Tokyo Three Generations

Mr. Takeshita spent decades in politics, serving as a member of the House of Representatives, a cabinet minister, and a faction leader.

Throughout his life, he was deeply concerned about the people's livelihood and upheld his political beliefs, devoting all his energy to national development and regional stability. Whether in good times or bad, he was always kind and generous and upright in his conduct, making him a respected senior figure in the political arena.

He worked with me for many years and provided me with a great deal of help. I had the opportunity to work with him and discuss national and local politics on numerous occasions. His pragmatic vision and steady sense of responsibility remain vivid in my memory. Now, with this sudden separation, my grief is beyond words.

Mr. Takeshita, along with the late Prime Minister Takeshita, were role models for our generation of politicians and indispensable political leaders in our country. Their contributions to the nation and their respective factions deserve to be remembered by all of us.

We will always remember Mr. Zhuxia's teachings and legacy, uphold our original aspirations in governance, and live up to his lifelong dedication. May Mr. Zhuxia rest in peace in the afterlife.

We also hope that we can carry on his legacy, unite as one, continue the glorious history of our sect, and make greater contributions to the country, so as to comfort his spirit in heaven!

This eulogy is respectfully offered before the spirit of the deceased.

He was already old, and after saying those words in one breath, he couldn't help but be a little out of breath. But in this kind of occasion, no one cared about that. Everyone listened to the old man's eulogy with respect and solemnity.

However, to those who truly know the inside story, Takasaki Jun's eulogy is somewhat ironic.

During the period when Chairman Takeshita was in office, the faction was in decline. He himself had little to show for his life, so there was really no "achievement" or "contribution".

Moreover, even when he was alive, infighting was rampant within the faction, and now the two factions are fighting to the death for the position of chairman, so there is no question of unity.

The more people shout about unity, the more it implies that there's something they can't unite on.

However, for politicians, lying through their teeth is an essential skill. Takasaki Jun has been spouting nonsense for decades, and this time he naturally showed no fear, delivering his lines with great emotion.

After the chairman of the funeral committee delivered his eulogy, other prominent figures also gave their eulogies.

After they finished speaking, Hiroshi Takasaki, as the father's representative, read out condolence messages from Liberal Democratic Party branches across the country and local governments with good relations with the Takeshita family.

After the eulogy was finished, amidst another round of chanting by the monks, the participants in the funeral began to line up one by one to offer incense.

Jun Takasaki was at the end of the line. When it was his turn, he walked to the incense burner, bowed, and offered incense to the chairman to express his respect for the deceased.

Only after completing this process can this "farewell ceremony" be considered to have come to an end.

Of course, in addition to the farewell ceremony for family and colleagues, there will also be a memorial service for the public. However, according to tradition, the body will be cremated after the farewell ceremony, and the memorial service will be held later, sometimes even several months later.

After the incense was offered, the mourners lined up to pay their respects to the deceased. Because not many people attended the funeral today, this part of the ceremony ended quickly, which also marked the official end of the funeral.

After completing the ceremony, the people respectfully bowed to the bereaved family to say goodbye and went to their own battlefields in life—what the deceased thought was no longer important; the living needed to continue planning for their own future.

Yuko Obuchi was also preparing to leave at this time.

As the leader of a faction within the clique, she was surrounded by several members of her faction's councilors. The group walked silently, their faces expressionless, showing neither grief nor excitement.

To be honest, she harbored some resentment towards the deceased chairman. The Takeshita and Obuchi families were old friends, and her father was able to become prime minister thanks to the strong support of the Takeshita brothers. However, since her father passed away, the Takeshita family's attitude towards her had become much colder. In the past few years, in the power struggle within the faction, although the chairman verbally encouraged her, he generally maintained a cold and indifferent attitude.

In her opinion, if the president hadn't been so ambiguous, she wouldn't be facing such a difficult situation. She would probably have taken over smoothly long ago.

That's why she felt that the old chairman deserved to die; he should have left long ago. It's just a pity that the old folks haven't all left yet, and they're still causing trouble for everyone.

"Miss Yuko?"

Just as she was about to leave the venue, she suddenly heard someone calling her softly from behind.

