Awake
In terms of status, the reason Sakurai Norika could keep Yamamoto Takeo in line and make this fine man bow his head for a meager salary was not because she was young and beautiful, able to rely on her makeup-enhanced looks to do whatever she wanted. Nor was it because she surpassed others in education and work ability, making them naturally submit to her and bow at her feet.
The fundamental reason—or rather, the source of her confidence—did not come from Sakurai Norika herself. It came from the fact that her family, and even her entire clan, were more powerful, influential, and wealthy than Yamamoto Takeo's.
Competing over one's father and mother, one's grandfather and grandmother—this rule was widely accepted in Japan.
Someone might shout, "My dad is **!"
And he might really get away with it.
Japan's social classes were more rigidly entrenched than India's caste system. For ordinary people at the bottom, rising above their station was harder than climbing to heaven.
Whoever had powerful ancestors, generations of nobles or samurai lords, or a terrifying family or clan background was truly formidable. And if they possessed imperial blood, they were even more untouchable.
As for what the person themselves was actually like, that could be built up with resources and connections. That was how the children of poor families played the game: spend money, spend more money, then spend even more money—proper yen players.
Even if they fell into ruin, they could still bask in their ancestors' glory when looking for a new job, effortlessly pushing aside all the other nameless nobodies.
The truly powerful families were even more straightforward. They simply changed the rules of the game and cheated, saving themselves even the need to spend money. They seized control of the state, held noble titles,