『 Let’s return to the n.o.bility discussion 』
Jii-chan said.
『 You’re attending the best school for young ladies in j.a.pan. Your school became like that because of Kaan, the late Kanou-kun, and my influence 』
The big three?
『 During the post-war economic growth, j.a.pan’s society made a great paradigm. To put it simply, the traditional n.o.bility gave birth to the Meiji restoration, and the bourgeois rank of wealthy people collapsed. Creating a new cla.s.s in society. Let me say it beforehand, those that collapsed were only a portion. Most of the n.o.bility have survived by changing along with the time. We risked our lives to protect our family 』
Jii-chan’s story must be interesting to the young ladies.
Their existence as young ladies is proof that the n.o.bility of j.a.pan survived.
『 It’s identical to how Kabuki and other traditional arts still exist to this day. Kabuki was also in the precarious state during the occupation of the allied forces in j.a.pan. It just happened that a commissioned officer of the US army liked kabuki, so it remained. Even so, they created some absurd restrictions such as “I don’t like the feudal tales,” or “it doesn’t suit the Christian ethics” and such 』
So that happened.
『 The occupation army complained about Shogi. “The rule where you can steal a piece from your opponent is the abuse of prisoners. It’s a savage game,” was their reason for banning it 』
Huh?
Shogi is savage?
If you ban it for that reason, then what about the current computer games?
『 Did you know? McArthur said, “In science, arts, religion, and culture, America and Germany are at their 40-50’s, their prime of life, but j.a.pan is still a young man in their teens.” “j.a.pan should learn from the West, and the West should guide j.a.pan.” 』
j.a.pan is still a child compared to the West?
『 That’s how foolish he sees j.a.panese people are. Well, calling the people b.u.mpkins would be better 』
Jii-chan speaks in displeasure.
『 Although, that was a blessing for the j.a.panese 』
Huh?
『 Before the war, Franklin D Roosevelt created this “new deal policy” to recover from the Great Depression. It’s something you learned from your history cla.s.ses. It’s the beginning of Keyne’s modified capitalism gaining political power. Instead of entrusting the business to market freely, the administration intervenes and redistribute the a.s.sets. The people using the new deal policy were all young people burning in idealism. However, in reality, the new deal policy isn’t always successful. The societal structure so far changed by political power, it was hard. The society will not obey as the government official imagined, and America, who couldn’t complete the change, partic.i.p.ated in the war 』
War.
『 They needed a large number of materials for the military. Europe’s industry was on decline during the war. America was using all of the allied nations’ military goods. The ordinary citizens endure during the time of war. They introduced daylight savings time and bring in women to work. When America joined the second world, war…and Hawaii was attacked, the Americas hardly had anyone in the front. They keep their industrial production with the pretext of “its war,” and they were able to change the system in their country 』
America changed during the war?
『 If it was during peace, then there are lots of people opposing. It disturbs those who hold vested interests. However, during the war, they can take them down with “are you allied with the enemy nation?” They can restructure the government to their liking 』
Jii-chan said.
『 In the end, Franklin Roosevelt was saved by the war. If there was no war, then perhaps his New Deal policy will never become the system. However, it happened. I don’t believe in the conspiracy theories that Franklin Roosevelt rushed to war with j.a.pan for himself. A single president’s forecast changed history. It’s all a coincidence that everything went as Franklin Roosevelt expected 』
Y-Yeah.
But why is “Franklin Roosevelt’s” name is said in full all the time?
「 Nii-san. In America, there was another president with the name of Roosevelt 」
Luna read my thoughts and whispered.
「 Theodore Roosevelt has a hobby of creating teddy bears 」
「 Oh, right 」
She knows a lot.
『 Then, during the postwar period, the American occupants using their political measures all survived with the New Deals policy. Therefore, in their ideal minds, they started teaching the “poor” j.a.panese people who still are 12-years-old compared to themselves. To us, they’re just idealistic children, and they were the ones ignorant of the world. However, some sympathized with the Americans among the j.a.panese. People who say that the Americans were right, that j.a.pan will stay as a child if Americans don’t guide them, that everything Americans tell them is for good. No, even now, most survive by having plain ill-will in their head 』
Jii-chan said.
『 They drowned in American culture, longing for the flashy and beautiful life in movies. However, those who say that it’s their way of life are the middle cla.s.s in America. It wasn’t the age where everyone has a camera, like now. There are hardly any people traveling overseas. It’s not the real-life in America, it’s just the ideal life shown in movies. In fact, America still contradicts the world even now. They’re distorted. They have a social cla.s.s in poverty. But they don’t convey that…They win over the j.a.panese by showing the paradise 』
There was no internet back then.
The imitations from movies are different from reality.
