Chapter 179 - Name and Reality 102 {130 Solo} (310–312 The Reason for Oshima's Provision of Inheritance)
The two, having received a rough explanation from Oshima, mostly understood the relationship between the figure Kaneko Kentaro and the Prisoner Road. However, not knowing how to comment, they remained mostly silent except for nodding and saying, "I see, so that's how it was." But Oshima didn't mind and continued.
"Anyway, I believe that the idea from such elites at the very heart of the state—that people below them are existences that should be used and discarded—is what caused Japan to grow rapidly after the Meiji Restoration in every sense, and finally led it to ruin. And that analysis and the criticism against it are the foundation and origin of my life as a politician. It might be hard to believe from the current me, but I can declare that this thought has not changed at all even now."
Needless to say, Nishida and the other had great doubts about how much meaning Oshima Kaiji's words had in terms of credibility, given his long years of money-power politics and the fact that he had even committed murder. Of course, Oshima Kaiji himself must have known that. He had mentioned it himself when he brought up the condition for his confession, asking to be allowed to state his testament as a politician. However, Nishida and Yoshimura could somewhat understand the state of mind and background that made him unable to stop himself from saying it, based on the story so far.
"I see. Was it partly because of that that the desire to become a politician gradually became clear?"
"Nishida-kun. It is true that such feelings grew stronger. However, even then, it was still just a vague desire to be involved in politics; I don't think I had envisioned a specific role as a politician yet. In fact, the foundation for me to become a politician didn't even exist at the time."
Oshima answered quietly, unlike before.
"After that, you graduated from university and worked for a while as Representative Kaito's secretary while living in Tokyo, right?"
Yoshimura followed up after Nishida.
"That's right. And in the year after graduation, I married my wife, whom I had already met, and became a son-in-law. For me, I had already discarded my surname when I became an adopted son of the Tada family, so the only issue was whether I could get Sakura-san's consent, but since the adoption was originally just for the sake of changing my 'surname,' she accepted it gladly. I had nothing but words of gratitude for her."
Perhaps thinking of his late mother-in-law, he spoke words of deep gratitude.
"And after marrying your wife, even though you were a son-in-law, you called your wife to Tokyo and lived together in Tokyo until Sakura-san passed away. After that, Sakura-san died and you inherited a considerable amount of real estate, didn't you? And you must have donated that land for a community center to help Koshiba-san, who was troubled as a Metropolitan Assembly member over what to do about a community center. At the same time, because of that, Onodera-san... your life took an unexpectedly dramatic turn as you succeeded Representative Kaito."
Oshima, addressed by Nishida, brought up something unexpected.
"At first, for the sake of Koshiba-san who was troubled over where to build the community center, Kaito-sensei said to me, 'I'd like to have the building demolished and let us build a community center on top. It's very presumptuous of me to ask this on top of the request, but if you could also set the land rent on the low side...' Since I had heard from Sakura-san for a long time that the inheritance should be used to benefit society, I of course had the foundation to accept that proposal. However, that wasn't the only reason."
"There was another reason?"
Nishida asked back at the unexpected development.
"Nishida-kun. Around that time, Sensei's health was already not very good due to heart problems, and it was a period when he was thinking about various things regarding a successor. At first, he seemed to be considering a local prefectural assembly member, then a senior secretary, but he didn't reach the point of deciding on either as a successor. Around that time, I secretly heard Sensei lamenting to another secretary in the office at the Diet Members' Office Building in Tokyo from behind the scenes. He said, 'What should I do about a successor... Regardless of political experience, if there is a person who can completely discard their "private" self for the sake of the "public," I would not hesitate to entrust it to that person.' And a while after that, Sensei asked me about the community center. It was then that I thought 'the time has come,' and I finally made the resolution to become a Diet member, while also thinking I might be able to fulfill Kin-chan's dream. And I offered the complete donation of the land."
Both Nishida and Yoshimura were startled by this statement.
"Does that mean the provision of the entire inheritance for the community center was all calculated?"
They raised their voices. In response,
"Don't misunderstand! As per Sakura-san's will, I had an obligation to do so, and I also thought it was right. However, at the same time, the intention to kill two birds with one stone also arose; that's all. You might not be able to imagine it from the current me, but at that time, it was a desire based on selflessness. Needless to say, it was a desire for the purpose of becoming a Diet member and reforming the world."
He countered with a slightly raised voice. He seemed to dislike the phrase 'all calculated' and wanted to deny it.
However, even so, the fact that there was a certain inevitability rather than a coincidence between the provision of private property and his taking over as Kaito's successor was still surprising.
"At that point, had the fear and trauma regarding conducting full-scale political activities in eastern Hokkaido been wiped away?"
When Nishida confirmed this, Oshima spoke his true feelings.
"While touring the local area with Sensei during my university breaks, I had the thought that I could probably manage. That's why I made up my mind to become Sensei's formal secretary after leaving university. I wouldn't be able to work only in Tokyo... That said, when it came to actually setting up a residence, there's no doubt I was somewhat on guard."
