Well, then… Cheers.
-Cheers. -Cheers.
Yes.
Mr. Nakagawa, congratulations on getting the Olympics.
I'm looking forward to 2020.
-Thank you. -Yes.
Things really changed
after we had the prime minister say everything was under control at Fukushima.
When you stepped in as an advisor, Mr. Toyoda, we got immediate results.
It was nothing. It's thanks to the prime minister's excellent delivery.
Besides, it was Murakami who put together the data.
He has a promising future.
You must be proud.
The future of politics is in giving a good performance.
Here's to our future.
Thank you.
Matsuda, is something wrong?
No.
Please speak frankly.
Yes, sir.
It seemed to me like some points in the speech were not exactly factual.
No. I'll take that back. I'm sorry.
Slight nuances are soon forgotten. Don't you worry about it.
Good night.
You don't understand a damn thing, do you?
What are you trying to prove, righteously spouting your opinions?
You saw how hard I've worked to bring us this far.
What's with that look?
This isn't a problem that can be dealt with through performance.
First, we just need to get people to believe.
It's your job to figure out how to deal with things after that.
You've got a lot to learn about how the system works.
Yes, sir.
Apologize.
I'm sorry.
Okay. That's enough about this. Right?
Today's a day for celebration. Let's get good and drunk.
You'll join us too, right, Murakami?
Sure.
Okay. I couldn't get drunk just now, so…
Let's drink.
Okay.
Kohei.
Help me out here, Matsuda.
What happened to you, Kohei?
I heard that you've been snooping around my affairs.
Why don't you tell us about it?
Yes, well,
when I was looking into the Touto News reporter, Matsuda…
I learned about Kohei Matsuda.
So?
Why did you have to look into my affairs?
Well, you see…
when I learned that Kohei Matsuda was hospitalized--
Hold on! That's irrelevant.
What are you trying to connect that to?
The subsidies for AI from the Ministry of Economy.
Don't do any research that has nothing to do with your work.
I'm terribly sorry. I will keep a closer eye on him from now on.
I'm sorry.
Well, this is CIRO, after all.
I know it's your job to delve into things,
but don't go investigating your friends.
I'll admit, a lot of suspicions were cast on me about the subsidies.
But none of it is true.
The police stopped pursuing it.
Give it up, would you?
I'm also saddened by what happened to Matsuda.
He was very talented.
That's enough of this.
The Olympics are in one year.
We need you to fall in line.
Certainly, sir.
Well, we are colleagues who worked together before, after all.
Let's get along.
Okay?
MR. KITANO ALSO CONFIRMED THE DOCUMENT
Mr. Kurosaki,
I heard that you were the superior that Kazuya Suzuki trusted most.
We worked together previously.
Were you the one who asked him to come to the Chubu Local Finance Bureau?
According to the hospital visitor records, you met Mr. Suzuki before he died.
I need to go.
Mr. Kurosaki. Please.
I need your cooperation
to better understand what happened.
Don't act like you know how things are!
You can't possibly understand how we feel!
I think I do understand how difficult it is to survive
within the system.
It's not just the system!
I have a family.
I have my own life!
Mr. Suzuki…
also had a family.
Why did you do that?
Mr. Toyoda clearly committed fraud.
But the investigation was called off, and it all ended inexplicably.
We're not the ones who determine fact from fiction.
But he defrauded the government of ten billion yen.
It was all paid with taxpayers' money.
Don't make me say it again.
Do as you are told and simply write reports that are based on the facts.
Also,
we know everything you do and everywhere you go.
Even after you leave this place.
Make sure you remember that.
I see.
So this alone isn't good enough for an article.
I'm sorry.
I'm looking for more definitive evidence.
We need to be
more careful about how the press reports the news and their morals.
I think we should reassess our press system as a whole.
The other day, an article came out about how a life was lost
due to the aggressive journalism of a Touto News reporter.
Mrs. Mayumi, could you create a password?
That lot are really very violent.
They just want to get a scoop, whatever the cost.
Thank you.
Their way of thinking is
more like that of activists than journalists.
Don't worry about me.
I'm used to the criticism.
Ignorance is frightening.
Not long ago, I said the same thing as that man.
It's our fault in the press that we're perceived that way.
There.
Now you have an account.
Let's get more people on our side to support us.