『 Showing American movies to the j.a.panese was one of McArthur’s political measures. He knows the power of film. If we’re talking about telecast from back then where the politicians and the president are known to the ma.s.ses, it was because there’s a newsreel before the movie itself shows 』
News before the movie?
『 Wheelchair was created for President Franklin Roosevelt, who had his lower half paralyzed. In short, he was disabled. However, most of the American citizens didn’t know that 』
Huh? The president’s in a wheelchair, and yet n.o.body knows?
『 He could stand up from his wheelchair and walk a single step. Therefore, the newsreel shows him walking that one step to the platform. They’re not showing the wheelchair. Therefore, most of the citizens think that he can walk 』
So the video shows the impression that he can still walk.
『 America is a vast land that not even the president can go all over the whole nation. The best he could do is move around a vast city and another. One can read his political measures in the newspaper. They can hear him over radios. However, the majority of the people only see him moving in newsreels 』
Haa.
『 Actually, in the movie Yankee Doodle Dandy, produced during the war, there was a scene where James Cadney, disguised as Franklin Roosevelt, tap dancing on the floor. If the people know that Franklin Roosevelt lives in a wheelchair, then they won’t make that scene. They’ll see that and won’t laugh at it. It’s the worst kind of joke 』
If they make a scene where the president, who is paralyzed below, tap dancing…
It will get people seriously angry.
The Internet would be on fire.
『 Franklin Roosevelt can walk a single step. That’s what the screen shows. They’re not lying. However, they’re not telling the truth either. The president’s legs are paralyzed. It’s those people who use such unfair impression which came to j.a.pan 』
Jii-chan said.
『 Then, using the reason that they won the war, they started remodeling j.a.pan’s history and culture to their own ethics, as if it’s their plaything. However, their New Deal policy is too idealistic, too childish. They think that great evil and unjust acts are minimum. No, if it wasn’t America, who thinks of j.a.pan as an underdeveloped child, that occupied our country, then they would mess up with j.a.pan and never let it stand on its feet again 』
Right.
『 The n.o.bility was so close to collapse. No, actually, some families were sacrificed. Fortunately, the time where the most danger exists didn’t last long, America didn’t have the time to toy with j.a.pan. The cold war with the communist nation started 』
Cold War?
『 The plan of the occupation army at first was to take down all the ruling cla.s.s of j.a.pan. The old ones. For America, the democracy flag bearer…they want to distribute the leader’s a.s.sets to the ma.s.ses. They do not understand the worth of families with long history 』
The occupants didn’t know the worth of n.o.bility.
『 But, the Cold war happened. Then, America feared that if they eliminate the old leaders of j.a.pan, the communists will rise. They don’t want j.a.pan, who advanced to democracy, turn red. j.a.pan has no other islands between the pacific ocean and Hawaii. If j.a.pan becomes communists, then they will take up the whole of East Asia. Therefore, the Americans panicked and strengthened their relationships with the old leader cla.s.ses of j.a.pan. They must’ve thought that if they don’t resume the governing body of j.a.pan before the war, they won’t be able to stop the wave of commoners turning to communists 』
And so, n.o.bility remained.
『 And that’s a long-standing problem of j.a.pan since post-war. In other words, the leaders of j.a.pan who had control before the war has lost, and n.o.body among them took responsibility. Thus, the commoners, especially young students, were irritated. They thought, “Pull them down!” However, during that age, if they were to break down the whole system and change it to something new, it will become messed up. j.a.pan endured the military occupation for several years, and then, the former leaders were allowed to return. It still continues to this day. Well, of course, I belong to the group of the old leader cla.s.s, so I think that way, but I’m aware of the other opinion. I know people who lost, who collapsed. As a result, turning into some ridiculous shape. However, j.a.pan still had the “j.a.pan-like” in their country because we didn’t fall to ruin, that’s what I’d like to believe 』
Jii-chan said.
『 What we inherited from our ancestors isn’t blood, a.s.sets, or name. j.a.pan is for the j.a.panese people, and that’s why we’re proud that we’re j.a.panese…It’s a will that we defend 』
The young ladies listen to Jii-chan earnestly.
『 We’re not higher than others because we’re n.o.bility. We’re not smart. We’re not valuable either. We don’t have to be refined. No value. If we’re just rich, then we can get friendly with other influential people and rise up with that thought, can’t we? 』
It’s not money or power.
『 Humans are creatures that coexist despite having different views, “unchanging” and “ever-changing.’ It’s the inconsistency of life. That means, the will to continue living eternally for as long as the next generation is born, and the will to change depending on the situation, both will contradict and coexist. Then, humans continue their existence through the ages. People with the intention to change along with the era are common. Then, I think that we exist to carry the will to keep the old tradition 』
That’s the role of n.o.bility.
