Ikebukuro West Gate Park (池袋ウエストゲートパーク)

"Majima Produce"

"This is a work of fiction. The characters, organizations, and names herein are fictitious, and bear no relation to existing entities."

Even though we Japanese live in this country with all its problems,

"Ikebukuro Chinatown Declaration"

Even though we Japanese live in this country with all its problems,

perhaps we're blessed?

I'd never thought about that before.

But ever since that case, it's been known to cross my mind.

This time, it's that kind of story.

As you can see, everyone is enthusiastic about this declaration!

Here in Ikebukuro, there are currently over 200 Chinese shops.

The shopkeepers have come together

to declare their vision for Tokyo's new Chinatown.

You're kidding me!

They won't join the Shopkeeper Association,

and the way they put out their trash is half-assed.

I am firmly against this Chinatown!

You're the one who always says "Quit complaining and get to work."

I am working!

She can hear me?

You must be Makoto Majima- san ?

I have a bit of a favor to ask.

"Ikebukuro West Gate Park"

Majima- san , you're the only person in several years who could tell I'm Chinese.

My name is Lin Gaotai.

I'm an advisor for technical intern trainees who come here from China to work.

Technical intern training?

I was introduced to Takashi Andou- san .

He said there's someone who knows this town's underworld the best,

and who will act not for money, but for justice.

That would be you, Majima- san .

I have no clue where this is going.

A girl has gone missing.

Guo Shungui, age 19.

She's a technical intern trainee who works in an Ibaraki Prefecture sewing factory.

I want you to track her down within a week's time.

You know, it's weird, how perfect your Japanese is.

Pardon me for that. Please, call me Lin.

Okay, Lin. This is all so sudden, I'm mixed up.

Majima- san --

You can call me Makoto.

All right, Makoto.

This really isn't easy for me to say.

In one week,

the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare will inspect the sewing factory.

If Guo isn't there at that time, it will cause a big problem.

What big problem?

She and her trainee peers will be forcibly deported as a penalty.

What's up with that? She's the one who's gone missing.

Even so, honest, hard-working trainees will still be deported.

There about 250 of them.

Two hundred fifty...!

There are many subtle differences between China and Japan.

Two hundred fifty, over just one person...

"Guaranteed monthly income of ¥200,000. Work in Tokyo.

Fellow countrymen welcome. --Donglong"

This Donglong is a Chinese organization in Ikebukuro.

Organization?

Trainees go nowhere but the factory and their dormitories.

This flyer was distributed at a convenience store near the dorm,

so I don't think anyone else had any contact with Guo.

Want to go have some lunch?

You can fill me in further.

Gladly, Majima- san .

Call me whatever you want.

"Nao Homemade noodles"

Japanese ramen truly is delicious.

I especially enjoy this soy sauce ramen.

I don't know much about it, but don't technical intern trainees from overseas

have to do difficult, dirty, and dangerous work?

By Japanese standards, yes.

These days, Chinese urbanites probably couldn't stand it either.

Most of the Chinese tourists who come to Japan are similar to Japanese citizens.

But those from rural areas are different.

While the cost of living is lower there, a farmer's average annual income

is still no more than several dozen thousand Japanese yen.

Annual income?!

Yes, and that's why there are many like Guo who frantically study Japanese,

so they can beat the fierce competition to be chosen as trainees and come to Japan.

They bet on the dream of Japan, the Golden Land.

If they do that difficult, dirty, and dangerous work here for three hard years,

they can earn 3,000,000 yen.

That's equivalent to a poor farmer's lifetime earnings.

Lifetime earnings...

She is from Henan Province.

That region is said to be a symbol of China's social inequality.

They are the same as water.

No matter how much economic development the country strives toward,

no matter what measures the government tries to take,

they end up slipping through the cracks, like water between fingers.

That is the poverty of China.

She looks kind of angry.

That face of hers is one of sickness.

The incurable illness called poverty.

Pay up!

We've told you time and again! No protection money for you!

You owe us for the door!

If you don't pay, we'll do this!

You better not disrespect Donglong!

Hey, knock it off!

Who're you?!

Please stay out of this, Makoto- san !

We can handle these punks alone!

You guys are with Donglong?

So what if we are?!

Haven't you ever heard the term "cultural standard"?

Whatever that's supposed to mean!

Ow!

Get lost, before I get serious.

--Just you wait! --You better watch out!

Don't you leave here!

Lin...

You know kung fu?

Only a basic knowledge, Majima- san .

Is anyone hurt?

Takashi?

King!

You came by!

We're all fine!

Makoto, come with me.

Lin, you, too.

I got a call from the boss of the Hidaka Group.

It was information on Donglong.

The Hidaka Group are the people who've long called the shots in Ikebukuro?

Right.

He says the Ikebukuro Chinatown Declaration is a front for Donglong.

What do you mean?

Some Japanese organization is backing Donglong.

All we currently know is, it's somehow connected to the Kansai region.

That organization and Donglong are looking to expand into Ikebukuro.

It was Donglong that devised that declaration.

The Chinese shopkeepers are just being manipulated.

They hardly amount to any real campaign.

Those guys earlier were trying to extort protection money.

Thus does Donglong make money,

and that organization takes some of Donglong's profits.

What the hell are you, anyway?

Merely a trainee advisor.

Ikebukuro is a free town, it refuses no one.

But a sudden shift in the power balance invites chaos.

Are you saying there'll be a war?

Who knows?

We should run these Donglong guys out of town already!

It's the Hidaka Group that will decide that. Not us.

Has the trainee been found?

Not yet. I only just heard about her this morning.

When you make your move, be careful.

Get out.

At least say "see ya," or something.

"Majima Produce"

"Majima Produce"

Are you going to show up here every day like some office worker?

Yes, if you don't mind. Until Guo has been found.

So, where to from here?

If it was a Donglong-related job offer, I think that means the sex industry.

But there's a ton of that to search through in this town...

Get in.

Donglong...

Huh?!

You'll have to be blindfolded until we reach our destination.

Good day, Donglong representative Yang Feng- san .

I am grateful you can spare us some of your valuable time.

I am Lin Gaotai.

You know him?

This is my first time meeting him.

Let us be humble and see what happens.

I'm the child of a Japanese left behind in China after the war.

I understand Japanese spoken at any volume.

A thousand pardons.

Where'd you learn Japanese like that?

You're the Henan Province association's advisor?

Henan Province?

Lin, you're also from--

That's right. I am currently fortunate enough to be an advisor,

but I, too, was originally a drop of falling water.

And you're Makoto Majima.

Your name comes up here and there.

Glad to hear it.

You and I might be dealing with each other for a long time.

We're only after one thing.

Give back Guo! Otherwise...

Aha. So, the Labour Ministry issued a threat.

What's he talking about?

Not long ago, the Foreign Trainee Law was revised.

Now, all the trainees won't get kicked out of the country if one goes missing.

What?

But as ever, there are lots of factories with terrible conditions.

The Labour Ministry is tired of how ineffective the new law is,

and they try to score points by issuing yakuza-like threats

to overly problematic factories.

"If our inspection reveals any issues at all, we're sending everyone back home."

Isn't that right, Mr. Advisor?

Is it true the factory has lots of problems?

Please return Guo Shungui.

I desire nothing else.

I'll only say this once!

The honor of Donglong's leader rests on my shoulders.

I can't simply send a countryman who's relying on us

back to a difficult, dirty, and dangerous labor camp.