Wealth can twist the dreams of even the most prosperous individuals, and this theme is palpably illustrated in the gripping finale of the show featuring Kouichi Kaburagi (played by Toshiaki Karasawa). The struggles surrounding the Tenkuuji Aina Group culminate following various misdeeds revealed concerning Miki (portrayed by Mari Natsuki), leading to one of the most tumultuous moments yet. With the share price of Aina Group nosediving, the stakes rose dramatically for all involved.
Minamino (Kenji Uesugi), the managing director of Tokukawa Bank, faced with the plummeting stocks and mounting concerns about the Aina Group's credibility, made the harsh call to demand immediate repayment of loans—a staggering total of 100.5 billion yen. The irony of wealth controlling wealth was underscored by how, regardless of the size of one's assets, cash became increasingly elusive. Kouichi's attempts to preserve his family's fortune turned out to be a Sisyphean task as he found himself ensnared by the consequences of his family's actions.
Throughout this turmoil, Miki sought assistance from her family, but her pleas were met with indifference from Tsutomu (Junpei Yasui), Saori (Anna Tsuchiya), and Akira (Yuta Yoshida). It was then when she found unexpected support from the very private banker, Kouichi. His gesture of kindness during her time of distress led to pivotal decisions as the family finally recognized the gravity of their situation.
The crux of the matter revolved around what would happen if Miki could not repay the loans. It was simple yet dire: Aina Group’s stock would flood the market, opening the door for hostile takeovers—an eventuality noticed by the children, who, previously unbothered by the issues at hand, quickly shifted their stance. They realized the familial bonds loosened by financial woes when profits were at stake.
Tsutomu's ingenious networking bore fruit when he introduced Miki to Tsurusaki (Hideo Nakano) of ReXtas Investment, proposing to buy 5% of the Aina Group shares for 100 billion yen. On the surface, it appeared to be the perfect solution. Yet, the tides turned as Kumiko Iida (as played by Mizukawa) and Oribe Shumei (Kaho Minami) conducted investigations, only to discover Tsurusaki’s sinister collaboration with Minamino.
The partnership between Tsurusaki and Minamino involved manipulating stock valuations and harming Aina Group's market reputation through illicit leaks to the media. These illegal activities, intended to weaken the company's standing, shocked the family as they realized the true danger posed by corruption not just to their wealth, but to their very legacy.
Exposing Minamino's unscrupulous actions became Miki's tactical advantage. Her effort bore fruit when she successfully leveraged the situation to negotiate favorable terms, outwitting the very adversaries who once threatened her family's empire. It turned out Minamino had underestimated the resilience of those he sought to unsettle.
Alongside the financial battleground, another significant evolution emerged within the family dynamics. Jouji (Isao Hashizume) resolved to create a public interest foundation aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs, allocating most of his net worth to it. Such decisions, though altruistic on the surface, meant significant consequences for his family: this wealth could no longer be inherited.
By legally designy his donations to the foundation, Jouji not only secured the future of nascent talent but also severed any ties to his legacy—a clear indication of how drastically one’s priorities can shift amid looming financial peril. The message was crystal clear: the quest for wealth may obliterate familial ties, and choices made today can echo somberly through generations to come.
Underneath the glint of wealth lies the backdrop of human complexity—what happens when loyalty meets the bottom line? The statement Kouichi made is reverberated through the tensions explored within the show's course: "wealth may seem to command money, yet often it’s the other way around; money commands its master.”
The narrative of “The Final Episode” deftly captures the intertwined fates of riches, reputation, and family—a microcosm reflective of our society's larger battles over worth and values. It closes not just on the battles won or lost, but on poignant questions about the essence of wealth, loyalty, and what it truly means to protect what we hold dear.