『 I let my granddaughters wear Kimono. They learned to live a life in tatami mats. You girls are the same. The school you attend is training you to behave like a j.a.panese person. That’s what Kaan, Kanou, and I instructed the school to do 』
Oh, so that’s why the young ladies are learning traditional j.a.panese dance.
Learning how to live wearing j.a.panese clothes.
『 Your school never lets in daughters outside of n.o.bility. That means refusing entry of daughters of rising businessmen, politicians, or celebrities. But on the other hand, we are donating a hefty sum to your school 』
Jii-chan said.
『 Most prestigious schools accept such girls for their business. However, children not born as n.o.bility are different from us. They have the opposite will than us. In short, “the will to change constantly.” People with that strong will are reaching grand success at this age. They gain both social status and fortunes. However, we do not want our daughters, no, it’s granddaughters already…you girls to have that will. Maybe when you’re adults already. Once you have established a “self,” where you no longer shake from people with a different opinion than yourself. However, when you’re still young, we want you to go through pre-school, elementary, middle school, and high school, with the will of n.o.bility. We want you to become those who keep, not those who change the tradition 』
Therefore, Misuzu’s school doesn’t have vacancies for anyone other than children of n.o.bility.
『 Naturally, that is just a selfish wish of the old generation. Maybe, from your point of view, you prefer to change yourself, to do what you want. However, we want you to understand. First is what’s good about the old, and to know the beauty of j.a.pan. Those what the ordinary people forgot. We want you to look at it first. We want you to know. And we want you to love it, if possible. We don’t care about paying, as long as it creates an opportunity for you to experience it. Even so, if you wish to change, we will not stop you. We will not force you. But, we want you to know at least the reason why we want you to inherit and continue the beauty of j.a.pan, and its influences in the n.o.bility 』
Jii-chan said.
『 This country has a museum now but, the treasure of Kouzuki house is designated as a national treasure. It’s a burned treasure my ancestor from 300 years ago brought from Kyoto. Surely, if he didn’t bring that, he wouldn’t have survived. Then, it has been a treasure Kouzuki house protected for 300 years. If you ask me if there’s value in my house, then it would be the existence of that treasure. The one who carried that has become n.o.bility 』
「 It’s not just objects…Etiquette, behavior, speech, various cultures inherited is what makes n.o.bility 」
Kaan-san said.
「 My late Grandfather guided me strictly as well 」
「 I have been shallow 」
Kaan-san said.
「 Kouzuki-sama and our Grandfathers wants us to not forget the spirit of n.o.bility, making us understand 」
It looks like she’s reflecting.
「 I told Grandfather “Kaan-house’s ways won’t do if we want to live through this age,” I have been conceited 」
『 Kaan also understands why you told him that. We have lived through a shocking generation, unlike you, who are still in your teens. n.o.bilities desperately try to survive the generation to not lose their pride. Currently, Kanou’s house seems declining, but it’s not the case. Kaan and I were just lucky. On the other hand, we have lost the precious things we left behind. Kanou house is the family with the most spirit of n.o.bility remaining in them
「 I-I don’t know 」
Kanou-san replies bashfully.
『 Kanou’s family still continues to have a family of bodyguards in charge of them. However, Kouzuki house lost that family of retainers. Therefore, I created this boorish organization, Kouzuki SS 』
I look at Shie-san, standing behind Kanou-san.
Shie-san shows slight happens since Jii-chan mentioned her.
It’s not just her, but her whole family lineage is praised.
「 All we have left is the lineage of bodyguards. My Sebastia.n.u.s isn’t as strong as the bodyguards of Kouzuki house 」
Kaan-san looked at Yamada Umeko-san, or Sebastia.n.u.s as she names her.
She mentioned earlier, “my bodyguard is strong,” but…
She’s surprised by Michi and Edie’s strength.
「 I’m very sorry, Momoko-ojousama 」
Umeko-san bows.
「 Don’t be, since it has come to this, you should train together with everyone. I won’t say that I won’t let you partic.i.p.ate anymore. As the lady of Kaan house, I want to persevere along with everyone 」
Haa.
Now the bodyguard of the Kaan house, one of the big three, will train together with us.
That will mean that all the bodyguards of n.o.bility will join in.
The opposition between n.o.bility will be gone.
「 I have been a conceited girl. Kouzuki Kakka, it was a beneficial talk. I will speak to Grandfather once I return home 」
Kaan-san said.
『 Fufufu, Kakka, you say… 』
Jii-chan laughs.
『 Kaan-kun, do you know why I’m called “Kakka”? 』
「 T-That’s because you were a.s.signed as the UK amba.s.sador when you were young, and since then, you were called “Kakka” 」
Huh?
That’s what I heard too. Yeah.
