Reborn in Tokyo: From Heiress to Global Tycoon

Chapter 406 Resuming Work

(A long chapter of 5,800 words)

April 5, 1991, evening.

Most of the cherry blossoms in Ueno Park have already fallen.

The wind blew from Shinobazu Pond, stirring up fine ripples on the surface and carrying petals left on both sides of the road down to the steps of the Water Music Hall.

With only two days left until the official vote in the Tokyo gubernatorial election, Naonori Isomura's schedule began at 7 a.m., passing through Nerima, Toshima, and Taito before his final speech was scheduled here.

At the entrance of the floating music hall, there was only a white banner with black lettering.

Ensure that those who complete their work receive timely payment.

There weren't many fancy campaign slogans around, just a few billboards with Isomura's name on them. Campaign staff in white jackets stood on either side of the entrance, guiding the arriving people into the audience and handing out leaflets with policy summaries.

The venue's more than 1,000 seats were already mostly occupied.

Two hundred and thirty long-time members of the Independent Workers' Mutual Aid Association were seated closest to the stage. They wore dark blue overalls with only a name tag and job title pinned to their chests.

Some people are responsible for tying steel bars, some for pouring concrete, and others for operating excavators and lifting equipment.

Six months ago, many of them were crammed under the bridge in Ueno Park, their clothes covered in mud, waiting for Yamada to hand over the back wages owed by Saionji to them.

They still cannot be considered respectable today.

The cuffs of their work clothes had indelible cement stains, and their rough palms were covered in cracks, but everyone's hair was neatly combed, and their work shoes had been polished. Several of them had come directly from the construction site after get off work, and some even had measuring tapes and gloves hanging from their waists.

Sitting behind them were family members, operators of small and medium-sized construction companies, supporters mobilized by local organizations of the Komeito and the Democratic Socialist Party, and some ordinary citizens who came temporarily after hearing the news.

Several television stations set up cameras in front of the stage.

Reporters from the Yomiuri Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun occupied positions near the aisles, while representatives from economic newspapers sought out company managers on site to inquire in advance about their views on financing plans and project payment settlements.

Rumors have begun to circulate that the Saionji Group has publicly supported Isomura, and at least half of the reporters who came here today are waiting for him to confirm it personally.

At 6 p.m. sharp, the host took to the stage and briefly introduced the theme of today's speech session. Several leaders from local organizations of the Komeito Party and the Democratic Socialist Party delivered speeches, mostly focusing on the operation of small and medium-sized enterprises and unemployment issues. Although some people applauded, the atmosphere was never particularly enthusiastic.

It wasn't until the host announced the name of the Independent Workers' Mutual Aid Association that the 230 workers in front of the audience reacted noticeably.

Yamada stood up from his seat and casually smoothed the hem of his jacket. He hadn't changed into a suit; he was still wearing the dark jacket he usually wore to and from construction sites, with only a white shirt underneath. As he walked onto the stage, he glanced back at his companions, as if seeking some confidence from those familiar faces.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm not very good at public speaking."

He stood in front of the microphone, finished speaking, and then smiled a little shyly.

Someone in the front row immediately shouted:

"Isn't Yamada-nii (older brother) quite good at swearing?"

The person around immediately burst into laughter.

Yamada wasn't annoyed; he simply pointed at the person who had spoken.

"So if he doesn't speak well today, I'll scold him first later."

The laughter grew louder, and the slightly tense atmosphere finally relaxed.

Yamada waited a moment before taking the microphone back. He clearly hadn't prepared a formal speech, and occasionally paused to find the right words, but everyone in the front row had personally experienced everything he said.

"Many people here know me. I used to be a foreman in charge of subcontractors. My job was to urge progress, take attendance, and scold anyone who was late or lazy."

"But last September, I even lost my job swearing."

He looked towards the front of the audience.

"Our original company went bankrupt. The president jumped off the building, the bank froze all the accounts, no one settled the completed projects, and everyone's wages for the past few months disappeared along with them."

The workers who were laughing just moments before gradually quieted down.

"During that time, we all lived under the bridge in this park. Some of us were several months behind on rent, and some of our family members were still in the hospital, waiting for payments."

"We went to the original labor union, but they told us to keep waiting; we went to the bank, but they said the account had been frozen and told us to go to the company's manager."

