Tokyo Three Generations

After breathing in the unique scent of ink in the study, Takasaki Jun's withered face seemed to gain a touch of color in an instant.

“Chun, your father has told me everything you’ve been doing lately.”

Then, he turned his head to look at his grandson and said, "You're quite bold."

Grandpa's eyes betrayed no emotion, and Jun Takasaki couldn't tell if he was praising or criticizing him, so he could only awkwardly smile and say, "It was just something I did on a whim... I might have overstepped my bounds, but I'll reflect on it."

“Reflect on what?” Takasaki Jun retorted. “As long as the result is good, does the process and means matter? You achieved your goal, and our family didn’t suffer any losses as a result, that’s enough. Young people should be more ambitious and dare to do things that others dare not do. Back when our family had nothing, I entered politics and gained favor from above. Wasn’t that all thanks to that kind of do-or-die courage? If I had just followed the rules and been afraid of this and that, I would have been nothing more than a fisherman on this lake for the rest of my life. How would I have gotten to where I am today!”

Seeing that his grandfather didn't scold him, Jun Takasaki breathed a sigh of relief and quickly agreed, "You're right."

“Of course, there’s a difference between courage and recklessness. You have the guts and the brains to match, so you can do some unconventional things. I trust you. But your father is different. He’s only fit to follow the rules and live his carefree life as a rich young master!” At this point, he seemed to get angry again, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, revealing a cold smile. “He’s accomplished nothing in his life, not even the ability to destroy anything. What can he do besides lying in the nest I built for him? If we listen to him in everything, what future can he have!”

Faced with his grandfather's scathing scolding, Jun Takasaki dared not utter a word and could only lower his head and listen obediently.

Admittedly, Grandpa's criticism was indeed reasonable, but he had other opinions.

In his opinion, although his father was fond of pleasure, he was not as incompetent as his grandfather said. Although he had accomplished nothing for many years, that was largely due to the prevailing circumstances. After the faction lost power, what great things could he do? On the other hand, the fact that he had been able to maintain the family business for more than ten years without too many mishaps was already quite good.

In addition, there are problems with the way the father and son get along.

Jun Takasaki's lifestyle was very traditional, and his parenting style was also full of Showa-era influences. He was very strict and demanding of his son, often scolding him. In Jun Takasaki's memory, his grandfather almost never gave him a kind look whenever they met. At best, he would just say a few cold words with a stern face.

Under such extremely repressive education, it is quite normal for the father to choose to give up and live a life of pleasure rather than listen to his father.

Jun even suspected that his father's almost "laissez-faire" parenting style stemmed from his rebellious attitude towards his grandfather. What he hated most was following his father and playing the role of a strict father in the traditional sense.

On this issue, it's not a matter of who is right and who is wrong; it's simply a matter of different times.

However, although Jun Takasaki was a strict father to his son, he became much gentler and more loving after the birth of his grandson Jun Takasaki. Perhaps because he was too disappointed in his son, he placed all his hopes for bringing glory to the family on his grandson, and thus became more attentive and tolerant. Moreover, because he had more time to retire, he was no longer as impatient and strict as before when he was with his grandson, but was more patient.

Historically, great figures have often been close to their grandparents, which is probably for this reason.

After hurling insults for a while, Takasaki Jun gradually calmed down.

"Leaving aside the Toyokawa family's affairs for now, what about the Nagasaki mother and daughter?" he asked his grandson. "Why do you want to protect them?"

That's right. The place that Jun Takasaki moved Chizuru Nagasaki to was actually his hometown.

Only in the Takasaki family's stronghold, in this remote Akita Prefecture, could they conceal a criminal suspect from the state apparatus and brazenly harbor him.

Harboring a suspect isn't the problem; Takasaki Jun has done far more outrageous things before. He just doesn't understand why his grandson would suddenly do something where the benefits and the costs are completely disproportionate.

Takasaki Jun didn't answer his grandfather's question immediately, but instead asked him, "What have you done with that woman? Is she alright?"

"I've already arranged for her to work temporarily as an accountant in the fan club. Anyway, I'll be supporting her for two years, so this is putting her to good use," Takasaki Jun replied calmly. "I've met her once; she behaved quite well and is very sensible. It's alright to spare her life. However, I guess she's not the reason you're so kind-hearted, is she?"

For some reason, Jun Takasaki felt that there was a hint of sarcasm in his grandfather's tone.