『 Then, does your grandfather call me “Kakka”? 』
「 T-That’s…uhm, my Grandfather does not 」
『 Of course. Kaan knows the truth 』
Jii-chan’s laughter echoes.
『 I’ve never been the amba.s.sador for UK 』
Wait what?
Then, what was the “Kakka” for?1
『 Those who look up my history will know. And those people will never call me “Kakka” 』
W-What’s going on?
『 There was this young man, an Ireland immigrant in America. He immigrated from Ireland together with his family, his family lineage is poor, that if he didn’t migrate, he probably couldn’t survive. However, the young man lost his father immediately after moving to America. He’s still a young boy, and yet, he worked in the dockyard in Boston. Then, he succeeded in his job 』
Jii-chan narrates.
『 He slowly gained success as a boss in a bar. He married a wealthy Ireland immigrant, and became an influential man, helping out those who came from Ireland. Lastly, if I recall, he rose up as a state diet member 』
I wonder who that is?
『 Then, the person called “Kakka” was his son. He, who was born in a reasonably wealthy family, entered a prestigious university. However, he’s an upstart, so he’s not allowed to enter the clubs that only have upper-cla.s.s men in it. He graduated from university, used his father’s connections to become a government official, managing a bank. Using all the inside knowledge in various banks, he repeatedly gained huge profits through insider trading. He became acquainted with the people from the underground society. When the prohibition law was enforced, he joined hands with the Mafia and smuggled alcohol, creating ma.s.s profits. He’s nothing but a good-for-nothing upstart, no matter how you look at it. He bought a movie company for the sake of making his lover an actress. When the movie company failed, he had his lover carry the burden. He’s got no sc.r.a.p of good sense 』
Jii-chan continues.
『 He copied his father and advanced to politics. He’s become a member of the lower house with involvement in Mafia. Franklin Roosevelt, the man we talked about earlier, hated that man. Vulgar, a liar, a thug, and is connected to the underground society, it’s natural to hate him. However, he has his a.s.sets. He has connections with various people. And, he’s an ambitious man. He demanded Franklin Roosevelt to ascend him to a higher office. Roosevelt doesn’t want such a disgusting man to become a cabinet minister. So, he tried to chase him out as far as possible. And as a result, he became the amba.s.sador in the United Kingdom 』
The poor immigrant’s son rose up as a villain and became an amba.s.sador.
『 However, that man wasn’t useful in the UK, all he does is boast. He talked that the United Kingdom should compromise and accept Hitler, and n.a.z.i Germany’s protection. When London took an Air Raid from the n.a.z.i’s, the royal family was in church, and he was in a situation where he can’t abandon the ma.s.ses, but he ran away first. Returning to America, he gave out some reckless remarks, and Franklin Roosevelt finally dismissed him from being the amba.s.sador in the UK. Dissatisfied, he had people call him “Kakka” until his death 』
Oh, it sounds like an episode in Jii-chan’s story.
To think that kind of person exists.
『 His ambitions never vanished. Since he couldn’t achieve it, he had his son become a politician. His wish is for his family lineage to become president 』
Jii-chan said.
『 And that ambition materialized. Do you know who that son is? 』
I don’t know, of course.
「 John F Kennedy 」
Kaan-san muttered.
『 That’s right, Kennedy’s house has become n.o.bility in America. However, if you trace it back, the first generation is a bar owner who immigrated to America. The second generation is a thug. The third generation happened to become the president 』
Jii-chan said.
『 Even in the modern era, the n.o.bility is born. They’re produced. If you trace back Kouzuki house, you’ll find out that the first generation wasn’t an influential person 』
All n.o.bility has a starting point.
Various people are rising up to the world.
And scoundrels appear in their family lineage.
『 However, it’s the successors who inherit the pride of what the founder did. And we mustn’t forget that 』
Jii-chan’s voice echoes.
『 I’m the head of n.o.bility, and so I had myself called “Kakka” to never let myself become conceited. If I lose my self-respect and do whatever I wanted with the power of Kouzuki house, then I will become the same as that thug. It’s a warning 』
Jii-chan laughs.
『 I had my subordinates call me “Kakka” I ordered them to do so. I feel startled every time I hear it. I ask myself, am I doing my obligation as the head properly? Am I not becoming that low-life? 』
He can reflect on himself each time he’s called.
『 Apart from subordinates, some try to curry me up. Also, those who come to me without investigating my history. Such people look down on me. They speak all the reasonable grounds, but it makes me laugh from the bottom of my heart 』
Kakka is a peculiar t.i.tle.
『 To tell the truth, even if they’re a former amba.s.sador, but now a private individual, yet, they still are pleased to be called “Kakka” are the worst fool to see. People who think that way was never warned when they were receiving entertainment 』
Jii-chan said.
- In case people forgot, Kakka is directly translated as “your Excellency” ↩