She stopped and turned around, only to find Takasaki Jun walking towards her, supported by a young man.

His steps were slow, as if he were out of breath, but he still approached little by little.

"Are they here to interrogate me? But what can they do to me?" she thought.

She looked around more carefully and found that only Takasaki Jun was there; Takasaki Hiroshi hadn't come along.

Although he didn't know what the other party meant, he obviously couldn't refuse in public. Although the Takasaki family had broken off relations with him, he was still an elder and a senior member, and was currently the chairman of the funeral committee. If he turned around and left without saying a word in response to his invitation, it would be too offensive to others and would make him seem completely heartless.

After a brief moment of surprise, she abandoned the people around her, then revealed a perfectly timed ingratiating smile, and quickly walked to Takasaki Jun, then took the old man's other hand.

"Oh, Uncle Takasaki, is there something you need? Why didn't you let me know beforehand? Otherwise, I could have just come to you directly... No need for you to call me."

She called out to them affectionately and acted warmly, making them look like elders and juniors from two families who had been friends for generations.

Jun Takasaki, supporting his grandfather, watched the scene with cold indifference.

He knew in his heart that this woman was the culprit who had recently ruined his family and caused his mother to lose face, so he felt a strong sense of disgust.

However, the self-control instilled in him by his family and elders from a young age prevented him from showing his disgust. He simply gave the other person a cold look and then lowered his head to continue supporting his grandfather.

He wasn't surprised that Yuko Obuchi could deliver such a performance—after so many years in this industry, how could she not have such acting skills? It's just basic stuff.

Faced with Yuko Obuchi's deliberate performance, Jun Takasaki smiled kindly, "It's been so long since I've seen you... Thinking back, the first time I saw you, you were only a few years old, and this short..."

As he spoke, he gestured with his hand to indicate a height, "I never imagined that so many years would have passed in the blink of an eye... Time is truly terrifying."

"Yes, time is cruel... I really miss those days. You took good care of me and were the elder I respected the most." Yuko Obuchi said these friendly lies without blushing.

"Well, Miss Yuko, may I speak to you privately?" Jun Takasaki asked with a smile. "Uncle has some things on his mind that he'd like to discuss with you."

Although she knew the visitors meant no harm, Yuko Obuchi seemed to have been mentally prepared, and her expression remained unchanged.

“Of course.” Yuko Obuchi bowed slightly. “As you command, Uncle.”

? 102, Open Card

Seeing that Yuko Obuchi agreed so readily, Jun Takasaki's smile became even more benevolent.

So, with their grandson's help, the two walked out of the funeral home side by side.

The funeral home where the ceremony was held had a large green space outside (and naturally, there were hardly any people around), making it a great place for a stroll. As you walked through it, a gentle breeze rustled through the grass and trees, as if some spirits were truly wandering there.

Of course, none of the people present believed in ghosts or gods—if ghosts and gods and retribution truly existed, none of them would be laughing now.

The attendants on both sides followed closely behind them, but kept enough distance so that they could speak freely.

Despite her busy schedule, Yuko Obuchi remained calm and composed, refusing to speak. Firstly, she wanted to be respectful to the old man, who was an elder; secondly, she didn't know what he was planning, so she decided to wait and see.

“It’s getting worse and worse…” After walking for a while, Takasaki Jun finally stopped and sighed. “Every time our chairman passed away, I attended the funeral, and it was really hard to watch it become more and more deserted each time.”

These words resonated with Yuko Obuchi.

"Yes, I am also very saddened."

This once powerful faction, which produced several prime ministers and dominated politics for thirty years, is now far less influential than before. Even when its chairman died, few people came to pay their respects, which is truly embarrassing.

She felt this particularly deeply because her father, Keizo Obuchi, suddenly fell ill and died in 2000 while serving as prime minister.

A grand state funeral was prepared for him at the time, held at the Nippon Budokan in Kitanomaru Park, Tokyo. The Crown Prince and Princess personally presided over the ceremony, and the Speakers of both Houses of Representatives and the House of Councillors, as well as envoys from various countries, attended the event. Several thousand people were present. As the person in charge of the funeral and a witness to it, she was filled with grief, yet she still vividly remembered the grandeur of the occasion.