"I understand that much. And then, in the election of Showa 38 (1963), you took the name Kaiji from the idea of succeeding Kaito Takumi's line, took the surname Oshima from the Oshima Faction to which Kaito-san belonged, and fought your first election campaign under the common name Oshima Kaiji. We believe there was contact from Isaka either during the election or after you were elected; is that correct?"
"That's right. That was... was it the night of the voting day after the election campaign ended...?"
After being asked by Nishida, Oshima thought for a while. However, to Nishida, it seemed less like he was trying to remember the specific time and more like an expression of a desire not to remember.
"...I finished voting and returned to the election headquarters with my wife before the deadline. Then, I was told by a veteran female staff member at the office that an acquaintance of mine had come. While wondering who it was, the moment I stepped inside and was introduced, I knew immediately the other party was that Isaka. Naturally, I was greatly shocked, but the other party, as if enjoying my reaction, smirked while handing over a business card and said, 'It's been a long time. Has it been nearly 20 years since then? Thanks to you, I'm running a small construction business now.' For my part, I was flustered at that point, and for the time being, I led Isaka to the back of the office and demanded, 'What did you come here for!' Then he said, 'Onodera... or rather, are you now Tadokoro Yasuo, also known as Oshima Kaiji... I know your true identity. And I know you escaped the draft during the war. Furthermore, after the war, you snatched away other people's shares of gold dust along with me. If you are elected in the election, I can expose that to the world. Especially cheating to avoid going to the battlefield is quite a scandal for a politician, isn't it? If you don't like that, why don't you send some work my way? You can do at least that much, right?' I had expected it wouldn't be a good story, but it was an absolutely worst-case proposal. Although I had the support of Kaito-sensei's supporters' association, I was a youngster with zero track record, and I was worried about whether I could even be elected, but at that point, I no longer cared about such things... After that, until the election results came out—which took a full day back then, unlike now—I have almost no memory of that time, and it's certain that I was in a hollow mood even during the three cheers of 'Banzai' with my supporters after winning. Naturally, my wife noticed my abnormality, but I've come this far without being able to tell her the truth until this age. But well, for it to turn out like this at the very, very end of my life... yes. I've done something very regrettable to my wife as well."
He groaned while biting his lip and then fell silent.
"According to my subordinate who interviewed Koshiba-san, even when you first attended the Diet after being elected, you didn't look happy at all. Moreover, I heard you mentioned that unpleasant memories had been revived during the election. We had expected as much, but so that was the flow of events."
Nishida did not rejoice that their reasoning from seven years ago had been correct, but reflected on it dispassionately. Then he asked again,
"I also heard that you didn't return to your constituency for about a year. Was it because you didn't want to return due to Isaka's appearance?"
"That is exactly it. Isaka was asking for various things every time I returned to the constituency, so I was at my wit's end. Moreover, Kaito-san was basically not a politician who would intervene verbally in the administration, so for me, beyond my lack of experience as a Diet member, there were parts where I couldn't easily apply that kind of pressure in the early stages. I was pushed quite hard by Isaka. And so I distanced myself more and more. He even came all the way to Tokyo once, even back then when transportation was poor."
He reminisced.
"Actually..."
Nishida started hesitantly, but made up his mind.
"I mentioned this earlier, but Masamitsu heard from Daikichi that Isaka's blackmailing of Onodera-san at that time was driven more by a desire to trouble you again for escaping the draft—just like when you stole the gold dust—than by a desire to get work."
Nishida had been hesitant since Oshima had been furious earlier, but he thought he should tell him as it was, given that the other party was opening up and telling everything.
However, this time Oshima did not flinch.
"I see..."
He just muttered.
"There was that much hatred toward me within Isaka. But it's quite ironic that Isaka and I would gradually cooperate through the two wheels of politics and construction to dominate Kitami and Abashiri... Kaito-sensei passed away shortly after retiring, having seen almost none of my sudden change, but even when some bad rumors started to appear, he never particularly offered any bitter counsel. He probably had things he wanted to say, though..."
He said this as if it were someone else's business and laughed weakly.
"However, in your second term, it seems Koshiba-san said you almost lost Kaito's traditional base because of that political stance?"
"That is a fact. Kaito-sensei's traditional support base, which also had a clean image, distanced themselves considerably. The next election was much tougher than the first. However, from then on, I connected with the pork-barrel politics that were gradually producing results, which led to building a stronger base than in Sensei's time. As we went through the period of high economic growth into the bubble, and it became more and more an era of money over principles, I also rapidly climbed the path of power."
After saying this much, Oshima wore an indescribable, subtle expression. Oshima must have also suffered in secret back then from the gap between becoming a heavyweight and the way he originally should have been.
