HPDBC Chapter 51 The High Point on December 29th
Chapter 51 The High Point on December 29th
1989 12 Month 29 Day.
Kabutocho, Tokyo, is a stock exchange.
On the huge electronic display screen, crimson numbers were jumping wildly, like a red dragon that had lost control and was soaring into the sky.
At 3 p.m., the closing bell rang.
Freeze.
38915.87 points.
"Long live! Long live!!"
A deafening roar of cheers erupted in the trading hall. Countless hats were tossed into the air, and white trading slips danced in the air like snowflakes.
Champagne corks popped and rattled through the streets. Men in suits huddled together, their faces flushed, shouting their goals for next year—"40,000 points! 50,000 points! Buy the whole world!"
The entire Japanese archipelago is trembling at this moment because of these numbers.
This is not only the highest point in history, but also the last crazy footnote of the Showa era.
In contrast to the bustling scene in Kabutocho, the atmosphere in the VIP room of a foreign bank three blocks away was eerily calm.
Kitahara Shin sat on the dark leather sofa, toying with the silver Zippo in his hand, the cap opening and closing with a crisp "click" sound.
Sitting opposite him was Smith, a blond, blue-eyed American account manager.
Smith held a newly signed financial derivatives contract in his hand, his eyes looking at him like he was crazy, and even his standard professional fake smile was almost crumbling.
"Mr. Kitahara, please allow me to confirm one last time."
Smith spoke in fluent Japanese, his tone filled with disbelief, "Are you sure you want to use all your savings from the past six months—a total of 25 million yen—to buy forward put options on the Nikkei 225 index?"
"The current market sentiment is extremely optimistic, and all analysts believe that the market will break through 40,000 points next year. You are...excuse my bluntness, going against the whole of Japan."
Kitahara Shin stopped fiddling with the lighter.
He raised his head, and his eyes, which were used to playing villains, now revealed a coldness that was clearer than anyone else's.
"Mr. Smith, do you know what happens when a balloon is blown up to its maximum size?"
"It will...explode?"
“That’s right.” Kitahara Shin smiled. “The brighter the colors, the louder the explosions. I’m not trying to go against Japan, I just want to have a few more tickets in my hand when the fireworks are over.”
Buying a house at the peak of the bubble? Only a fool would do that.
Land prices in Tokyo are now ridiculously high. Buying land now, even in what will become affluent areas, will result in significant asset losses during the subsequent years of sharp price declines.
The true hunter is the one who stands on the mountaintop and empties the snow-capped mountain a second before an avalanche.
Twenty-five million yen.
This is all the savings he's accumulated over the past six months, working himself to the bone filming and taking on numerous projects. If he used it to buy a house, it would probably only buy a toilet in Setagaya. But if used as margin for options, with high leverage…
If the Nikkei index begins to plummet next spring as he remembers, this money will become two hundred million, three hundred million, or even more.
That was the foundation he built during the "lost thirty years".
"Alright, since you insist."
Smith shrugged and stamped the document with the bank's official seal. "Good luck. Although I think the odds are smaller than if Godzilla attacked Tokyo tomorrow."
In addition to this betting agreement, Kitahara Shin did one more thing—he converted all of his remaining working capital into US Treasury bonds.
In this turbulent era, only the US dollar is the safest haven.
After completing all this, Kitahara Shin walked out of the bank.
A cold wind, mixed with the noise of the street, swept over us.
As night fell, searchlights from the Ginza direction swept across the clouds, illuminating the night sky as if it were daytime.
On the TV wall by the roadside, news of the Nikkei index hitting a new high was being broadcast on a loop, and every passerby had a flushed face from the surge of adrenaline.
Kitahara Shin stepped aside to let a few drunk office workers pass, and patted the wrinkles on his trench coat.
Just then, a familiar figure was squatting by the flower bed by the roadside, smoking.
Takayama, the team leader of "Yamato Shoji".
Kitahara Shin recognized the figure from behind.
Six months ago, this was the man who held the 80 million yen debt owed by Kanai Toshihiko.
It was he who accepted Kitahara Shin's crazy proposal and provided that fatal evidence, which led to the "Golden Screen" execution that shocked all of Japan.
After that incident, Takayama got his money back with interest, not only covering the losses but also making a fortune. He became completely obedient to Kitahara Shin, his "strategist."
At this moment, this former underground bank boss, beaming, was yelling into the phone: "Buy! Buy it all! Toyota, Sony, real estate—buy whatever's available! I'm going to make back all the money I've ever had in my life!"
Upon seeing Kitahara Shin emerge, Takayama hung up the phone, grinned, and greeted him, revealing a large gold tooth.