In fact, it was also difficult for him to explain to his grandfather why he had sheltered Chizuru Nagasaki.

Lying to my discerning grandfather is definitely not an option.

After a moment's hesitation, he awkwardly told the truth. "I just felt sorry for her daughter and couldn't bear to see that young child become a sacrifice, so I went easy on her a little. Anyway... it doesn't affect the overall situation."

"Is that child very beautiful?" Takasaki Jun asked.

Jun Takasaki nodded.

"I've heard that Miss Toyokawa is also very beautiful." Takasaki Jun's lips curled up slightly, clearly in a smile. "Could this be the reason you're so interested?"

Faced with this undeniable question, Jun Takasaki could only lower his head and remain silent.

Takasaki Jun did not reprimand his grandson; instead, he simply smiled and let it go.

Then, he casually picked up a calligraphy brush from the pen holder, dipped it in ink, and wrote a line of Chinese characters on the paper.

"When people are young, they admire their parents; when they know how to be attracted to beauty, they admire young women."

Although Jun Takasaki's knowledge of Chinese classics was far inferior to his grandfather's, he could certainly understand the literal meaning of these Chinese characters and their allusions. As a result, he became increasingly embarrassed and speechless.

After writing this line, Takasaki Jun looked at it carefully again. The cursive script was elegant and smooth, with skillful strokes, and he was very satisfied with it.

That's why he felt much better.

"It's nothing, everyone's been young once, why be ashamed?"

Then, he took the initiative to comfort his grandson, saying, "As long as you don't become addicted to women like your father and ruin everything, what does it matter?"

Then, he looked up at the almost crystal-clear blue sky and white clouds outside the window, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

"When I was your age, I also had someone I admired... that was the eldest daughter of the Satake family."

"What?" Jun Takasaki had never heard his grandfather mention this before, so he was quite surprised.

The Satake family?

He was a genuine descendant of the Minamoto clan, a prominent samurai family during the Sengoku period, and the governor of Hitachi Province. Later, he offended Tokugawa Ieyasu and was forced to transfer to the Kubota Domain, which is now Akita Prefecture.

Then, this family took root and flourished in the local area, ruling the people of Akita for more than two hundred years as "lords of the state." Even during the Meiji Restoration, the family did not decline and was granted the title of marquis by the new government. Their family status was only ranked after a dozen or so duke families, making them a top-tier noble family.

Even in modern times, although the Satake family lost its aristocratic status due to the policies of the Americans after the war, it still has great influence in Akita Prefecture. The prefectural governor, Norihisa Satake, is a member of a branch of the Satake family.

When my grandfather was young, he wasn't even a member of parliament; he was just the son of a small businessman. Yet, he actually admired the eldest daughter of the Satake family. That was quite audacious of him...

"Hmph, even you find it laughable, right? But how can a person not do something laughable when they are young?" As if sensing his grandson's thoughts, Takasaki Jun sneered and then let out a long sigh.

"Back then, I was still in school. Because my father was a supplier for the Satake family, I was able to meet the young lady a few times, and then I couldn't help but fall in love with her... Of course, I knew that it was the Satake family! Although it was already the 60s and General MacArthur had long since abolished their noble titles, at that time, our family was still not even a speck of dust in front of the Satake family. I found this crush ridiculous."

But… I couldn't resist. The youthful impulse was almost burning me alive. I just wanted to stand before her, closer and closer… This obsession finally compelled me to secretly confess my feelings to her one day. Of course, this so-called confession was merely a lover's fantasy. I never expected a direct response from her. I simply wanted to tell her that a young man was willing to give everything for her, nothing more.

"Huh?" Jun Takasaki was taken aback. "You really dare to say that? What happens next?"

“What else could there be? Your grandmother’s surname isn’t Satake.” Takasaki Jun continued with a bitter smile. “The young lady just glanced at me, then turned and left without saying a word. I will never forget the look in her eyes at that moment… as if it were a crime for me to have such improper thoughts.”

...Takasaki Jun didn't know how to comment.

After all, this was his grandfather, and he couldn't bear to criticize him. But putting himself in her shoes, he thought it would be difficult for Miss Satake to remain calm if she were suddenly confessed to by a young man she barely knew.

“I don’t hate her, I’m even a little grateful to her, because if she had just said one word, our family would definitely have been kicked off the supplier list by the Satake family… But nothing happened afterward, so she must have shown mercy and didn’t tell anyone. If she hadn’t been lenient back then, my family probably wouldn’t be where we are today…” Takasaki Jun said, a slight smile appearing on his face.