Yamada paused here.

"But the president is already dead, who else can we turn to?"

No one in the front row answered.

The sound of the wind coming from outside the concert hall suddenly became exceptionally clear.

As Yamada looked at those who had gone through that period with him, his voice gradually softened.

"Later, the Saionji family came. They took the unpaid wage slips left by the company, checked the names, work periods, and amounts due again, and then handed the money to us one by one."

"That money can't make up for all the back wages, but at least some people can pay their rent, some can buy medicine for their families, and some finally dare to take the bus back to see their wives and children."

"The Independent Workers Mutual Aid Association was founded on that day."

Yamada reached inside his jacket and pulled out a pale yellow envelope with worn edges.

"This is my paycheck from last month."

He held the envelope to his chest.

"The mutual aid society members receive their wages on the 15th of each month. If it falls on a rest day, they get paid in advance. The amount written on the outside is the amount written inside. If you are short even one yen, you can all come and block my door with your pay bags."

Someone in the front row immediately shouted:

"They still haven't given us a chance!"

The workers laughed again. Some people took their pay bags out of their pockets and held them above their heads, and those around them followed suit.

Soon, rows of light yellow envelopes appeared in front of the audience.

The reporters in the press box were initially surprised, but then they all raised their cameras. The rapid clicking of shutters continued for a while, and several television cameras also turned their lenses towards the workers in overalls.

Yamada didn't rush him; he waited until the reporters had taken enough photos before taking back his pay bag.

"I don't understand what an international cultural city is, and I don't know what Tokyo should be like in the 21st century."

"Of course, some people will consider those things, but what we think about first every day is whether we will have work tomorrow and whether we will receive our wages on time this month."

"The Tokyo Metropolitan Government allocated funds for the project, and the company completed the construction. Those who actually did the work should receive their pay. If the general contractor has operational problems, they can talk to the bank or undergo restructuring. But those who completed their work on time should not be left without pay along with them."

As he said this, he turned around and looked at one side of the stage.

"So we've come here today to ask Mr. Isomura to answer a question in front of everyone."

Yamada raised his voice slightly.

"If you become the governor of Tokyo, will the people who actually do the work on the projects issued by Tokyo receive their payments on time?"

This time, applause erupted almost as soon as he finished speaking.

Initially, it was just the mutual aid society members in the front row, but then family members and company operators sitting in the back also raised their hands. The applause spread back along the rows of seats, quickly drowning out the sound of the wind outside the concert hall.

When the host returned to the stage, he had to wait a few seconds before raising his voice amidst the still-unsettled applause.

"Next, please welcome Mr. Naonori Isomura, the candidate for Governor of Tokyo!"

Music then began to play.

Isomura walked out from the side of the stage, but instead of going to the microphone immediately, he came to Yamada first and shook his hands.

"Mr. Yamada, thank you for your hard work."

Yamada nodded and gave him his seat.

Isomura then faced the front of the audience and bowed deeply to the workers who were still holding their pay bags before walking to the microphone.

Isomura walked to the microphone without immediately opening his prepared remarks.

Having worked at NHK for many years, he knew when the camera was looking for expressions and where a sentence should end so that the audience would truly listen. But at this moment, his first glance was still at the front of the audience, at those people in dark blue overalls, holding their pay bags.

"Mr. Yamada just asked me a question."

Isomura's voice was amplified and carried throughout the entire concert hall.

"For projects issued by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, are the people who actually do the work ever paid on time?"

He paused for a moment.

My answer is, of course it should be possible.

Applause quickly erupted from the front row.

Isomura didn't rush to continue, waiting until the sound subsided slightly before speaking:

"But Tokyo's current situation clearly hasn't achieved that yet."

"A month ago, I received a letter from Jiangdong District."

"The letter was written by the president of a sewer construction company, who has 27 employees. The part that the company was responsible for has been completed and passed inspection. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government's budget has already been allocated. However, the general contractor incurred losses on other projects and used the project funds that should have been paid to them to cover other debts."

"Workers are waiting to receive their wages, material suppliers are waiting to be paid, but the banks are demanding that they provide additional collateral at this time."

Isomura picked up the letter from the podium, the one with the name hidden.

