Chapter 189 - Name and Reality 112 {140 Alone} (333-334 Oshima Kaiji's Last Will 6)
"Be that as it may, how does that lead to the conclusion that a literal scorched earth would be better?"
Nishida asked once more.
"I touched on this earlier, but because Japan lost the war, almost every citizen, regardless of their position, was forced to start over from scratch as a loser, in a sense. Of course, that wasn't something anyone desired. But in that situation, everyone had no choice but to look upward and live together. However, as Yoshimura-kun questioned earlier, it is highly likely that the next crisis Japan faces won't be like the defeat in the previous war, where everyone lost everything equally. It will be a form of defeat that is difficult to perceive in the short term—a system where only a select few grow fat while the lives of the majority of the citizens gradually wither away. Of course, unlike a real war, it isn't the worst kind of 'loss' where lives are taken. But in that state, even as the nation as a whole declines, only the flawed systems are firmly maintained; a structure is established where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. And what becomes necessary there is a scheme of internal conflict. It becomes necessary to create a system of colonial rule within one's own country, much like in Africa. They might use the existing media or perhaps the internet, which is becoming widespread now, to create a confrontational structure that divides the citizenry in two. That way, the privileged class can avoid being attacked by a unified lower class and continue to suck out profits in peace until the state completely collapses. At that stage, even the word 'reform' will no longer have any power. The poor will be preoccupied with their daily lives and won't be able to concern themselves with politics. They will be deeply immersed in the confrontational structure, devoting their heart and soul only to petty internal squabbles. It will be an era where even public education is neglected for the sake of 'gumin-ka' (T/N: 'making the people ignorant' or 'obscurantism'). Naturally, whether previous Japanese public education was correct from start to finish is a completely different issue, but it is also an undeniable fact that it maintained a certain level of education. And this neglect of public education also means rushing headlong down the path to national ruin. It is dangerous to view everything through what is called the historical view of class struggle, but it is also impossible to insist that such a thing never existed in Japan, and we may be entering an era where such things are highlighted once again."
Oshima's tone was studiously calm, but the content of his remarks was strangely eerie.
"I don't think Japanese people are that foolish, but is that just my wishful thinking?"
Yoshimura didn't seem to have a real sense of it, but—
"If the thorough restructuring advocated by Takamatsu is realized and the overall economy of Japan appears to improve on the surface, yet the lives of ordinary people are exhausted, you can consider what I am saying to be in the process of becoming reality. And if, despite that, the citizens for some reason support the administration, I can assert with certainty that it will happen. Whether I am right or the citizens enthralled by the reform craze are right—I will likely no longer be in this world before that conclusion is reached. Whether that's due to natural lifespan or the death penalty is a very delicate point."
Saying this, Oshima smiled feebly, as if he had attained a state of transcendence.
"In the end, the danger Onodera-san fears is that the citizens will be lured by the self-proclaimed reforms of bureaucrats, politicians, and business leaders who only think of themselves, abandon thinking for themselves, fail to notice their own lives are gradually worsening, and burn with a competitive spirit over trivial matters, leading to a terrifying scorched earth from which they cannot recover... is that about right?"
As Yoshimura summarized the story so far—
"That is essentially it. Furthermore, politics is often viewed through the binary opposition of conservative and progressive. However, if we take 'conservative' to mean protecting good things and 'progressive' to mean refreshing bad things, then the two are not opposing forces but merely concepts necessary for good politics. There is no division between being conservative or progressive in the essence of politics! And the reason Kinya-chan chose the left wing before the war was likely because he judged that, in that era, there were many things that absolutely had to be changed. Conversely, if it were now, he might behave as a conservative. Political ideology is not absolute. It is merely a tendency to be conservative or progressive based on the result of choosing what must be done for the people (tami) at any given time—whether there are more things to protect or more things to change. From my own experience, I have walked a relatively conservative path within the axis of humanity, but that was within the framework of the post-war system; from a pre-war perspective, it could also be seen as progressive. However, I can only confess that allowing that axis of humanity to waver in the worst possible way was a bitter blunder on my part. At any rate, I am deeply grateful to you both for listening to me until the end."
Oshima stated his own view on political ideologies and added a word of thanks to the two of them at the end.
However, Nishida still found some parts difficult to accept.
