Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 358 I am the spokesperson for Governor Ishihara!

The entrance of Hachioji Hospital was unprecedentedly busy, even busier than a vegetable market.

Not only were there nearly a hundred reporters waiting here with their cameras and weapons, waiting for Zhang Chao to appear, but there were also two teams holding banners and shouting at each other.

One team was composed almost entirely of old men over 60 years old. Their slogan was: "Expel Zhang Chao!" Unfortunately, they were too old and had to stop and rest after shouting a few times. They didn't look in good health.

The other team was much more complicated, with both men and women. The youngest looked to be in his early 20s, and the oldest was in his s. The banners had all kinds of messages: "Support urban justice!" "Ishihara step down!" "Kabukicho Cowherd Zhang Chao Support Association!" "Zhang Chao"...

What is more special is that among the leaders of this team is Li Xiaomu, whose tall and thin figure is particularly eye-catching.

The hospital was overwhelmed. Several attempts to persuade the crowd to disperse failed. Instead, more curious people gathered around.

In desperation, the hospital could only send personnel and call the police. Together with the police, they separated the reporters and the demonstrators with movable fences to avoid affecting other people.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the figure that everyone had been waiting for finally appeared under the warm sunshine of early autumn.

I saw him wearing dark casual clothes, sneakers, carrying a large fruit basket, walking towards me alone on the fallen leaves.

Reporters and demonstrators rushed towards Zhang Chao, almost crushing the defense line formed by the hospital and police.

"Zhang Chao-san, are you here to apologize to Governor Ishihara?"

"Is your letter to Governor Ishihara a continuation of your invitation to fight him?"

"What do you most want to say to Governor Ishihara?"

"Will you retract your metaphor of Governor Ishihara being a 'political gigolo'?"

"Governor Ishihara's family has announced that they will not see any visitors. Are you here to put on a show today?"

……

Because of the lessons learned from the past, the reporters sent by major newspapers this time all have relatively good spoken English to avoid miscommunication.

On the contrary, the demonstrators were shouting in Japanese. Although both sides were speaking very loudly, Zhang Chao didn't understand a word.

At this time, Li Xiaomu had an idea. He explained something to the people he brought with him, and then took the lead and shouted loudly: "Support Zhang Chao and oppose 'purification'!"

The team behind him also shouted in accented Chinese: "Support Zhang Chao, oppose 'purification'!"

Now even Zhang Chao's attention was attracted by them. He turned his head and glanced at Li Xiaomu - and following his gaze, many reporters' cameras also aimed at Li Xiaomu and his team.

Li Xiaomu became even more excited upon seeing this, and shouted even more hysterically: "Support Zhang Chao, oppose 'purification'!"

The reason why he shouted this slogan was because when Shintaro Ishihara was the governor of Tokyo, he once proposed an "environmental purification operation", which was mainly aimed at Kabukicho, and the police went there to raid it every few days.

This has had a huge impact on practitioners like Li Xiaomu.

If Ishihara could really be pissed off to death by Zhang Chao, I'm afraid Kabukicho would have to hold a "20% off sale" to celebrate!
Zhang Chao didn't know what "purification" meant, but his impression of Li Xiaomu deepened. This guy's sense of smell is really sharp. In his previous life, he knew that he would run for a seat in the Tokyo district. In this life, he might have to run earlier.

After all, for a person without any political background, today's appearance is already a high-level treatment.

Zhang Chao walked all the way to the entrance of Hachioji Hospital, and suddenly turned around and said to everyone: "Today, I came to visit Governor Ishihara with a heavy heart, and I have a lot to say to Governor Ishihara. Please forgive me for not being able to accept the interview.

The nature of today's visit has changed since I accepted the interview. Thank you for your attention!"

After saying that, he bowed.

Everyone: “…” This morning you left messages at the hospital front desk and at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Do you think we are all fools?
This statement certainly didn't make the reporters disperse, but it did quieten everyone down a bit.

Zhang Chao turned around again and wanted to go into the hospital. He saw the sensor door open and two people walked out. One of them was wearing a white coat, had a serious face and white hair, and looked quite experienced in the hospital.