"Hey, Kitahara-kun! What, you opened an account too?"
Gao Shan patted his bulging briefcase, which held all his wealth. "Take my advice, getting in now is like picking up money! I just mortgaged all those worthless plots of land I had and went all in!"
Looking at Takayama's excited, slightly red eyes, Kitahara Nobuyuki sighed inwardly.
This is the torrent of the times.
"Team Leader Takayama."
Kitahara Shin stopped and looked at his former "comrade-in-arms." "Is the music copyright for 'Moonlight Society,' which I asked you to inquire about before, still available?"
"Moonlight Club?"
Gao Shan paused for a moment, then slapped his forehead. "Oh, that bankrupt little company. What do you need that stuff for? A bunch of old songs nobody listens to, just a bunch of worthless paper."
"I'm useful. Two million, sell it to me."
Kitahara Shin pulled out the check he had prepared beforehand.
"Two million?" Gao Shan's eyes lit up. In his view, this was money he'd picked up for free, perfect for using to increase his stock holdings.
Without a word, he pulled out the transfer agreement he had wanted to throw away long ago from his bag and shoved it into Kitahara Shin's hand: "Take it! I don't understand your quirks as a big star, but since you're giving me money, I'll gladly accept it."
The transaction is complete.
Gao Shan happily flicked the check, preparing to turn around and rush into the securities company.
"Team leader."
Kitahara Shin suddenly called out to him.
"What's wrong now?"
Keep half in cash.
Kitahara Shin's voice was deep and out of place in the bustling street. "Don't put all your money in. Put at least half of the money you just got from mortgaging the land into a fixed deposit, or convert it into US dollars."
Gao Shan's smile froze.
He looked at Kitahara Shin like he was an idiot: "Brother, are you alright? The market is heading towards 40,000 points, and you want me to keep cash? That's like throwing money away!"
"Do you remember what happened at Jinjing six months ago?"
Kitahara Shin stared into his eyes, his tone calm yet sharp, "Back then, everyone thought he was at the height of his power, and no one believed he would fall. But I said he would be finished, and he was finished."
Gao Shan's facial muscles twitched slightly.
That incident left a deep impression on him. This young actor's judgment of the situation was frighteningly accurate.
"The current market is just like Jinjing back then."
Kitahara Shin pointed to the electronic screen in the distance that was still flashing "38915," and said, "The higher you climb, the more you fall. I just went to the bank and bought put options with all my money."
"You...you're insane?!"
Takayama gasped, his voice trembling. To buy low when everyone in Japan was buying high was practically suicide.
"I'm not crazy. That's all I wanted to say."
Kitahara Shin didn't explain further, tucking the copyright transfer agreement into his pocket. "Consider this a piece of advice for an old friend. Believe it or not."
After saying that, he tightened his collar and turned to walk in the opposite direction from the revelers.
Gao Shan stood still, the check in his hand rustling in the wind.
He watched Kitahara Shin's departing figure, then glanced at the electronic screen that made his blood boil.
Reason told him that Kitahara Shin was talking nonsense.
But the "dead debt crisis" that never happened six months ago, and Kitahara Shin's eyes that seemed to see through everything, were like a thorn stuck in his heart.
"Tch...what bad luck."
Gao Shan cursed and picked up the phone again.
"Hey, the person who placed the order just now... wait a minute."
He hesitated.
That young man has never lost in front of the golden screen. What if he gets it right again this time?
As a seasoned veteran who has survived by walking on the edge of a knife, Gao Shan's greatest strength is that he always leaves himself a way out, even if there is only a one in ten thousand chance of danger.
"never mind."
Gao Shan gritted his teeth, changed his words into the microphone, and said, "Withdraw that 20 million in financing first. I'll just use my own capital to play around... The rest of the money, convert it into US dollars and deposit it. Don't ask why, I'm happy to!"
After hanging up the phone, Gao Shan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Although it hurt to earn less, for some reason, after doing half of what that "mad dog" said, the inexplicable panic in his heart calmed down a lot.
"Kitahara Shin..."
Gao Shan watched the figure disappear into the night and muttered to himself, "I hope you're wrong this time. Otherwise... I'll owe you a huge favor."
……
The end of the street.
Kitahara Shin did not turn around.
He knew Gao Shan would listen. People who climb up from the bottom understand better than those elites sitting in offices what it means to "respect risk."
Holding short-selling contracts in hand, and carrying a future library of hit songs in their arms.
On this last night of the first year of the Heisei era, he had freed himself from the sinking Titanic and boarded the only lifeboat.
"The highest point..."
He took one last look at that crazy world.
Starting tomorrow, this out-of-control train will plunge off the cliff.