"Personally, I'm relatively in favor of reform, and I don't think Japanese people are that foolish. There are decent people even among bureaucrats. In fact, even around me..."
He resisted slightly.
"Ho, even among police bureaucrats?"
It looked as though Oshima sneered, but that might have been Nishida's paranoia. However, Nishida became a bit stubborn.
"Yes. As I mentioned earlier, the investigators who were enthusiastic about the investigation against you were actually the detectives of the Engaru Police Station, including us standing before you now. However, due to your interference, we were relieved of our duties in the investigation. That was in the winter of '95."
He suddenly began to confess. But—
"I thought as much... I had a suspicion it might be you all."
Oshima showed an unexpected reaction.
"What, you knew...?"
Yoshimura scratched his head instinctively as he said this, but Nishida had a slight feeling of 'perhaps,' so he managed to keep it from showing on his face. Oshima, on the other hand—
"Based on your words and actions so far, it stands to reason to think you have strong feelings toward me, doesn't it?"
He coolly explained the reason he thought so.
"The opportunity for us to pursue you again came last winter, six years later. I only found out after being posted to Kitami, but the current Kitami Headquarters Chief was the one who pulled us in so we could conduct a dedicated investigation in Kitami regarding the murder of Sada and the hospital shooting."
"The current Kitami Headquarters Chief... you mean the person who even had my office searched? At that time, I didn't think anything would come out, so when I looked into how I should make them take responsibility later... if I recall... their name was Yasumura or something, a career official from the National Police Agency. The Kitami Headquarters Chief post is supposed to be for personnel hired by the Hokkaido Prefectural Police, so I was quite surprised."
Oshima spoke in response to Nishida's story.
"A vacancy suddenly opened in the post, and they were dispatched from the center (Kasumigaseki)... or rather, I heard they volunteered for it themselves. They also said they were conscious of the investigation into you at that point. Apparently, it was because they had prior knowledge of the Sada murder and the hospital shooting incident."
Nishida explained.
"From before they came to Kitami? That person certainly had a great obsession with me."
To Oshima, who wore an inscrutable expression—
"When I strongly requested the search of that office, while other superiors were hesitant, fearing your retaliation and influence, Headquarters Chief Yasumura accepted my claim as it was. If we hadn't secured physical evidence through that, the proof of your involvement in the case would have been incomplete. No matter how much of a local person in charge Secretary Nakagawa was, it's unthinkable that he would use his 'master's' office for the perpetrators on his own judgment. It inevitably leads to your involvement. It was a brilliant and courageous decision."
Nishida told him.
"For a career official from the center, he was certainly bold. Considering their career advancement, they wouldn't want to cross a dangerous bridge... I don't know what made him do it."
Oshima seemed to have no idea at all. Nishida continued the story.
"It might be the sense of justice he originally possessed. But it seemed that wasn't all. He said that a deep-seated connection with you also played a part..."
When he got that far, Oshima interrupted.
"A deep-seated connection?"
He asked. In response, Nishida said—
"Yes, that's right. I believe you are aware that Kaito-san had three daughters, but the third daughter, Michiko..."
Just as he was about to say it, Oshima interrupted again.
"Wait! Michiko-chan married a person named Yasumura back when I was Kaito-sensei's secretary, and I even attended the wedding. After that, shortly after I was elected, I met Michiko-chan once in Tokyo along with Kaito-sensei's family, and she was carrying a small son. That son and Headquarters Chief Yasumura are..."
He stopped there and stared at Nishida.
"It's as you suspect. The current Kitami Headquarters Chief is Michiko-san's son—in other words, Kaito-san's maternal grandson. His name was also taken from Kaito-san's 'Takumi' (匠); although the kanji is different, it is Takumi (卓見), meaning 'excellent insight.'"
Nishida provided the answer as it was, and hearing this, Yasumura (T/N: possible typo in source — likely refers to Oshima's reaction to the name Yasumura)—
"I see... I see..."
He repeated twice, crossing his arms with deep emotion and nodding deeply many times.
Then, unfolding his arms—
"My life as a Member of Parliament was practically opened up for me by Kaito-sensei, but to have the final blow dealt by Kaito-sensei's grandson... this might have been destiny (sadame)..."
He whispered slowly.
