novelraw Chapter 266: The Continuous Game After a Good Start!
Chapter 266: The Continuous Game After a Good Start!
The narrow gap overturning in the first batch of votes, and the strong lead in the second batch of suburban votes, boosted the morale of Shimazu Yoshihiro's campaign team to an unprecedented high.
Over the next three days, Tokyo City completely plunged into the ultimate election frenzy. Street speech platforms, live television debates, and newspaper front pages were all occupied by the competition between Shimazu Yoshihiro and Tanaka Mikami.
In the temporary command center of Shimazu Yoshihiro's team, the initially tense atmosphere became much more relaxed, but everyone still didn't dare to slack off in the slightest. After all, the final result had not yet been revealed, and any variables could occur.
"Hiroshi-kun, looking at the replay of yesterday's debate, Mr. Shimazu's state is getting better and better!" Sakata Nobuhiko pointed at the large screen, his tone full of admiration.
In the footage, Shimazu Yoshihiro was calmly and unhurriedly responding to Tanaka Mikami's doubts. His eyes were firm, his speaking speed steady, and every sentence directly struck at people's livelihood pain points.
Nohara Hiroshi nodded, flipping through the latest public opinion report in his hand: "Former President Shimazu has completely entered the state. Now he no longer needs to rely on drafts and can explain the people's livelihood policies clearly and logically. This is a manifestation of confidence."
Takada Toshihide walked over holding a coffee, adding with a smile: "The key is that Tanaka Mikami has run out of tricks! Besides repeatedly saying 'real estate will appreciate' and 'the city will expand,' he fundamentally cannot bring out any other policies capable of moving the voters. During yesterday's debate, when a reporter asked him 'how to resolve youth employment,' he actually answered 'real estate development can drive employment in the construction industry.' It's simply deceiving himself and others!"
Asumi also couldn't help but laugh: "It's more than deceiving himself and others;
it's simply detached from reality. Right now there are more and more temporary workers in the construction industry, while formal positions are actually decreasing. Many young people do the most tiring work, take the lowest wages, and have fundamentally no guarantees. If Tanaka Mikami can't even see this point, how can anyone count on him to resolve employment problems?"
Shimazu Yoshihiro, who had just finished a street speech, returned to the command center. His face carried a bit of exhaustion, but he couldn't hide his excitement: "Just now on the streets of Shinjuku, many young people gathered around. They all told me that they support my 'Youth Entrepreneurship Fund' policy. They want to do some small business of their own and don't want to squeeze their heads trying to find an unstable job anymore."
He took the warm water handed to him by Nohara Hiroshi and continued: "There were also a few retired elderly people who held my hands and said they support me controlling housing prices, not wanting their grandchildren to toil their whole lives for a house. Now more and more people are realizing that the prosperity brought by real estate is merely short-lived and false.""This is the direction of the people's hearts."
Nohara Hiroshi's tone was calm. "Tanaka Mikami's policies only serve the minority who own real estate and capital, while your policies concern the lives of every ordinary person. The more time passes, the more clearly everyone sees, and they will naturally choose the person who truly considers their well-being."
Just at this moment, the data analyst of the campaign team ran in quickly, holding the latest polling report in hand: "Mr. Shimazu, the latest polls show your approval rating has already reached 54%, while Tanaka Mikami is at 46%. The gap has widened to 8 percentage points! Moreover, 72% of voters expressed that they most approve of your 'Employment Support' and 'Affordable Housing' policies!"
"Excellent!" Takada Toshihide excitedly clapped his hands. "This gap is already very stable! As long as we keep it up, the final victory will definitely be ours!"
Sakata Nobuhiko also breathed a sigh of relief: "The debates and speeches over these three days were not in vain. Right now, even some intermediate voters who previously supported Tanaka have started to swing towards us."
Looking at the polling report, Shimazu Yoshihiro's eyes were full of emotion: "This is not my personal victory;
it is the victory of everyone who believes in the philosophy of people's livelihood as the foundation. If it weren't for everyone plotting and advising together, especially Hiroshi-kun, it would be impossible for me to have come to this point."
Nohara Hiroshi shook his head: "Former President Shimazu, you don't need to be so polite. Your philosophy itself aligns with the people's hearts;
I only did what I should have done. There is still the final televised debate remaining. As long as you maintain your current state, victory will definitely belong to us."
...
The final televised debate was still held at Tokyo City TV. This was also the final public contest before the election, attracting the attention of all Tokyo City, and even all of Japan.
The studio was packed. Reporters set up their cameras, standing ready for battle. Voters in the audience section also carried anticipation and nervousness, awaiting the final showdown between the two candidates.
Backstage, Shimazu Yoshihiro was making final preparations. Nohara Hiroshi softly advised from the side: "Former President Shimazu, for the final debate, Tanaka Mikami will definitely put all his eggs in one basket and might use some radical words to attack you. You don't need to let his rhythm lead you astray;
just continue to steadfastly uphold the 'People's Livelihood' core."
Shimazu Yoshihiro nodded, his tone resolute: "I know. No matter what he says, I will voice the heartfelt wishes of ordinary people and explain our policies clearly."