How did things fall to such a state in just twenty years?

Besides the factional incompetence and repeated internal strife and splits, the reason is also because the Qinghe Society, their former arch-rival, rose to power and usurped the dominant position, leaving them in a subordinate position today.

Although the two people are now on different sides, as eyewitnesses, they can't help but feel a little sentimental when they recall the past.

However, the past is past, and there's no point in sighing and lamenting; what matters is the present.

Although the Heisei Research Institute has had a rough year and its power has weakened, it is still an indispensable faction within the party, even if it dies. If it can become the leader of the faction, it can naturally wield great power. Then, when the times change, who is to say that it cannot once again restore its former glory?

Fortune's wheel turns, and there will always be an opportunity to make a comeback.

“Although I have been retired for many years, I still pay attention to what is happening around me. So I can see very clearly that not only is our power waning, but morale is also declining. Not only is the morale within our own faction low, but outsiders are also increasingly looking down on us… Fewer and fewer companies are willing to ally with us, and the donations we can receive are much less than before. All of this is heartbreaking, and I often have sleepless nights, lamenting endlessly…”

Takasaki Jun's voice was already old and weak, and now his tone was full of emotion and worry, which brought tears to people's eyes. This was not entirely acting; part of it was his true feelings. After all, who would want to see their hard work of a lifetime turn out like this?

Before Yuko Obuchi could reply, he suddenly raised his voice a little.

"Therefore, this situation cannot continue. Since the iceberg is already so close, we must make a decisive effort to survive, otherwise we may really lose the ship and all lives on board."

"What do you mean?" Yuko Obuchi felt a chill run down her spine. She had a vague feeling that the other party was about to reveal their true intentions.

"Although it is very disrespectful to the recently deceased Chairman Takeshita, it is undeniable that his leadership is no longer sufficient for us to face the current dire situation. We do need a strong new leader to guide our faction into a new era."

A powerful leader… Yuko Obuchi sneered inwardly.

Finally, they stopped pretending.

She certainly remembered that not long ago, Hiroshi Takasaki had deliberately and openly denied himself at a meeting of members of parliament, at which time he had also shouted something about being a "strong leader".

Such nice words might fool outsiders, but how could she not see through them?

They always support someone first and then look for their merits. If the Takasaki family is on their side, they can find all sorts of reasons to cheer for themselves.

Now they're simply standing on their own side, yet they're acting all patriotic and concerned about the people.

Since that was the case, she was too lazy to waste her energy arguing with this old man, so she spoke softly.

“Uncle, I’ve heard that you’ve been secretly campaigning for Mogi lately—” Yuko Obuchi said with a half-smile, but her eyes were extremely serious. “So, are you here to persuade me to surrender?”

As she spoke, her gaze became extremely sharp, and her tone turned stern.

"What are you talking about? We're family friends. I've watched you grow up since you were a child. How could I possibly let you surrender?" Takasaki Jun also smiled. "I just feel that now, if we insist on fighting to the bitter end, not only will we both suffer, but our already precarious faction will also be dealt another heavy blow. I don't think that's something Chairman Takeshita would want to see in heaven... So, I hope you and Mogi can reconcile, and that the two of you can join hands and lead everyone together in the future. What do you think?"

Reconciliation? Joint leadership?

It sounds nice, but it's impossible.

In this partisan system, the struggle for leadership has always been a zero-sum game, with the winner taking all and the loser eating dust. How could there possibly be an opportunity for co-governance?

No matter how nicely they put it, it's nothing more than making themselves admit defeat gracefully; in essence, it's still about persuading others to surrender.

That's why Yuko Obuchi's reaction wasn't one of surprise, but rather a kind of anger at being offended.

You know all this perfectly well, so why do you still act like an old man and say such things?

This is not just about seizing the moral high ground, but also about using a condescending attitude to suppress oneself.

“I completely agree with what you said. We should indeed work together, and I would be happy to work with him…” Although she said she agreed, her tone became increasingly cold. “However, who do you think should be the chairman and who should be the deputy?”

Such an aggressive attitude clearly indicates that they have no intention of giving Takasaki Jun any ambiguity.