"I guess you could say what goes around comes around," Yoshimura responded as if talking to himself.
"...Perhaps. Even so, I've known Michiko-chan since she was in high school, when I started working under Sensei as a secretary, and Sensei truly doted on her even after she grew up... Of course, being Sensei, he never spoiled her more than necessary, but since she was a child born when he was relatively old, it was clear to me even before I had a family of my own that she was the apple of his eye. There was an age gap between her and her two older sisters, but Sensei used to say with a smile, 'Her temperament is most like mine.' She was usually cheerful, but she also had a surprisingly stubborn side..."
Oshima, speaking with great nostalgia, wore an expression they hadn't seen at all until now.
"When Michiko-chan decided to marry a mere printer shortly after graduating from junior college and getting a job at a publishing house—to put it bluntly—it caused quite a stir among the family and relatives at the time. However, Sensei basically told those around him that as long as his daughter had decided for herself, he had no complaints. After actually meeting and talking with the man, he fully accepted him and even took the side of persuading the others. Michiko-chan must have been very grateful then. After things turned out the way they did for me and Sensei passed away, I became completely estranged from the Kaito family... I see... To think that son of Michiko-chan's had become a police bureaucrat... And now he is the one to bring me to justice. This is a drama that's almost too perfect."
After saying that, Oshima looked very satisfied. However, Nishida and Yoshimura felt that it was not a wry smile or irony, but a smile from the heart.
"Is it really a drama that's too perfect...? You said it yourself just now, didn't you? That it's destiny. That word feels right to me. That kind of fate..."
Nishida was about to say that when he suddenly felt a doubt about his own words.
"No... if you hadn't met Isaka, you might have walked a different political life. Considering that, it's probably rude to call such an end destiny..."
He corrected himself.
"You, it's troublesome for me if you say such virtuous things now!"
Oshima joked with exaggeration, but—
"Even if the existence of Isaka Daikichi hadn't stood in my way, I believe I would have eventually been swallowed up by interest-group politics sooner or later. Unfortunately, I wasn't of a caliber that could resist that kind of political flow. However, as for going as far as killing people... I'd like to think I definitely wouldn't have gone that far, but it's too late for that now..."
He looked back with genuine regret.
"Interest-group politics involves the voters who receive the interests as well, so I don't think you can make it the responsibility of politicians alone. ...Even so, murder is something you should have stopped, whether Isaka was there or not. Destiny or whatever, I wanted you to hold the line there... That much is clear. Even today's talk would have had more persuasive power and could have been expressed more widely if it weren't for that."
Yoshimura cut through the flow of conversation between Nishida and Oshima sharply, but for the two of them, it was less an inconvenience and more the absolute truth.
"Just as Yoshimura-kun pointed out... As I touched on earlier, the result of taking human lives was the situation I should have avoided most, considering the life I've led. Unfortunately, as a result of enduring hardships, I clung to what I gained and threw away the things I should have cherished by utilizing my harsh experiences. It was my greatest mistake in choice. Not to mention Kuwano Kinya and Kaito Takumi, who influenced me greatly, I have no words of apology for the many people I troubled, betrayed, and killed. I even damaged the minimum level of trust in politics. It was due to my lack of virtue... I couldn't even make use of Sakura-san's admonition and ended up doing something terrible to her as well."
Though he remained looking down, Oshima touched upon his own atrocities more clearly than before and spoke words of apology.
"Even so, neither time nor life can be returned by any means. It's hard to say this, but both you and Secretary Nakagawa will undoubtedly not escape the death penalty. You've done that much..."
Nishida said that much, then hesitantly—
"But, hearing this from you, Onodera-san, we also feel the weight of these seven years we've been involved in this investigation, and having had our comrade killed... something in our hearts, whether you call it anger, a grudge... or a lump, it's hard to say, but I feel like something has melted a little. I think it's definitely something different from forgiveness... but on that point, to be honest, I'm glad I could hear your story today, even if the anger is still smoldering... and I was able to hear your last will as a politician, including the parts I don't understand. Well, before hearing the story, I only intended to listen to it as a bargaining chip for a confession and didn't plan to listen seriously, but there were many things that made me think. ...But, you know... that's exactly why you shouldn't have killed people. Just as Yoshimura said, only that..."
Continuing thus, Nishida expressed his frank thoughts.