After the debate began, as Nohara Hiroshi had predicted, Tanaka Mikami immediately launched a fierce attack straightaway: "Mr. Shimazu Yoshihiro, your so-called economic transformation is aiming to destroy Japan's real estate market, causing the assets of countless citizens to shrink! Do you know how much tax revenue the real estate market in Tokyo City contributes? Do you know how many enterprises rely on real estate to survive? Your policies are precisely destroying Tokyo City's economy!"
His tone was agitated, pointing his finger at Shimazu Yoshihiro, trying to suppress the other party with momentum.
Facing this bout of attacks, Shimazu Yoshihiro was exceptionally calm. He slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over the audience section, his tone steady: "Mr. Tanaka Mikami, I want to ask you, where did the tax revenue contributed by the real estate market ultimately get used? Did it improve the lives of the citizens, or did it fill the pockets of a minority? You talk about how many enterprises rely on real estate to survive, but have you ever considered how many small and medium enterprises went bankrupt because funds flooded into real estate, leaving them unable to obtain development capital? How many young people lost the opportunity to pursue their dreams because of high housing prices?"
He paused and continued:
"What I mean by economic transformation is not to destroy the real estate market, but to return real estate to its residential attributes to let the economy develop in a diversified manner. We must develop cultural industries, traditional handcrafts, and technological innovation. These fields can create more stable jobs and enable the economy to truly have sustainable development, rather than relying on bubbles to pile up false prosperity."
Warm applause erupted offstage, and many voters in the audience section nodded in agreement.
Tanaka Mikami's expression changed, and he quickly retorted: "This is empty fantasy! How much money can cultural industries and traditional handcrafts make? Can they compare with real estate? What citizens want is tangible wealth growth, not the pie in the sky you're drawing!"
"Tangible wealth growth?"
Shimazu Yoshihiro asked in return, "Mr. Tanaka, does your so-called wealth growth mean letting housing prices rise by thirty percent a year, making young people unable to afford a house for their entire lives? Is it making ordinary citizens empty the savings of two generations just for a place to stay? Such wealth growth comes at the cost of sacrificing the happiness of the majority. Such prosperity, we do not need!"
He brought out a data report, his tone firm:
"According to statistics, the youth unemployment rate in Tokyo City has reached 8.7%, twice as high as five years ago. The average mortgage pressure on ordinary office workers has already accounted for 60% of their monthly income. Furthermore, many traditional handcrafts have lost their living space due to real estate development and are facing the danger of being lost. These, are the consequences brought about by the prosperity you speak of!"
"And our policies are precisely to resolve these problems."
Shimazu Yoshihiro continued, "We will establish a youth entrepreneurship fund to provide start-up capital and guidance for young people;
we will build more affordable housing so ordinary people can afford to buy and live in houses;
we will protect traditional handcrafts so they can shine anew in modern society. These policies might not make citizens' assets soar in the short term, but they can ensure everyone has a stable job, a decent life, and a bright future—This is true wealth, wealth that will not depreciate!"
The applause offstage grew even warmer. Some voters even stood up and shouted: "Support Mr. Shimazu! We want people's livelihood! We want a future!"
Watching this scene, Tanaka Mikami's face was livid, yet he could no longer produce any powerful arguments to refute. He could only repeatedly emphasize "real estate will appreciate" and "I have more experience." However, these words appeared pale and powerless in the face of Shimazu Yoshihiro's tangible people's livelihood policies.
After the debate ended, Shimazu Yoshihiro walked out of the studio and was immediately surrounded by reporters and supporters.
Everyone crowded around him, their faces full of anticipation and trust, shouting, "Mr. Shimazu, go for it!" "We support you!"
Returning backstage, everyone from the team gathered around, their faces full of excitement.
"Mr. Shimazu, you were amazing just now!" Takada Toshihide said excitedly. "Tanaka Mikami was fundamentally not your match. Even I couldn't bear to listen to his words!"
Asumi said with a smile: "That final rhetorical question was simply too brilliant! 'Such prosperity, we do not need.' This sentence will definitely speak to the hearts of many citizens."
Nohara Hiroshi looked at Shimazu Yoshihiro, a gratified smile appearing on his face: "Former President Shimazu, your performance today was perfect. You not only won the debate, but also won the hearts of the people."
...
Returning to the campaign command center, everyone's tense nerves finally completely relaxed.
The night outside the window grew darker, and the neon lights of Tokyo City flickered, as if indicating that a new era was impending.
Everyone sat around together, drinking beer, eating bento boxes, and excitedly discussing the debate just now.
"I just checked real-time public opinion. The internet is full of voices supporting Mr. Shimazu!" The data analyst said excitedly. "Many netizens are saying, 'Finally someone is speaking for ordinary people,' and 'Mr. Shimazu's policies are what we truly need'!"
Kurosawa Eiji took a sip of beer and said with a smile: "Tanaka Mikami is truly doomed to lose this time. Aside from real estate, he couldn't put out anything else. Now citizens all see clearly that real estate is just a blown-up bubble and will burst sooner or later!"