"The company president has already mortgaged his own house."

"But in his letter he told me that even if we did that, the company could only last another month."

Soon, hushed conversations could be heard from the back of the audience.

Many company owners are familiar with this situation. The project is completed, and there are accounts receivable, but when it comes time to pay wages and goods, there is no cash on hand.

Every day the general contractor delays, the subordinate companies have to bow to the bank one more time.

Isomura placed the letter back on the podium.

"Tokyo spends a lot of money every year on roads, schools, sewers, and riverbank protection. This money, after leaving the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, should be used to create usable facilities, become income for construction companies, and become wages that workers take home."

"But now, the funds are stuck between the general contractor and layers of subcontractors, while the people who actually do the work have to borrow money to keep the company running."

"This must change."

He raised his head, his gaze slowly shifting from the front row to the back.

"After you all entrust me with the responsibilities of the Governor of Tokyo, I will do three things first."

"For projects contracted out by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the progress will be confirmed in stages according to the actual construction schedule. For the completed and accepted sections, settlement will generally be made within 30 days."

"Thirty days."

Isomura repeated the number.

"For completed work, Tokyo must provide a clear payment date."

This time, the applause came even more uniformly than before.

The workers in the front row clapped their hands vigorously, and the company managers sitting in the back also raised their hands. Someone in the press section quickly looked down and circled the words "30th" in their notebook.

"If the general contractor undergoes restructuring or stops making payments due to operational problems, the confirmed project payments will be managed separately."

Isomura raised his voice slightly.

"The debts between the general contractor and the bank can be handled by them. However, the work already completed by the subcontractors and the labor already performed by the workers cannot be used to cover losses from other projects."

"The money owed to the construction company must be paid first."

Applause rang out again, this time with many people even joining in from the back rows.

Isomura waited a moment before announcing the third arrangement.

"Small and medium-sized companies that hold Tokyo Metropolitan Government project confirmation documents can also use this receivable to apply for bridging financing."

"What the bank needs to confirm is whether the project has been completed and how much the Tokyo Metropolitan Government should pay, rather than repeatedly asking company operators to use their residences and family land as collateral."

"The Metropolitan Government will set up a special window to verify the progress and the amount due. Once the company receives the working capital, it can continue to purchase materials and pay wages, and the construction site will not have to stop waiting for settlement."

As he said this, his gaze returned to Yamada and the members of the mutual aid society.

"Tokyo will also establish a unified skills registration system for workers who have lost their jobs."

"Those who know how to tie steel bars should go to sites where steelworkers are needed. People with crane equipment qualifications shouldn't sit at home waiting for their certificates to expire."

"Tokyo still has roads to build, schools and sewers to maintain, and a lot of projects underway in the coastal areas."

"As long as someone takes responsibility for reconnecting companies, construction sites, and workers, more people will return to their jobs."

Isomura pointed to the very front of the audience.

"Those of you sitting here today have proven that this can be done."

"Six months ago, some people were waiting under the bridge in this park for their unpaid wages. Now, they receive their wages on time every month and have returned to the construction site."

"What the Independent Workers Mutual Aid Association has accomplished, Tokyo can help even more people accomplish."

Yamada was the first to applaud.

Two hundred and thirty mutual aid society members then raised their hands, and family members and business owners familiar with their experiences quickly joined in.

The applause lasted for a long time. Isomura stood behind the podium, waiting quietly, without interrupting them with any new words.

Only after the concert hall quieted down did he place his hands on either side of the podium.

"There's one more thing I want to tell you all personally today."

Soon, someone in the press section looked up.

"The Saionji Group has decided to support my candidacy for the Tokyo gubernatorial election."

A slight commotion arose in front of the audience.

Some people instinctively glanced at the people next to them, while others turned directly to look at the press box. Isomura noticed all these reactions, but his tone remained unchanged.

"I know that you may have doubts when you hear that a large corporation is publicly endorsing a candidate."

"Therefore, I will not only tell you who Saionji supports."

"I will tell you all that they have already decided what to do."

Isomura picked up another document.

"Starting this month, Saionji Construction will expand its procurement and subcontracting in Tokyo and will be the first to adopt the settlement arrangement mentioned earlier."

