Between 1945 and 1951, currency was issued by the occupying Allied Forces. There were notes between 5 sen (100 sen = 1 yen) and 1000 yen. By the late 50s, notes below 500 yen were mostly replaced by coins, and 5000 and 10000 yen notes were introduced.
In 1948, were Drunken Angel is set, the average first salary for a college graduate was 2900 yen/month.
You could buy a loaf of bread for 6.24 yen, 10 kg of rice for 200 yen, a pencil for 5 yen.
Average rent was 180~380 yen (Tokyo), movie theater admission: 40 yen.
Cigarettes were expensive: 60 yen/pack, as was beer: 160 yen/bottle, butter: 100 yen/200g, mayonnaise: 200 yen/bottle.
A simple meal, like a bowl of noodles, cost 20 yen.
That gives us a lot of options for bills to throw around.
In 1963, the average first salary was about 20000 yen.
The kidnapper demands 30 million yen, an amount which Gondo planned to use as "down payment" for the 15% or so of stock he needs to reach 51%. So 30 million is not nearly enough to take over the whole firm. The whole company is probably worth 20~30 times that much.
If I remember correctly, the kidnapper in "High and Low" specifies the bills he wants: 1000, 5000 and 10000 yen bills.
It shouldn't be too difficult to fit these into the suitcases.
"Your money's no good here, Mr. Torrance." - Lloyd
reply
share
Suzume-san
16 years ago
Thanks, Thilo, that's really helpful. And yes, you're right about the takeover bid, careless of me.
The moment when Gondo pushes the cases out of the lavatory window is really powerful; our admiration for him increases tenfold. Great acting, and directing.
Kambei of the Gormful Gumi.
reply
share