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e Industrial Facilities Corporation； a bureaucratic management foundation or eidan； shortly before the war broke out and he was called into service。
It did not take him long to catch on。 Because MacArthur had been advised to choose an indirect occupation…that is； working through the existing Japanese government instead of doing away with it entirely…the shrewd ministers of the bureaucracy found a way to protect themselves： menju fukuhai。 Okuda explained this to Nangi soon after he had been on the job long enough to have impressed his superiors with his skills and to have gained their trust。
〃What we continue to do each day；〃 the vice…minister said； standing in the center of his small office； 〃is to follow the American orders so long as they are looking； then reversing them in the belly when they can no longer see what we do。〃
And； as Okuda told Nangi； the bureaucracy had already passed its first crisis point。 〃One day Minister Hoshijima called me into his office。 You could see just how agitated he was。 He was pacing back and forth； back and forth。 'Okuda…san；' he said to me； 'MacArthur is threatening to go to the people and have them ratify this new foreign document…what the Americans call a constitution。' He turned to look at me。 'Do you know what that would mean？ We cannot allow the public direct participation in government if we are to keep our absolute power。 A plebiscite would be the beginning of the end for us。 We must all gather our power now and push for an immediate acceptance of the MacArthur constitution。'〃
Okuda was smiling now。 〃And it was done； Nangi…san； in just this way。〃
In the months ahead； it became plain to Nangi that the fate of Japanese bureaucracy had been set forever。 For one thing； the country's desperate need for economic recovery made it imperative that the legion of bureaucrats be expanded。 For another； the political leaders who filtered through SCAP's erratic and； to the Japanese anyway； illogical system were totally inpetent。 The occupation forces had returned to power many politicians who had not worked in over twenty years。 Time and again； Nangi would confront cabinet ministers who were forced to bring with them their vice…ministers； whom they turned to for answers to almost every question put to them。
Too； it became manifestly clear to him just how little power resided in the Diet。 It was at Nangi's own ministry where policy was hammered out and only then presented to the legislature for ratification。
In his new position Nangi was put in charge of carrying out many of MCI's policies that his vice…minister was far too busy to oversee himself。 One of these was mining manufacturing。
Morozumi Mining was only one of many fledgling panies in need of total restructuring that came under his purview。 Almost all the senior executives had been purged and subsequently tried as class A war criminals since Morozumi had been revamped during the mid forties； being one of the leading producers of tri…nitrotoluene for the war effort。 Its then standing director had been awarded several medals in 1944 from Tojo himself for the pany's high levels of production。
But Morozumi was too well run to destroy entirely； and after the SCAP tribunal stripped the tree of all its boughs； it asked MCI to restaff the konzern。 This Nangi was delighted to do since he was able to install Seiichi as production chief； a job which； in better times； might have been suspect for a young man just turned eighteen。 But Seiichi was exceptionally bright and well schooled。 Further； instinct had taught him how to act with men his elder； and thus his appointment passed without a ripple of protest from the vice…minister's office。
With the money they had received from the T'ang Dynasty cups Oba…chama had given them…even in the worst of times there are those enterprising few on the lookout for treasures…the two men had managed to rent a fair…sized apartment in Tokyo。 Sato knew that his friend hated to give up such treasures； Nangi had fallen in love with the antique cups at the moment Oba…chama had first shown them to him。 But they had had no choice。
As soon as they had a little money； Nangi had sent Seiichi to fetch Oba…chama。 Her daughter had died shortly after Nangi had brought Sato home。 And though she loved her little house in quiet Kyoto； age was making a solitary life more and more difficult for her。
One evening early in 1949 Nangi returned to the apartment somewhat early。 As always； Oba…chama opened the door。 She hurried to make tea； ignoring his protestations。 With the tiny cups she brought out three freshly made rice cakes； a special treat in those times。
Nangi watched her distractedly as she went through the delicate tea ceremony； and when the pale green froth was at just the right thickness she withdrew the whisk and offered him the cup。 When she had made her own and had taken her first sip； she judged the silence to have proceeded long enough without her intervention。
〃If you have pain in your legs I will get your pills。〃 Age had made her more outspoken。 In any case she saw no shame in soothing away hurts inflicted by the war。 She was grateful that he； at least； had been spared as her Gotaro…chan； her daughter； and her son…in…law had not。
〃My legs are no better or worse； Oba…chama。〃
Outside； the sounds of traffic ebbed and flowed as the convoys of military transports supervised by the Occupation Forces ran true to schedule。
〃Then what is troubling you； my son？〃
Nangi looked up at her。 〃It's the ministry。 I work very hard； and I know my ideas are forward thinking and innovative。 And yet there seems no hope of advancement。 Obi…san； who is younger than I am by more than a year and is nowhere near as quick and knowledgeable； has already been promoted to bureau chief。 His sotomawari； his going around the track； as these series of postings are called； has already begun on the elite course。〃
Nangi closed his eyes in an attempt to hold back the tears pearling there。 〃It is unfair； Oba…chama。 I work longer hours than most。 I e up with the solutions to problems。 The vice…minister uses me when he's stuck for an answer but he never invites me out to drink after work； he never confides in me。 I am an outcast in my own bureau。〃
〃This Obi…san；〃 the old woman said； sitting like a Buddha； 〃he graduated from Todai as did your vice…minister； is that correct？〃
Nangi nodded his head。
〃And you； my son； what university did you graduate from？〃
〃Keio； Oba…chama。〃
〃Ah。〃 Oba…chama nodded as if he had provided her with the key to the Rosetta Stone。 〃That explains it then。 You are not of their faction。 Do you so soon forget the history； of which my grandson is never loathe to tell me you are a sensei？ Always the samurai…bureaucrat's position depended on Imperial appointment； not on performance。〃 She took another sip of her tea。 〃Why should it be any different today？ Do you think any iteki…barbarian… interference can change us that much？〃
She snorted in derision。 〃But you； my son； must learn to work within the system。〃
〃I'm doing the best I can；〃 Nangi said with an edge to his voice。 〃But I cannot swim against a tide。 Keio is not a well…known university。 I know of only one other man in the min