Episosde 5: War and three females
In December 1959, Iki submits his letter of resignation to Daimon. He intends to take responsibility for the trouble caused to the company as a result of the arrest of his subordinate, Koide, in securing the order of Luckheed’s F104 as the Defence Agency’s next generation of fighter planes. Daimon understands Iki’s feelings but in the same way that a soldier does not write a resignation letter to take responsibility for the failure of a mission, in a corporate battle, he will not allow Iki to write a resignation letter without careful consideration. What Iki must do is the kind of work that will pay tribute to the spirit of the departed Kawamata, Daimon says.
Iki gives up on his plan to resign and is offered the post of the head of the Steel Division. This is intended to strengthen Kinki Corporation, which has weak ties with the steel industry because of its focus on the textile business, in a Japanese economy that is becoming more heavily industrialised.
In March 1964, Iki succeeds in affiliating major, strong wholesalers in steel with Kinki Corporation. Daimon accepts Iki’s proposal to set up a division that will direct the entire company’s corporate strategy and entrusts it all to Iki.
Iki sends for Hyodo, who is at the London branch; Kaibe, who is at the New York branch; and Fuwa Shusaku, who is at the Hong Kong branch, to build the headquarters for the operations. Within two years, Iki transfers 200 people from the Textile Division to non-textile divisions in the undertaking of a large-scale personnel reshuffle, and the Steel Division racks up profits.
Applauding the results of the business operations headquarters, Daimon makes Iki the managing director in April 1967. However, Iki’s way of doing things infuriate Satoi, who is now the deputy CEO; Ichimaru, the Executive Director for Textiles; and other people.
At that moment, Iki and his men get information on the tensions in the Middle East. Fearing a third Middle East war will erupt, Iki focuses efforts on gathering intelligence. Meanwhile, Samejima, who has been promoted to Executive Director for Transport at Tokyo Corporation, has also detected changes in the Middle East situation and starts preparing for the outbreak of war.
One night, Iki meets Chisato again. Chisato says she would like to consult him on the matter of her older brother, Seiki, who has been undertaking ascetic practices at Mt Hiei. Seiki is actually suffering from tuberculosis. However, he is unmoved by his sister’s entreaties and has no intention of stopping his training. Iki promises Chisato that he will make time to go to Mt Hiei with her when he comes to Osaka on a business trip.
After dining together, Iki and Chisato visit the club, Le Bois. And Beniko, who has become the second wife of an Indonesian Chinese trader, Howan Kan Chen, and should be living in Jakarta, shows up. Teasing Iki, Beniko says this is her first time meeting his girlfriend. Concerned about Chisato, Iki chides Beniko for being out of line. Then Chisato flatly tells her that that is not the case.
Beniko detains Iki as he is about to leave and broaches the subject of the Middle East situation. She says she has received various information ever since her marriage to Howan, then tells Iki that he will know if he asks, Takenaka Kanji, the international lobbyist for information on Israel.
Iki escorts Chisato to her hotel and comes home late. Naoko also returns. Learning that the guy who has sent her home is Tomoatsu, the son of Samejima, Iki is strongly against their relationship.
The business operations headquarters, which has continued to gather intelligence day and night, learns of the ever-increasing possibility of a Middle East war. Meanwhile, Iki visits Anhiru Koichi, the president of a company called Nitto Trading, whom he had been introduced to by Takenaka. Anhiru is dealing with the import of Israeli farm produce but says he has recently received a large quantity of orders for tin and rubber from Israel which he cannot fulfill. Iki immediately promises to help and gets information on Israel from Anhiru. Anhiru also judges that war will breakout within this one week. The Israelis will win and the war will end in a short time.
Returning to Kinki Corporation, Iki asks the Food Division to import Israeli oranges. This being Anhiru’s request in exchange for the provision of information. Satoi learns about that. Addressing the members of the Food Division, he says that he personally feels the ways of the business operations headquarters should be reviewed and tells them to report any problems to him.
Hyodo is contacted by Beniko and meets Howan, who has come to Japan. Howan is one of four Indonesian Chinese who run big conglomerates, and he is a key figure in Southeast Asian trade because of the network he has around the world. Having just returned from Cairo, Howan tells Hyodo that the Suez Canal will definitely be blocked. Anticipating that, he wants Kinki Corporation to have five 10,000 ton deadweight vessels built in accordance to war-time standards, at under $400,000 per vessel ready. Their deadline is tomorrow. Iki instructs Hyodo to immediately negotiate with the Ship Division.
Then, Iki receives a call from Anhiru, who conveys news of the blockage of the Gulf of Aqaba by the United Arab Republic. Iki reports this to Daimon and Satoi, telling them that the business operations headquarters analysis is for the third Middle East war to end within a short time with Israeli victory. However, Satoi says the United Arab Republic has superior war power. Furthermore, he drags in the matter of Nitto Trading and the vessel arrangements, accusing Iki of causing trouble by acting without thinking. Daimon rebukes Satoi and immediately orders an emergency board meeting.
At that moment, Samejima, who has learnt of Howan’s request to Kinki Corporation, starts getting into action in attempt to wrest it from them.
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