Right.
The rest is up to you to write.
Now then, Mr. Kinoshita.
Yes?
Tell us why you decided to apply for a job at Touto News.
Yes, sir.
Until now,
I wasn't at all interested in newspapers or politics.
That's because I thought I alone couldn't possibly change anything.
Even now, I still pretty much believe that.
Then why did you apply for a job with us?
I am…
the nephew of the man who killed himself over the Eishin Academy affair…
that your journalist, Ms. Matsuda, is covering.
Ms. Matsuda…
is still vigorously pursuing my uncle's story
even though society is trying to forget it.
After seeing how Ms. Matsuda strives
to give a voice to the voiceless no matter how difficult it may be,
I became interested in becoming a journalist.
Thanks to her, my aunt is
gradually returning to normal.
If I can also be of service to someone in the way that she has been,
I'd like to do this kind of work.
I would like to give a clear voice to those people in society
who are oppressed and downtrodden.
That is why
I applied to work at your company.
Thank you.
Please sit down.
MAYUMI SUZUKI
PLEASE HELP MAKE SURE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN
I'm back.
Hey, Ryo. Mayu got a job offer.
What?
-You did? -Yes.
From who?
A mid-sized start-up that was, like, my seventh choice.
Is that so?
Congratulations.
You keep trying too, Ryo.
I will.
Sorry about the other day.
No. It's all right.
I mean, I hadn't told you about it.
Say…
let's go back together.
I mean, I just got good news.
Ryo!
Congratulate her properly.
That's right.
I want you to congratulate me properly.
Fine, I will.
Doing this kind of thing in the morning can ruin the whole day.
I've always wanted to try this once.
Yes, I guess it's all right.
Anyway, congratulations.
Thank you.
What about you, Ryo?
Have you decided where to apply?
Yes.
Actually…
I'm thinking about becoming a newspaper reporter.
-What? -Don't be so surprised.
But you said nobody reads newspapers!
Right.
Well…
a lot has happened.
I met the lady you told me about, Ms. Matsuda.
Ms. Matsuda.
A while back, I said some mean stuff about her.
What is she like?
I don't know her that well yet. But she's a really nice person.
She's passionate.
And she has compassion.
But who knows? She could be totally evil.
Yes, you could be right.
Lately, I've come to the realization that…
depending on your position, people can seem either good or evil.
You stay just the way you are, Ryo.
What do you mean by that?
I'll always be me. You don't have to tell me to.
-Oh, is that right? -Yes.
I'm sorry for suddenly contacting you.
I read…
his suicide note.
I'm sorry that I haven't been able to properly apologize.
I am truly sorry.
I heard that…
everyone involved in my husband's case received a promotion.
He always…
spoke proudly about his work.
"National civil servants are employed by the citizens of Japan."
"Doing our best to serve the people is…
what makes me proud."
He…
respected you to the very end.
Mr. Kurosaki, you were also given orders by the higher-ups, weren't you?
No matter what I say, it will all sound like excuses.
I have been unable to repay him for…
his trust in me.
When I met Suzuki for the last time,
he entrusted this to me.
I wasn't able to live up
to Suzuki's expectations of me.
And most of all,
I let him die.
I am…
truly sorry about that.
AUDIO RECORD ABOUT EISHIN ACADEMY
This year on Wednesday, February 13,
Chubu Local Finance Bureau Chief Mr. Kitano
called his subordinates together at around 8:00 p.m.
to issue the first order to alter the documents.
Finance Bureau Director-General Mr. Mouri came from Tokyo.
The five of us in Property Administration at Chubu Local Finance Bureau
were ordered to alter documents
that were inconsistent with the statement of the prime minister in the Diet.
The documents were altered on Thursday, February 14.
We were ordered to
remove the names of the First Lady and other Members of Parliament
so the documents were consistent with what was said in Parliament.
Supervisor Kurosaki
-submitted the altered documents… -Kazuya…
…to Chubu Local Finance Bureau Chief Mr. Kitano.
You're so meticulous.
On Monday, February 18,
we were called together at around 8:30 a.m.
He said we must do as ordered,
so we altered and destroyed official documents.
There are detailed records of the meeting, so it appears
Eishin Academy was given special treatment by the Ministry of Finance.