But soon, that smile suddenly turned into a hint of ferocity and anger. "But I also hate, not her, but the world! Why is it such a heinous crime for me to even have a crush on a woman? Why does everything in our family depend on someone else's whim? I'm grateful that she let me go, but I will never allow anyone to look at me like that again! So I vowed that I would make something of myself, no matter the cost, I would make something of myself, so that my descendants would never have to suffer such a glance again... From that moment on, I made this vow."

At this point, the old man slowly turned his head to look at his grandson. "After that, I used all my strength to scheme, flatter, kill and rob... I did everything. In the end, I climbed to where I am today. I fulfilled the oath that young man made and can stand in front of her with dignity again. But, at that time, Miss Satake had already married someone else and didn't even have the surname Satake anymore."

At this point, he sighed again, "But I didn't feel any pain or loss at the time. It was then that I realized that when I was young, I loved not only her, but also the aura surrounding her, her prestigious family background... Ultimately, I loved the version of myself I had dreamed of. With this realization, I felt relieved... It turns out that I had already married the bride of my dreams."

As he listened to his grandfather recount the past, Jun Takasaki was stunned.

This is the life that Grandpa lived over sixty years.

It may not be perfect, but at least it's complete.

At that moment, Jun Takasaki gently patted his grandson's shoulder and said, "My life's work is all for you to be worthy of anyone, so make your choice with confidence, Jun. I am proud of you."

33. Life's Achievements

As the early spring sun rises over the snow-capped mountains and pierces the veil of night, a new day dawns on the shores of Lake Tazawa in Akita.

The morning sunlight, refracted by the thin mist, has a hazy, ethereal quality. The lake water and the mountains, whose snow has not yet completely melted, blend together, blurring the boundary between reality and illusion.

In the dim light of early morning, the gate of the Takasaki family mansion slowly opened, and then an old man and a young man quietly walked out.

After retiring in his old age, Jun Takasaki has always lived a very regular life. He gets up early every morning to take a walk by Lake Tazawa. When Jun Takasaki returns home, he also follows the old man's habit and gets up in the morning to take a walk with him.

The grandfather and grandson walked side by side. Takasaki Jun, without his grandson's support, carried a cane and walked forward step by step.

The weather in early spring was still a bit cold, and the morning wind was particularly biting, so Jun Takasaki was wearing a heavy coat and a hat.

For the elderly person's safety, there were even caregivers following behind, making it a very busy and well-attended situation.

Neither the grandfather nor the grandson spoke at first; they walked along the lakeside road, circling the lake.

When they came to a crossroads, the old man pointed with his cane and then led Takasaki Jun onto a winding mountain path.

It was more like a small hill than a mountain. The old man, with the help of a cane, struggled to move forward on his own. Every time Takasaki Jun tried to help him, the old man simply pushed him away.

"I'm not at the point where I can't walk anymore!"

Jun Takasaki was helpless against his grandfather's stubbornness. He could only slow down and follow his grandfather closely, afraid that he might accidentally fall.

Fortunately, nothing happened along the way, and the two of them took about an hour to climb to the top of the hill.

By this time, the old man was sweating profusely from exhaustion. He turned to look at his grandson beside him and found that Takasaki Jun looked completely unaffected and relaxed.

"It's so good to be young..." he couldn't help but sigh, recalling how spirited he was at the same age.

No, compared to his grandson, his grandson is much more handsome now than he was back then.

"Yes, that's for sure. Each generation should be better than the last..." he thought with a hint of smugness.

His grandson was the pride of his life and the family heir he had painstakingly nurtured. Seeing his grandson grow up little by little and show the qualities to inherit the family business, he was more gratified than anyone else.

Unfortunately, at my age, I probably won't live to see my grandson reach the pinnacle of his life.

Jun Takasaki was unaware of his grandfather's thoughts; he simply saw that his grandfather was in a good mood, which made him happy as well.

To be honest, the scenery here is really beautiful.

Standing on this small hill, you can see Tianze Lake in the distance, with its beautiful scenery in full view. On the lake, busy fishermen are already fishing in their boats.

The fishermen and their boats did not disrupt the beautiful scenery; instead, they added a touch of dynamism to it.

Flowers and grasses are also planted on the hill itself, and these flowers and grasses bloom in competition with the warmth of early spring, appearing vibrant under the glow of the sunset.

