Manager!
We've been nominated for the extension work of the Civic Hall.
I think the City Hall will contact us at the beginning of next week.
I got a list of companies which were also nominated.
Is Hokuto Construction on the list?
No, it's not.
Not on the list. Sub-chief!
I don't know how you managed it,
but if Handa gave you this I don't think Hokuto Construction will be involved.
Yes, it doesn't seem like Hokuto Construction is going to be included.
Maybe they considered there needed to be more of a balance in Kahoku City.
Alright.
Make a round of courtesy calls with small presents.
Make sure they know we're intending to accept the work.
A corporation's main function is gaining and carrying out contracts.
Yes!
I nearly get there, Then I lose my confidence.
I look at the sky and wonder, Will I get to where my dreams come true?
Life used to be so easy for me, And now time is running out.
I left my mistakes behind me, Because I wanted to change.
But I haven't changed.
I built a rainbow over the thunder clouds, And time and space, and I started to run.
I'll climb that rainbow to a world beyond, Where my heart will learn to sing.
And I will come to see tomorrow.
I can flow.
I can go endlessly.
If I find my peck of courage in time and space,
I will start walking again.
KINTARO PREARRANGES BIDDING
YAMATO CONSTRUCTION
Father.
Yeah.
Are you well? I'm always thinking of you, Takako.
I have a favor to ask of you.
I've never asked you for anything before.
I know. What is it?
Please don't destroy Yajima Kintaro's dreams.
- Have you fallen in love with Kintaro? - Maybe.
Can you keep your feelings under control?
If you can't , it's going to be painful.
Don't worry.
I'll be OK.
How has Kintaro been getting on?
He's been working hard in Sales.
TABE CONSTRUCTION This is the work of the Civic Hall.
The city is going to send out an order next week.
Your company, Tabe Construction, is also on the list of nominees.
I'd be really grateful if you'd see things in a positive light.
How long has it been since you came here, newcomer?
It's been a month.
I only wish we had someone like you in our company.
It's a shame.
OK.
OZAKI CONSTRUCTION (LTD) You can't be serious.
Where did you get this information from?
Please!
SUEKICHI BUILDING FIRM We'll give a clear answer at the meeting.
But how could a new kid on the block like you get an opportunity like this?
Please!
You will subcontract to us, won't you?
YAMATO CONSTRUCTION
Hokuto Construction is taking 70%
of the public enterprises contracts in the city at the moment.
And they subcontract the work to outsiders after deducting their profit.
They're not capable of constructing anything themselves.
The company's maintained a high rate of growth
over the past seven years without taking any risks.
They shut all major construction companies out of the city and don't consult with any of us.
They justify themselves by saying that they distribute the work to local companies.
It's those companies made up of ex-bureaucrats, which are all too common.
G...go on.
Kuramoto Ichiro, former Deputy Mayor of Kahoku City, is the President,
and all the executives used to be city officials.
They're also backed up by a big name politician, Yamagane Koshiro.
Hokuto Construction won't keep quiet if our company tries to muscle in.
We'll have a head-on clash with the bureaucracy.
What were you thinking of, Handa?
It was because Hokuto Construction wasn't going to be involved this time.
That's no reason why you should let a major company like Yamato get the work!
Well, Manager Ishiguro, it's too late now.
B...but Deputy Mayor, no, I mean, Mr. President.
I'm not going to put up with this.
We, at Hokuto Construction, have finally managed to cut out all the major companies.
It took us seven years.
I don't want to see our strategy taken apart.
Aren't I right, Planning Department Manager Handa?
Let's get it into their thick skulls,
what happens when they defy bureaucracy.
That's not a bad idea.
The meeting for the tender is tomorrow, isn't it, Kin-chan?
Yeah.
I'm sure I'm going to get the contract.
You bet.
Thanks.
Now, let's begin this meeting concerning the construction work at the Civic Hall.
I'm sure we'll come to an agreement easily this time...
...as one of us has got a head start.
I'm Yajima Kintaro from Yamato Construction.
My company helped with the estimate,
as Planning Department Manager Handa himself requested me to provide one.
We also intend to help with supplementation of the plan.
We know all that needs to be known about this construction work.
So I flatter myself into thinking that the City Office is well on the way,
to handing us the contract.
OK, you've put us in the picture.
I'll back out.
OK.
It seems like you were one step ahead of the game.
So I'm happy to take the money, if that's OK with you.