Or at least,
to prevent the appearance of special treatment,
it was made to look like Finance Bureau Director-General Mouri made the decision.
Amazing.
This will be a huge story for sure.
It will?
Boss, we can print this, right?
Does anyone else have this?
Only we and Kazuya's superior, Mr. Kurosaki, know about it.
Are you still going to give in to pressure?
Boss, this is a sure thing!
Let's put this on tomorrow's front page.
This is a huge scoop.
We'll go big with it.
Give her whatever she needs.
Got it.
Mrs. Mayumi.
You're sure about this?
Releasing this to the public
could cause you suffering.
I'm prepared for that.
I believe this is the best way to honor my husband.
THE SALE OF PUBLIC LAND
TO EISHIN ACADEMY EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION…
MR. SUZUKI STRONGLY PROTESTED…
"A second time."
"The published…"
"Was forced to…"
"Was forced to do the work…"
We're putting the Eishin scandal on the front page.
-Got it. -Good. Work quickly.
-Right. -Thanks.
EISHIN ACADEMY SCANDAL
SUICIDE NOTE OF DECEASED EMPLOYEE REVEALED
-Here. -Got it.
SUICIDE NOTE OF DECEASED EMPLOYEE REVEALED
ANNA MATSUDA SPREAD THE WORD #NEVERFORGETMR.SUZUKI
MR. MOURI ORDERED TAMPERING
#NEVERFORGETMR.SUZUKI
YOUR TWEET WAS SENT
PROSECUTOR YOSHIKAZU YAGAWA
SUICIDE NOTE OF DECEASED EMPLOYEE REVEALED
Good morning.
Good morning. Thank you!
-Congratulations. -Congratulations.
Thank you.
You did it. Other papers are sure to rush in to chase it too.
Ms. Matsuda, it's going viral on social media.
They can't ignore it now. The administration will fall for sure.
It hasn't worked out that way before.
Maybe so, but this time it's sure to happen.
There's no doubt the PM's office will respond.
You'll probably be targeted again.
I'll be fine. This is when the real fight begins.
Hello. It's been a while.
I've got something I'd like to ask you.
The handwritten suicide note states that Finance Bureau Director-General Mouri
gave orders to alter documents three times.
It reveals information not in the Ministry…
Thank you for calling.
How are you doing? Getting along all right?
Yes, I am.
As I'm sure you know, the Eishin affair has become big news.
Yes, I am aware of it.
It's possible
the prosecutor's office might investigate.
What should I do?
It won't be easy, but don't worry about it.
Keep doing as you've done until now.
Are you sure?
What's wrong?
Do you plan on changing your testimony?
No.
Don't worry.
The government certainly won't allow any evidence to get out.
But if some unexpected evidence were found,
the government would protect me, right?
Of course.
As long as you carry out your role as a bureaucrat to the very end.
I'm counting on you. Okay?
I see.
Thank you.
TETSUSHI SASAKI LAW FIRM
Ms. Matsuda told me a little bit over the phone.
What do you plan to do now?
I was hoping I could take them to court.
I see.
I want everything to come out into the open.
Unless we can get to the root cause
of why my husband was involved in a cover-up, there's no point in this.
I see.
You don't think it can be done?
This case was dropped once already,
but it isn't completely impossible.
If there is more definitive proof, that could change things.
You mean proof that the prime minister was involved?
Right.
If this suicide note and memoir are turned over to the public prosecutor,
they might reopen the investigation.
Would you like me to speak with them?
Yes, I would appreciate that.
This situation has become exasperating.
They've really messed things up.
If this public uproar continues,
the public prosecutor could come to question you, Murakami.
I see.
At any rate, we need to suppress as much information as we can.
Yes.
But how can we do that?
Now that there's such a commotion, CIRO can't possibly deal with it alone.
You can only do so much. Isn't that right?
Well…
We need someone of your status to take action, Mr. Nakagawa.
You did the same for the Olympic bid, right?
We'll get the heads of every media outlet on our side.
I'll get you in touch with them. Let's do the same again.
What should we do?
Dig deep into the lives of the media outlet heads.
Find out all you can, even about their families,
no matter how trivial it is.
It all depends on how much dirt we can get on them.
You'd like us to tighten the screws on them?
Immediately.
Certainly.
…said in Parliament.