The other one was wearing a suit, had an angry look on his face, was about 50 years old, and stared at Zhang Chao with unfriendly eyes.

The man in the white coat stepped forward to stop Zhang Chao and said in English: "Mr. Zhang Chao, I am Shinji Ueda, the director of the Department of Neurology at Hachioji Hospital, and Mr. Ishihara's attending physician.

Mr. Ishihara is not available for visitors today, please go back."

The man in the suit shouted provocatively in Japanese.

Zhang Chao ignored the man in the suit and said to Shinji Ueda, "Doctor Ueda, isn't Governor Ishihara awake now? I saw on the news yesterday that the president of the Liberal Democratic Party came to the hospital to visit him."

Shinji Ueda's expression remained serious, and his voice was emotionless: "Although Governor Ishihara has woken up, he is very weak. Yesterday's visit has exhausted him, so he will be closed to visitors recently.

In addition, you are not a relative of Governor Ishihara, and you need the consent of his relatives to visit him."

As he spoke, he slightly leaned towards the man in the suit and continued, "This is Mr. Ishihara's son, Shinaki Ishihara. He also disagrees with you visiting his father today."

The man in the suit yelled something in Japanese again. After hearing it, Ueda Shinji said to Zhang Chao, "Mr. Ishihara Shinaki asked you to leave immediately. So I'm sorry, you have come here for nothing today."

Zhang Chao nodded and said with some regret: "It seems that this is the only way. Can you help me pass this basket of fruit to Governor Ishihara?"

Ueda Shinji looked at Ishihara Shinko in embarrassment, and Ishihara Shinko yelled again. Ueda Shinji could only turn around and say, "Governor Ishihara is in a physical condition and cannot eat fruit. Please take it back."

Zhang Chao immediately turned around and said to the reporters waiting behind him: "As you can see, I had a lot to say to Governor Ishihara, but since his son doesn't allow me to visit him, I have no choice but to say these words to you.

I hope Governor Ishihara can know my sincerity through TV, newspapers, or friends and relatives! "

The reporters burst into laughter.

Shinji Ueda and Shinaki Ishihara: "..." So we are just part of your PLAY, right?
But what needs to be said still needs to be said. Ueda Shinji said to Zhang Chao: "This is a hospital. You will cause great trouble to everyone here..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhang Chao said, "So your hospital should have a conference room or a media interview center, right? Blocking the door like this is really not a solution."

Ueda Shinji: “…”

Ten minutes later, Zhang Chao sat at the head of the largest meeting at Hachioji Hospital, while reporters packed the conference room.

Only then was Zhang Chao satisfied.

If there were no demonstrators, he would have really wanted to conduct the interview by blocking the entrance of Hachioji Hospital.

He had already inquired about it. In Japan, large hospitals like Hachioji Hospital do not have outpatient clinics. They only accept referrals from lower-level hospitals, and the emergency department is not here, so it is equivalent to an extra-large inpatient department.

After we sat down, a reporter couldn't wait to ask, "Mr. Zhang Chao, you just said you have a lot to say to Governor Ishihara. What are they?"

Other reporters also hurriedly asked, "Do you want to apologize to Governor Ishihara?"

"How much responsibility do you feel you bear for Governor Ishihara's stroke?"

……

Zhang Chao grabbed the microphone and waited until the reporters quieted down before saying, "I do want to apologize..."

The reporters exclaimed in surprise. They had done their homework before coming and knew that Zhang Chao was a fearless person both in China and in the United States. Let alone an apology, social death would be the least of his punishment.

Shintaro Ishihara wants to be the first man to make Zhang Chao apologize? Then he is not wronged!
Everyone held their breath and pricked up their ears, not daring to miss a single word Zhang Chao said.

Zhang Chao paused and continued: "Since Governor Ishihara is ill, let me apologize on his behalf to literature, to the citizens of Tokyo, and even to all Japanese people!" "What?" Hundreds of reporters said in unison, looking at Zhang Chao with confusion.

I know that you, Zhang Chao, are good at making trouble, but not like this - not to mention that you are a Chinese writer, so why should you apologize on behalf of a Japanese? Ishihara was so angry at you that he had a stroke, so what qualifications do you have to say such things?