"The partner bank will set up a financing window for small and medium-sized enterprises. Companies that have completed projects and are awaiting settlement can submit project documents and amounts receivable for review by the bank."

"The Independent Workers Mutual Aid Association will continue to register the skills of unemployed workers and arrange for qualified individuals to work at the Saionji Construction and new construction sites of the cooperative companies."

He put the file down.

"This work will not wait until after the election to begin."

"The first batch of applications will be processed this week, and construction sites that are able to resume work will gradually resume operations this month."

As soon as Isomura finished speaking, applause broke out in the front row.

This time, the applause didn't stop quickly. Company executives who had been sitting and talking joined in, some people in the back stood up, and several reporters began to leave their seats, preparing to send the news back to the editorial department before the speech ended.

The sound surged backward along the audience seats, past the last row, and then through the glass of the second-floor control room into the room.

Satsuki was standing next to the sound and lighting control panel, quietly looking down.

Today she was wearing a very ordinary light-colored coat (which she had just grabbed from a Uniqlo store she was passing by). Chizuru stood a few steps away, holding the coat she had taken off. A little further away, several staff members from the Isomura office quietly accompanied her, and no one went up to disturb her.

The applause didn't sound as loud as it did in person because of the glass, but the changes in the audience were much clearer.

Satsuki observed which people were clapping from the beginning, which company managers only reacted when they heard about the financing and resumption of work dates, and from which sentence the reporter began to frequently lower his head to take notes.

She was carrying a small bag, and her gaze swept across the audience to the center of the stage.

Isomura stood under the lights, his movements and pauses perfectly controlled.

When the workers in the front row raised their hands to applaud, he didn't rush to continue speaking. He waited until the photographers finished taking pictures before approaching the microphone again.

This is indeed something he excels at.

As Satsuki looked at him, the results of the Tokyo gubernatorial election from her previous life gradually surfaced in her memory.

Naonori Isomura was not lacking in support at the time. The Liberal Democratic Party headquarters stood behind him, and the Komeito Party and the Democratic Socialist Party also publicly recommended him. In addition, he had accumulated fame over many years in journalism and had a distinct international image. From the moment he announced his candidacy, he received far more attention than ordinary candidates.

But Shunichi Suzuki's mastery of power ran even deeper.

The Liberal Democratic Party's Tokyo Metropolitan Government, members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, and long-established local support organizations all chose Suzuki.

Therefore, the more the party headquarters pushes Isomura, the more likely Tokyo voters are to see him as the candidate arranged by Nagata-cho.

Tokyoites are willing to accept recommendations from political parties and support from the business community, but they find it difficult to accept central government bureaucrats deciding on the governor for them.

In order to change his overly elitist image, in his previous life, Isomura even went to a public bathhouse to scrub the backs of the elderly.

The photo did appear in the newspaper, but the deliberately arranged approachability did not change many people's opinions. His status as an NHK celebrity and his international background remained unchanged, and many voters felt that he was just trying to imitate the life of an ordinary person.

In the end, Isomura received more than 1.43 million votes.

Suzuki received over 2.29 million votes.

The two sides were separated by more than 850,000 votes.

Such a gap is difficult to close with more GG and publicity funds, so Satsuki never intended for Isomura to catch up with Suzuki along the original route.

Isomura has its own advantages.

The support of the party headquarters, the fame he gained during the television era, and the financial circles willing to invest resources in him are all forces that can be truly utilized.

What Saionji wants to do is to transform these resources into tangible projects, funding, and wages that voters can see.

The 230 workers below the stage were the first proof that Saionji gave to Isomura.

They once went without receiving their wages and huddled under a bridge in Ueno Park waiting for news. Now, they've returned to the construction site and receive their paychecks on time every month.

Isomura no longer needs to go to the bathhouse to prove that he knows ordinary people.

As long as voters see that he has the ability to get these people's lives back on track, that's enough.

Today's speech may not bring in 850,000 votes, but it will allow reporters to get to know Isomura again, prompt companies waiting for project payments to contact the campaign office, and force the Suzuki camp to explain to its supporters why the other side has already provided funding and a resumption date.

That's enough.

Satsuki took one last look at Isomura, who was still standing in the center of the stage, before turning away.

"Let's go, Chizuru."

She switched the handbag to her other hand.

"Go backstage."