That's what's called a bid-rigging bribe, isn't it?
Hey, hey, you don't need to spell it out.
Times are tough.
I'm asking you to agree to a penalty clause of no more than 3% for breach of contract.
I'm asking you!
You're quick on the uptake!
Mr. Igo has found a good one to succeed him.
Excuse me.
Oh, Shibahata Building Firm. What's your problem?
My company hasn't been nominated by the City Office in the past year.
Could you please let us take the work?
To be blunt, going without city work for a year,
has put us under a considerable financial strain.
Would you please, as a friendly gesture, let us take the contract?
No.
This tender indicates our seriousness about winning contracts in Kahoku City.
I cannot let this opportunity pass, no matter what.
Oh.
Are you saying this, knowing how things are in Kahoku City, Yamato Construction?
Hokuto Construction has no intention of surrendering city work to a major company,
who has their head office in Tokyo, like yours.
Hey, hang on a second, Shibahata Building Firm.
Are you backed up by Hokuto Construction?
Yes, we are.
You're going to antagonize the people at City Hall.
Excuse me, Sub-chief.
We've just been faxed emergency personnel changes from Head Office.
President Kurokawa is appointing himself Acting Deputy Chief of the branch.
Oh, so we're going for it.
What?
We're going to be starting a war in the Tohoku District.
You don't want to fall out with Hokuto Construction, do you?
I don't care.
I don't know if this bid-rigging is right or not.
I won't particularly criticize the way you've been doing things for several decades.
But I'm sticking to my position.
I'm not going to surrender.
And my position is the position of Yamato!
Take it easy, Kintaro!
Yeah, you'd better back off.
If Hokuto Construction is supporting them, you've got zero options.
Do you really understand what you're dealing with?
The very reason I'm doing this is because I understand it.
Free competition is the basis on which the Japanese economy is built, isn't it?
There's nothing unfair in what I'm doing.
I've got nothing to be ashamed of.
Can your people say as much?
So, you don't mind me saying what you said to Hokuto Construction, do you?
Tell them what you want. And that isn't all.
Tell them this too.
Don't get too swollen-headed, you leeches of public money!
Just 'cos you've got the bureaucrats in cahoots!
Taking the lion's share of everything.
You'd better realize you're lucky somebody doesn't come along,
and wipe you all out with a machine gun, you bastards!
It seems like the bid-rigging has broken down.
In this case, we need to organize a proper tender.
Then you'll have nothing to complain about.
Hey, what's with this guy?!
What?
He didn't give up when you mentioned the name Hokuto!
Who do you think you're dealing with?
You won't know what's hit you, Yamato Construction!
The bid-rigging's broken down and the negotiations over the work at the Civic Hall
appear to have turned into a gunfight.
Interesting.
Are you and President Kurokawa
happy to leave 3000 employees homeless and destitute or not?
I'll hold off and see what happens next.
KAHOKU STATION
Kahoku.
- Thank you! - Thank you for coming!
Thank you for coming!
Thank you for going to the trouble of coming to meet me.
You must be Miss Aoba from the Sales Department.
Y...yes.
Will you get into our car?
Thank you.
Salarymen need to have dreams, you know.
Is that so?
There's more to this war than meets the eye, aren't I right, Mr. Kurokawa?
You got it.
You give Kintaro a free hand at City Hall.
If our company can't stand up to the competition,
I'd rather go down with the company sooner than later.
- Yajima! - Yes?
What did you say at the meeting yesterday?
Only that everything was fair and above board.
Don't be stupid! I just got a phone call from Hokuto.
I heard you said that your position is Yamato's position!
They're furious!
Their company is our competitor, right?
They're not bureaucrats themselves. How come they're furious?
I'm going to the Design Department.
You need to wise up!
That's Yajima.
I heard that he's the favorite with both the President and the Chairman.
That must be why he's so high-handed.
What a company, letting someone like him wreak havoc in its business.
DESIGN AND ESTIMATE DEPARTMENT
Have you heard about the tender for the Civic Hall?
Yeah, what are we going to do?
We're up against Hokuto Construction.
Hello!
How's the estimate going?
We don't have much time. Will you please get it done ASAP?
We've got the edge on the other companies.
There's no way we can lose this time.
Please give us something concrete urgently.
There's nothing concrete with a tender, especially when it's turned into a gunfight.
I know.
That's why it needs to look like a must-have...