There were many reporters from right-wing media who supported Ishihara at the scene. They immediately questioned: "Governor Ishihara was provoked by you to the point of having a stroke and being hospitalized. You have no guilt at all and are still making outrageous remarks. It's really..."

Zhang Chao remained calm and interrupted the other party, saying, "Governor Ishihara suffered a stroke because of my stimulation. Do you have any evidence?"

The reporter was furious and asked, "You described him as a 'political gigolo'. Wasn't it this insult that made Governor Ishihara so angry that he had a stroke?"

Zhang Chao said curiously: "Governor Ishihara entered the venue after I finished my speech. He may have only heard the last sentence of my speech. How do you know that he had a stroke because of the metaphor of "political cowherd"?

I think there was another reason for his stroke!"

The reporter pressed on, "What a quibble! What a quibble!"

Zhang Chao said calmly, "Governor Ishihara's literary works throughout his life are full of sex and violence, and he is so keen on using sexually symbolic words to describe others. You must know this, right?"

The reporter was speechless. It was a fact known to all Japanese that Ishihara was outspoken. "Mistress" and "castrated dog" were just his recent famous remarks. In his 50-year literary and political career, his vulgar remarks could be compiled into a book.

Zhang Chao chuckled and said, "Why do I say that I can represent Governor Ishihara? Don't you think the metaphor of "political gigolo" is particularly suitable for him? In a sense, although our positions are completely different, I am Governor Ishihara's confidant.

This may be the old saying that goes, "Your enemies are the ones who know you best."

Everyone was speechless, but if you think about it carefully, describing the opponent as a "gigolo" or "male host" is something Ishihara could do.

The reporter was not satisfied and continued to ask: "I have read all your interview records in China, the United States, and Hong Kong, and you almost never use this kind of words.

So you did it on purpose!"

Zhang Chao let out a soft "ah" and asked in confusion: "Really? I haven't even noticed it myself."

The reporter nodded affirmatively and said, "That's true."

Zhang Chao slapped his forehead in sudden realization and said, "There is an old Chinese saying that goes 'Oranges grown in the south of the Huai River are oranges, while those grown in the north of the Huai River are bitter oranges.'" The general meaning is that even if they are both oranges, they taste completely different when grown in different places. One is fragrant and sweet, while the other is bitter and astringent.

Coming to the city governed by Governor Ishihara, my style has also become more ‘Ishihara’. I see…”

reporter:"……"

Zhang Chao said: "So how could Governor Ishihara be defeated by a small metaphor? He fell ill for another reason. After he knew the content of my speech that day, he felt guilty."

The reporters were stunned: "Guilt? Ishihara would feel guilty?"

Zhang Chao ignored everyone's doubts and continued: "Yes, guilt. Do you remember the theme of my speech? "World literature is losing Tokyo."

As a writer and the governor of Tokyo, Mr. Ishihara must have felt deeply about this! Otherwise, why would he decide to take office at the last minute? I think he also felt the same way about what I said. "

So he wanted to go on stage and apologize out of guilt towards literature, the citizens of Tokyo, and the Japanese people.

I didn't expect that because the regret was too strong, the heart and brain blood vessels could not bear it, so it broke before the apology came out. This is the most reasonable explanation for Governor Ishihara's illness!

He did not fall for personal grudges, but for his political career, for his city, and for his country!
Although Governor Ishihara's body has collapsed, he has stood up again with the courage to admit his mistakes and take responsibility! "

Reporters: “…” Okay, okay, you said all the good and bad things.

It's obvious that Zhang Chao's words are all fallacies, but they are all from the perspective of "praising" Shintaro Ishihara. Even though you know that he is being sarcastic, it's hard to find an angle to refute him.

Even reporters from right-wing media were speechless and dared not speak nonsense anymore, for fear of being misled by Zhang Chao again.

At this time, a reporter from the Asahi Shimbun timidly asked, "Then...then tell me what you want to apologize for on behalf of Governor Ishihara?"

Zhang Chao said righteously: "As the spokesperson who knows Governor Ishihara best, I think I should first apologize to the literature that Governor Ishihara insulted.

Like me, Governor Ishihara debuted as a writer. However, at the age of 24, after winning the Akutagawa Prize with Season of the Sun, he embarked on a path that ran counter to the spirit of literature.