Asano Takata nodded, his tone carrying a hint of rejoicing: "Fortunately, Mr. Shimazu stepped forward. If Tanaka Mikami continues his administration, the real estate bubble will only grow larger, and when the economy collapses, it's still the ordinary people who will suffer."
"Speaking of which, the citizens of Tokyo City are quite interesting."
Takada Toshihide ridiculed with a smile. "Before, they were holding tightly onto real estate, and now they've finally noticed something is wrong. Actually, everyone knows clearly in their hearts that it's fundamentally abnormal for housing prices to rise so outrageously;
it's just that nobody was willing to puncture it."
Asumi also laughed: "This is human nature. Everyone wants to make a profit while there's a bubble, yet they are afraid of being unlucky when the bubble bursts. Now, Mr. Shimazu gave them a choice, an option that can allow them to get rid of the bubble's troubles and possess a stable future. They will naturally grasp it."
Nohara Hiroshi sat in the corner, listening to everyone's discussion, a smile also appearing on his face.
However, within his smile, there was a trace of subtle mockery.
He knew that the "something wrong" that the citizens of Tokyo City had noticed now was only the tip of the iceberg.
They didn't know that this seemingly prosperous real estate bubble had already reached its end. It wouldn't take long for it to completely burst and drag the entire Japanese economy into the abyss.
"Hiroshi-kun, what are you thinking about?" Noticing his silence, Shimazu Yoshihiro asked.
Nohara Hiroshi snapped out of his trance, shook his head, and said with a smile: "It's nothing, just feeling that the citizens have finally awakened. In fact, everyone has a scale in their hearts. They can distinguish between what is right and wrong, what is a long-term plan, and what is short-term profit."
He paused and continued:
"The real estate bubble is like a beautiful trap. It looks tempting, but actually hides crises. Right now, it is a good thing that everyone can proactively jump out of this trap and choose the path of sustainable development."
Sakata Nobuhiko looked at Nohara Hiroshi, his tone full of admiration: "Hiroshi-kun, you are not only talented, but also possess foresight. From the very beginning, you saw clearly the harm of the real estate bubble and proposed the philosophy of economic diversification. Looking at it now, you were right."
Nohara Hiroshi smiled but didn't speak.
He knew clearly in his heart that he was able to see all of this not because he was so formidable, but because he came from the future and knew the trajectory of history.
Japan's economy had already started to decline in 1991. The bursting of the real estate bubble was only a matter of time.
In another two or three years, when the bubble completely burst, countless families would fall into difficulty due to asset shrinkage, countless enterprises would go bankrupt due to broken capital chains, and the entirety of Japan would enter the long "Lost Decade."
And all he was doing now was, within the scope of his capability, aiding Tokyo City to make preparations in advance and mitigate the impact brought by the bursting bubble.
Shimazu Yoshihiro's election, the promotion of economic transformation, and the development of cultural industries—all these could buffer the impact of the economic crisis to a certain extent, allowing more ordinary people to not lose everything during the crisis.
"Oh right, Hiroshi-kun,"
Shimazu Yoshihiro suddenly said, "Once I am elected, the first thing I will do is push the youth entrepreneurship fund and the affordable housing policies. At that time, I will still need your help, especially regarding the support of cultural industries and traditional handcrafts. You have a lot of experience, and I'd like to invite you to serve as Tokyo City's Cultural and Economic Advisor."
Nohara Hiroshi was stunned for a moment, then subsequently nodded in agreement:
"Thank you for your trust, Mr. Shimazu. I will definitely do my best to help and contribute my strength to the economic transformation and cultural development of Tokyo City."
Everyone continued to sit around together, chatting about future plans and the development of Tokyo City.
The atmosphere was warm and cheerful, and everyone's faces were filled with anticipation for the future.
They believed that with Shimazu Yoshihiro's election, Tokyo City would definitely get rid of the troubles of the real estate bubble and stride towards a beautiful future of economic diversification and happiness for the people's livelihood.
Looking at the excited crowd before him, a warm current surged in Nohara Hiroshi's heart.
He knew that the road ahead would not be smooth sailing. The shadow of the economic crisis still existed, and the impact brought by the bursting of the real estate bubble was still severe.
But he believed that as long as everyone united as one, upheld the philosophy of people's livelihood as the foundation, and actively pushed for economic transformation, they would definitely be able to tide over the difficulties.
The neon lights outside the window continued to flicker, illuminating the night sky of Tokyo City, and also illuminating the hopeful faces of everyone.
Nohara Hiroshi raised his glass and said to everyone: "To the future of Tokyo City, to the happiness of every ordinary person, cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Everyone respectively raised their glasses. The sound of glasses clinking was crisp and pleasant, echoing in the night.
At this moment, all the effort, perseverance, and anticipation condensed within this glass of alcohol.
They knew that electoral victory was merely a beginning. The road ahead required them to work together, strife together, and collectively create a more beautiful future for Tokyo City.
And Nohara Hiroshi also clearly understood that his mission had not yet ended. He would continue to use his lenses and wisdom to document the vicissitudes of this era, witness the transformation and rebirth of Tokyo City, and light a lamp of hope for Japan in the impending economic crisis.
(Chapter Ends)