Don't talk rubbish!
You're the only one wanting to run headlong into this!
No one else in Yamato is happy about what you're getting us into!
Are you that afraid of Hokuto Construction?
Wise guy!
We're part of a company.
Do you think a salaryman works alone?
No one trusts a loner.
Can I sit here?
Yes, please do.
I'm Okamoto from the Design and Estimate Department.
I'm Yajima.
Do you play golf?
No.
I play golf, but I prefer playing baseball.
Like everyone else.
- Do you know why? - No.
When I shoot a low score at golf, I'm only making myself happy.
But when I play well at baseball, I'm nine times happier.
Do you mean being a salaryman is like playing baseball?
Exactly. You're a salesman, so you've never learnt how to estimate.
You can't draw up an estimate for a successful bid, can you?
You're right, being a salaryman is like playing baseball, you can't play on your own.
You want to play baseball, don't you?
Yes.
What I want to say is that you're trying to win the match on your own.
Why don't you turn this branch into your team?
You're the only one wanting to run headlong into this!
No one else in Yamato is happy about what you're getting us into!
Do you think a salaryman works alone?
You're trying to win the match on your own.
Fire! Fire!
Where's the fire?
It looks like it's over at the school!
My God!
It seems like the fire started in Meiwa Kindergarten.
Meiwa Kindergarten... Ryu! Ryu!
Keep going!
Keep the kids further away!
- Are you alright? - Are all the children safe?
Keep going!
Keep running! Get further away!
Ryu! Ryu! Where are you, Ryu? Ryu!
Are there any children left inside?
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Is Ryuta still inside?
Probably.
What? I'm coming Ryu!
Don't ! The fire engines are here!
You're going to die with them!
Ryu!
Where are you Ryu? Answer me!
Papa!
Where are you? Where are you, Ryu?
Papa! Papa! I'm here!
Ryu! Ryu!
Papa! Papa!
Good, good, you're safe! You're alright now.
Cover your mouth with this. Don't take it off, no matter what!
- Let's go! - Papa, Chie and Yoshi are upstairs.
What?
I'll check upstairs. Stay here and don't move.
You can't get out of here by yourself. Be patient and wait for me.
But it's hard to breathe.
You're my boy, you can do it. I'll be back, I promise.
Cover your mouth well.
Ryu, if we die, we die together. Papa will die with you.
Shit!
Papa.
Hello? Is anyone there?
Kid, are you OK?
Are you OK? Good, good.
- Are you on your own? - Papa, papa's upstairs.
Upstairs?
Hello? Father upstairs!
I'll take care of your son! Do you hear me?
Damn!
Oh, Ryu-chan! Ryu-chan!
Aunty!
Ryu-chan!
- Any more? - At least three upstairs.
What?
- Are you alright? - You made it, young man!
He's amazing!
Hey! Where are you going?
My son is still on the ground floor!
I can still make it! Let me go!
Your son's already been rescued.
What?
Papa!
Ryu!
- Ryuta, Ryuta! - Papa!
Papa!
- Morning. - Getting quite cold, isn't it?
Please!
I beg you!
Please everyone. Please!
What's this? Let me through!
A salaryman can't work alone.
Please! Please let me take on this work.
Kintaro!
Mr. Okamoto.
Kintaro, you're...
As you said, being a salaryman is like playing baseball.
I need to make this company my team.
Have you been asking employees one by one?
Yes, I couldn't think of any other way to do it.
Will you please?
Please let me do this work!
You don't need to hang your head, Yajima.
- Is this...? - Yeah, you made the headlines.
I've seen that, too.
Me too.
You certainly don't need to grovel on the ground.
You're totally awesome!
The Design Department's putting everything it's got into the estimate for the Civil Hall.
You really got through to me.
Life's not just a profit and loss account.
Leave it to me. I'll give it my best shot to provide the perfect estimate.
- Me too! - And me!
All of us will do our best!
- Good luck! - Good luck, Kin-chan!
Good luck!
Don't get beaten!
Thank you very much!
After climbing up a long road,
The lights of the city flicker in the distance.
I realize why I look up at the sky,
And the dream I had that day comes into my mind.
I've kept searching for what never changes, And I've reached my goal at last.
It's you, in my arms, That will change everything in heaven.
We'll start walking together, Our long way journey to heaven.
As long as it's true that we're together again, I don't need anything else in heaven.