What is literature? Literature can be great or trivial, sacred or vile, grand or trivial, sublime or insignificant. It can be the gaze and echo of a generation, or the despair and hesitation of a person...

But no matter what, it must be sincere!

The 24-year-old Ishihara portrayed the confusion, loss, pain and helplessness of the "Sun Tribe" in his novel. Although it is full of violence and sex, it has left a classic image in the history of Japanese literature.

But soon, Governor Ishihara discovered the devil hidden in words - they can manipulate people's hearts, seize power, and realize ambitions...

Then he did just that. As a result, everyone can see that “world literature is losing Tokyo”.

Think about it, when those young people who believed in him grew up, they found themselves to be "barren sinners", "eating the waste of the elderly", and "castrated dogs" in Governor Ishihara's grand narrative.

Governor Ishihara certainly felt qualified to say so—not only did he have four children, he even had a child with a high-class hostess in Ginza, Tokyo;
Not only did he not "take advantage of the elderly", he also allowed his son to enter politics, allowing him to become a member of parliament at a young age. I believe he will also run for the governor of Tokyo in the future.
He was indeed not "castrated". He entered politics at an early stage and even became a tycoon among politicians, using his radical political views to show his erection.

But under his rule, Tokyo has been constantly cutting benefits for young people and future generations, throwing them into cubicles in Internet cafes, capsule hotels and 50s-era housing estates.

And what about him? He was sitting in a French restaurant with those "big shots" whom he had hated and criticized in his works, drinking wine as red as blood and eating bloody medium-rare steaks.

The Japanese youth who regarded "Spartan Education" as a guide for male growth had no idea that it was a manifesto for castrating the entire nation;
The false enthusiasm aroused by "Japan Can Say No" is nothing more than the climax of politicians' fantasies under the shadow of the US military presence. This kind of writing that turns national trauma into a political aphrodisiac makes every character smell like money from shrine incense.

This kind of mockery and betrayal of readers is the first sin that Governor Ishihara committed against literature."

Zhang Chao looked around at the reporters seriously. He was tall and sitting in the first seat, which symbolized leadership authority, so his gaze was very oppressive. The reporters dared not breathe and could only listen to him continue in a serious tone:
"This is not the only crime he has committed against literature - literature is a microcosm of a certain moment in history, and history is a mirror that reflects all reality.

You can face it, avoid it, or even try to smash it, but you can never get rid of it. Historical narrative is the most solemn of all literary narratives because its references are so rich and heavy.

But Governor Ishihara has always treated his own historical narrative with a frivolous and arrogant attitude - the film "I Die for You" he supported portrayed the Kamikaze as poets martyred by cherry blossoms, and he glorified the massacre as "necessary punishment" in "Challenge"...

I know that Governor Ishihara received militarist education in old Japan during his youth. What did such education bring to Japan, Asia and the world? History is there and I don't need to repeat it.

It is a deep-seated weakness to be unable to face up to and reflect on the wrong education one received in one's youth, and to try to impose these damaged spiritual imprints on the minds of the new generation.

He was like a patient with an infectious disease. Not only did he refuse treatment, but he also walked out onto the street and spit at every passerby.

Literature became the medium for him to spread the "plague of thought". His actions made the live experiment reports of the invading biological and chemical troops in China seem like pastoral idylls.

This desecration of historical narratives and the use of literature to pollute the spirit is his second sin.”

Zhang Chao’s voice was not loud, but as cold as ice: “So, I must apologize to the future of literature on behalf of Governor Ishihara.

When he used the education budget of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to nurture a gang of historical revisionists, and when he deleted the 300,000 innocent souls in the textbooks and turned them into "unverified legends", this atrocity of using power to tamper with memory made the crematoriums in Auschwitz seem too straightforward.

Mr. Ishihara proved that words can not only kill people, but also embroider a butcher’s apron into a kimono.”

Every word Zhang Chao said was like a knife, cutting through the listener's heart.

Zhang Chao looked at the silent Japanese reporters and smiled harmlessly: "Have you all remembered the apology to literature? Don't worry, there's more to come..."

(End of this chapter)