This is a beautiful natural landscape that cannot be seen in the steel forest of Tokyo. Even Jun Takasaki, who does not like rural areas, could not help but exclaim in admiration.

"This place is so beautiful!"

“Yes, it’s so beautiful…” Jun Takasaki also exclaimed.

However, compared to his grandson who praised from the perspective of an "outsider," Jun Takasaki, who was born and raised in Akita, could clearly feel the bleakness and deathly atmosphere hidden beneath the beautiful scenery.

"It's a pity that this place is about to die. Just like me."

"Huh?" Takasaki Jun was momentarily speechless upon hearing his grandfather's sudden remark.

Grandpa didn't explain in detail, but instead picked up his cane and pointed to some buildings in the distance.

"Chun, do you know what's there?"

Looking over, Jun Takasaki realized that his grandfather was pointing to a large group of buildings by the lake.

Because of the thin fog, he could only see the outlines of some buildings, and he couldn't make out the specific facilities at all.

"I don't know," he answered honestly.

“That was supposed to be a large resort hotel,” Jun Takasaki replied calmly. “Originally, there was only a small hill there, but it was all leveled to make way for the hotel project. They could have chosen a much better location, but the hotel operators consulted a shrine and decided that this was the most auspicious spot…”

At this point, he chuckled again, "And don't be fooled by the fact that there are only a few buildings there now. The original plan was incredibly ambitious. In addition to a resort-style hotel complex, there was also a large golf course, a yacht marina, and related recreational facilities... Hmm, the planning documents are still in my study."

Jun Takasaki finally understood.

That is what is known as the "foam ruins".

During the bubble economy, the entire Japanese population firmly believed that real estate would always appreciate and wealth would always increase. As a result, land speculation was rampant everywhere, and all sorts of magnificent tourist facilities were built. Each region completely disregarded its actual affordability and frantically "competed" with other projects, determined to claim the title of "Number One in Japan" or even "Number One in the World."

Although Akita is a small, outlying prefecture, it hasn't escaped the common customs...

Lake Tazawa is the area with the best natural scenery in Akita. I imagine there must have been a huge amount of planning going on there back then.

Unfortunately, all the glory faded, and everything came to nothing.

As he pondered, the old man, with a hint of excitement, continued speaking to himself, "How about it? The plan is impressive, isn't it? It's just a pity that the hotel complex never even opened for a single day. Before the main buildings were even completed, the funding chain completely dried up. The banks stopped lending, the operators couldn't find new investors, the company went bankrupt, and only those few buildings were left standing there all alone, like tombstones... No, it's the tombstone of an era."

At this point, the old man chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Actually, even if it's built, what good will it do? It'll just be a waste of more money. The planned facilities will never have enough tourists to fill them up. It's all just a mirage... From the very beginning, it's just a pipe dream for all of us!"

Before Takasaki Jun could reply, the old man picked up his cane again, pointing to the buildings in the distance while explaining to his grandson that this was an abandoned hot spring resort, and that was a holiday home that was barely operating but about to go out of business. He even told his grandson that in the suburbs of Akita City, there was a Taipingshan Resort Park, which had huge amusement facilities, a botanical garden, and a huge indoor water park that was once known as the largest in Asia.

Unfortunately, it has never had enough tourists to support it. After its construction, it has been operating at a loss for many years, and the operating company went bankrupt and was forced to be taken over by the county government.

When talking about these things, the old man recounted them with great familiarity, as if he remembered them all vividly.

Although his tone was calm, Jun Takasaki seemed to detect a hint of pain and remembrance in his voice.

What are we reminiscing about? Perhaps we are reminiscing about that crazy era when we firmly believed that "man can conquer nature."

“Jun, you must be wondering why I’m telling you all this.” After pausing for a moment, Takasaki Jun looked up at the sky and sighed softly. “Because one of those grand plans was once my work.”

"You...you were involved too?" Jun Takasaki asked curiously.

"Is that strange?" The old man gazed into the distance and waved his hand gently. "All these large projects, in the end, are all funded by bank money—banks in Akita, banks in Tohoku, banks in Tokyo… These banks are using the central bank's money to lend everywhere, and then I bring it to Akita… It makes sense to give businesses projects and give residents jobs, right? What's the problem?"

"Yes, what's the problem?" Jun Takasaki sighed inwardly.

Those brutal pleasures will eventually meet with brutal ends, he suddenly recalled this famous line for no apparent reason.