during his 50 years in politics and remained standing, Takasaki Jun could only restrain his usual arrogance and behave with utmost respect.

"I've wanted to come back to see you for a long time, and I came as soon as I had a holiday! I'm so happy to see that you are in good health, Grandpa."

32. Old Stories

Seeing his long-lost grandson, Takasaki Jun was clearly overjoyed, and his previously dull and cloudy eyes regained their luster.

Having already lost his wife, he lived a rather lonely life with his children and grandchildren spending most of their time in Tokyo. Even though he had gotten used to this kind of life, he couldn't help but miss them.

More importantly, in his grandson, he could see his long-lost youth. Sixty years had passed like a dream, and the once spirited young Takasaki Jun suddenly emerged from his withered and blurred memories.

Help me up.

He said to his grandson.

Jun Takasaki quickly supported his grandfather's shoulders and helped him stand up from the tatami mat.

Then, the old man led his grandson into the study.

Like the bedroom, the study is also furnished in a Japanese style, and all the furniture is full of the distant feel of the Showa era.

In addition, the room is fully equipped with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, all of which are very valuable. There are also many calligraphy scrolls displayed on the walls, giving the room an elegant and scholarly atmosphere.

If Takasaki Jun initially learned calligraphy to follow in the footsteps of his "elder brother" and to appear cultured, after decades of dedication, calligraphy has become his greatest personal hobby. Even today, in an era where even the elderly use smartphones and social media, he still insists on writing letters, greeting cards, and postcards by hand, and practicing various calligraphy models – a testament to his tireless dedication.

Under his grandfather's influence, Junya Takasaki received some calligraphy education from a young age. Although he wasn't particularly proficient, he could at least write regular script fluently. This skill is extremely rare among young people today—thanks to the "happy education" approach, many young people today don't even know many Chinese characters, let alone calligraphy...

With Jun Takasaki's help, Grandpa sat down at the desk.