"The Oshima Faction eventually became the Hakozaki Faction, and if anything, it gradually shifted from its original bureaucratic, court-noble-like nature to placing emphasis on money-power politics. The faction grew even larger, and within it, I became a minister and was able to have a say even to the bureaucrats... Through that, I was able to keep funneling national funds to the construction companies among my supporters, starting with the Isaka Group. Well, that also went on a downward trend after the bubble burst. Kume, who came after Hashizume, poured massive amounts of money into public works during the recession following the consumption tax hike, but unfortunately, for Hokkaido's recession, it was like a drop in the bucket (Author's Note: It is said that although the subsequent Obuchi Cabinet went on a public works spending spree to deal with the recession caused by the consumption tax hike under the so-called Hashimoto administration, in reality, the effect of the public works was almost non-existent because the funds were used to clear the deficits of financial institutions that had suffered damage from the bubble burst, and thus funds were not supplied to the market). In the end, I ended up cutting off many of the construction companies that were my supporters after the bubble."
The shooting incident at Kitami Kyoritsu Hospital and the shooting commotions caused using Sakamoto and Itagaki in an attempt to stir up trouble between construction companies were exactly related to this flow of events, but Nishida had to refrain from pressing for details now, or the conversation would become complicated. Nishida didn't press further and checked his wristwatch; it was already lunchtime. Since it was a good stopping point, he proposed,
"Excuse me. It's a good time, so let's take a break."
"I see... Is it that time already... Very well. I shall leave it to you."
Saying so, Oshima lightly rotated his neck a few times. Even if it was just telling his own past, facing things he didn't want to talk about must lead to mental fatigue. Seeing that, Yoshimura called the prison officer and had Oshima led out.
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Nishida and Yoshimura discussed Oshima Kaiji's turbulent life while having lunch at the detention center's staff cafeteria. Even so, they were once again made to realize that life doesn't go so smoothly, given that Oshima, who didn't go to the battlefield, had also nearly died in the tako-beya labor within the country. And since that experience of tasting hardships had actually led to political activities to protect workers as a member of the labor tribe (T/N: 'tribe' or 'zoku' refers to a group of politicians with expertise/interests in a specific field), they were also made to think that people are not what they seem, especially since they had thought of him as a hardcore vested-interest politician.
"But if Isaka hadn't threatened him, would Oshima have become a fine politician, succeeding the will of Representative Kaito and Kuwano...?"
While slurping his ramen, Yoshimura spoke to Nishida in a skeptical tone, but Nishida had just started thinking about the latter half of the interrogation, so he was half-distracted.
"Well, sooner or later, he might have been sucked into that kind of nature... That's politics, isn't it?" he replied somewhat dismissively.
"I suppose so, but it feels like a waste in many ways..."
Saying that, Yoshimura stopped his chopsticks for a while, but resumed making slurping sounds after a few seconds.
As Yoshimura said, Onodera Michitoshi—alias Tadokoro Yasuo, alias Oshima Kaiji—was surrounded by elites with excellent character like Kaito Takumi and Kuwano Kinya, and while influenced by them, he ultimately steered in a terribly wrong direction. He might have been walking two contrasting lives at once within himself, including the point that he lost sight of his essence while seizing the opportunity to become a Diet member from an impossible situation.
Once they finished their meal, Nishida and Yoshimura had a brief meeting about the latter half of the interrogation. That said, it was mostly just a matter of leaving it to Oshima and then probing into questionable points, which ended quickly. After clearing their dishes, they headed toward the interrogation room.
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Oshima also returned to the interrogation room, and they intended to start by having Oshima reminisce about the core part, but before that, Nishida first needed to clarify one point of doubt.
"We will finally hear about the murder of Sada Minoru. It all began when Sada Minoru blackmailed and extorted Isaka Daikichi regarding that pre-war murder of Takamura. From here on, I'd like to hear various things based on the premise of the story we already heard from Masamitsu. However, that story includes Masamitsu's impressions based on what he heard from his father, Daikichi, rather than specific details, so there will likely be things that differ from your memory, Onodera-san. I'd like you to point those out. Now, as I mentioned in the previous interrogation, in the story Masamitsu told, Daikichi told you that 'Sada has found out that the real person behind Oshima Kaiji is Onodera Michitoshi, who is impersonating the original Kuwano Kinya, and that he even snatched away the gold dust belonging to others mentioned in the deed.' We recognize that this itself was a lie told by Daikichi to make you feel the necessity of killing Sada, but is that correct?" Nishida threw out the question.
"That is generally correct, but I must correct the precise details... Isaka told me over the phone, 'Minoru, the younger brother of Sada Toru who was a witness to the gold dust inheritance, has threatened me about the murder of Takamura. I thought I had to do something about this, and to get you involved, I told him myself that [Oshima Kaiji's true identity is a man named Onodera Michitoshi, who impersonated a person named Kuwano Kinya who was supposed to have died in the Yubetsu mine accident]. I also added that the purpose was because Kuwano had a disability in his hand and was exempt from conscription for that reason.'"
At the unexpected development brought by Oshima's statement, Nishida and Yoshimura both cried out,
"What?!"