However, since things have already come to this point, there's really no need to be ambiguous anymore.

“I think he has a good reputation and is quite capable. He's clearly at the peak of his power as a minister, so let him be the head and you the deputy, a transitional period, and then we'll see how things go… What do you think?” he asked amicably. “I believe this is the most suitable succession arrangement at present—”

Although he still looked as kind as ever, this was already the final ultimatum.

Or rather—they've been rivals for a long time, and now they're issuing a challenge to each other face-to-face.

What followed was a long silence.

"I cannot accept this condition. I think the reverse is more appropriate." Yuko Obuchi's face turned ashen with anger, her tone tinged with rage. "I respect you, that's why I call you Uncle, but please don't think that just because you're a senior member of our faction, you can arrange the chairman's affairs however you want—"

"Oh, that's a shame."

Jun Takasaki was not surprised at all by Yuko Obuchi's answer; in fact, he knew from the beginning that this would be the outcome.

However, there are some things we should do even if we know the outcome; what matters is the process and the attitude.

"Since you're unwilling to listen to my advice, then pretend I said nothing... Anyway, I'm old and frail, and what I say is irrelevant. Do whatever you want." Then, Takasaki Jun sighed slowly, "However, I still hope that the two of you won't cross the line and disrupt unity. After all, our faction has declined to this point and simply cannot withstand another round of turmoil..."

"What do you mean?" Yuko Obuchi asked in return.

"I'm afraid you don't know, but recently my son has been subjected to a lot of unwarranted public attacks, and his private affairs have been repeatedly ridiculed." Takasaki Jun said slowly, "Although he is a good-for-nothing, he is still a colleague after all, and he really shouldn't have to suffer such a blow. There are some bottom lines that should still be adhered to."

Upon hearing "You probably don't know yet," Yuko Obuchi chuckled slightly, but quickly returned to normal.

Both of them understood each other implicitly, but the old man ultimately left it unsaid.

"I feel deeply sorry for Haojun and Mrs. Meixu's recent misfortunes." Since that's the case, she was happy to continue playing dumb. "I know Haojun very well. He's funny and easy to get along with, but he's too pleasure-seeking. At his age, he still spends all his time frequenting brothels... That's just outrageous. I hope he can learn his lesson this time."

Her response was watertight; she simply refused to admit any connection whatsoever to the attacks on the Takasaki family.

In this situation, there's no point in trying to trick the other person into revealing information face-to-face. After all, everyone is afraid that the other person might be carrying a recording device, so they would never say anything that could be used against them.

Takasaki Jun did not expect to influence the other party with just a few words.

"Thank you for your advice. He will take this as a lesson and will be more restrained in the future." Takasaki Jun sighed again. "Miss Yuko, actually... I still have something to say from the bottom of my heart—a person should know their own limitations. Since things have come to this point, instead of engaging in a meaningless battle, it's better to bide your time and reunite with everyone you can win over. After all, you are still very young. If you take a step back, there will still be plenty of opportunities in the future. We don't necessarily have to oppose you. As long as we leave room for maneuver, everything can be discussed again."

Yuko Obuchi was too lazy to pay any more attention to the old man's admonishing and scolding attitude.

The first attempt to persuade him to surrender had already covered everything that needed to be said, so there was no point in responding a second time.

After all, once something has started, there's no turning back. If she were to surrender, she would be subjected to a combination of being sidelined and marginalized. What difference would that make from losing? It would only look better on the surface. But she didn't want that kind of hypocritical unity.

If the situation is truly hopeless, she would rather fight to the death than submit to humiliation and seek peace.

"Thank you for your guidance, I will keep it in mind." So she simply nodded and didn't press the matter any further.

Seeing her reaction, Takasaki Jun knew that this was the end of the day.

Very well, I've already said everything I could to her. Since she won't listen, no one can say I'm bullying a younger person anymore.

“When you visited my house last time, you seemed to have accidentally left something behind. My son is really absent-minded and hasn’t returned it. I brought it with me this time, so please have your people receive it.”

After he finished speaking, he made a gesture.

Following his gaze, Yuko Obuchi saw that a servant from the Takasaki family had brought over a package and handed it to his secretary, who was looking at her blankly.