National Property Administrator, Supervisor Kurosaki,
submitted the altered documents
to Chubu Local Finance Bureau Chief Mr. Kitano.
On Monday, February 18,
we were called together…
What do you think?
Why wasn't everyone prosecuted in the first place?
I am not at liberty to answer that.
However, before your husband died,
I told him I could not ignore this case.
What?
I know it's a little late now,
but now I feel like I could
help with what Kazuya Suzuki wanted,
which I wasn't able to do before.
Thank you for these materials.
I will perform a thorough investigation.
TOUTO NEWS
Mr. Ryo Kinoshita.
I heard that you are the nephew of Mr. Kazuya Suzuki.
That's right.
I also heard you don't read the paper much.
That's right. I'm sorry.
If we hire you, what kind of work would you like to do?
For people like me
who think the news doesn't concern them or who have never read a newspaper,
I'd like to write articles that get them interested.
I'd especially like to get young people
to realize that what happens in the world concerns them as well.
That's the kind of journalist I'd like to be.
I'd also
like to have fun and make it my lifetime profession.
Thank you.
All right,
can I ask you one more question?
Certainly.
How do you think newspapers should adapt for the future?
Hello?
Hi, Mom.
Hi. What's up?
I got a job offer.
Really? You did?
Yes.
I'll start work at Touto News in spring.
Really? Congratulations!
So you'll be working with Ms. Matsuda?
Maybe.
I don't know exactly where I'll be assigned yet.
Oh, right.
Hold on. I'll put my sister on.
Hello. Ryo?
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Tell Uncle Kazuya for me.
I will.
Good luck.
You too, Aunt Mayumi.
Thank you.
Yeah.
-Bye. -See you.
What great news!
FOUR MONTHS LATER
-Good morning. -Morning.
-Good morning. -Good morning.
You two will be graduating soon, won't you?
No slacking off. Keep working hard to the very end.
-Okay. -Yes, I know.
It makes me happy to think that someday, I'll deliver a paper written by Ryo.
If you write garbage articles, we'll poke fun at you here.
-Just warning you. -Oh, come on. Quit that.
"First case of community spread in Japan confirmed."
What's wrong?
Oh, it's just that there's been more news about this lately. It worries me.
That? We'll be just fine.
They're making a big deal out of nothing but a typical cold.
Don't talk like that. You need to be careful.
Really?
This looks fine.
It won't be long before Mr. Nakagawa starts meeting with these people.
Make sure you complete personal investigations of them by then.
Mr. Tada.
What is it?
Do you really think investigating the lives of private citizens
and pressuring them will help maintain national stability?
What do you mean by that?
Now that public opinion has been swayed this far,
it will be almost impossible to stop it.
Since you directly requested the discounted price from Mouri,
do you think you can solve this by apologizing to the citizens of Japan?
Not at all.
-I was just doing my job. -You're wrong.
This problem was caused because you assumed what the First Lady wanted.
If you hadn't arbitrarily negotiated a discounted price,
Mouri wouldn't have needed to resign,
and the Chubu Local Finance Bureau employee wouldn't have died,
and this wouldn't have grown into such a huge problem.
What? I…
Mr. Tada…
All of this…
was a scheme concocted by you alone.
That's ridiculous. You must be kidding.
Mr. Tada, I…
It is possible to make that the truth.
All you need to think about is protecting the system.
Get back to work.
I'll go now.
Wait.
-One more thing, Murakami. -Yes?
The stability of your family is also dependent on the stability of the nation.
This problem was caused because you assumed what the First Lady wanted.
Daddy! Welcome home!
-Welcome home! -Thank you.
If you hadn't arbitrarily negotiated a discounted price,
Mouri wouldn't have needed to resign,
and the Chubu Local Finance Bureau employee wouldn't have died…
Yes, a rabbit.
…and this wouldn't have grown into such a huge problem.
-A bear. -A bear?
You're wrong.
All of this
was a scheme concocted by you alone.
No, I didn't.
Hayato, you're spilling things.
-Here. Wipe it up. -Okay.
Eat up your carrots.
PHOTO SENT
I KNOW YOUR BROTHER
What is this?
ARE YOU WITH THE PM'S OFFICE?
The characters and events that appear in this work are fictitious
and do not depict real life.
Subtitle translation by: Brian Athey