Hanzawa reluctantly complies, trusting his boss’s judgment. Three months later, Nishi Osaka Steel declares bankruptcy, and its president, Higashino, disappears. It’s revealed the company was a shell. Hanzawa realizes Asano knew Higashino personally and likely orchestrated the fraud to hide bad loans from Tokyo HQ. Asano blames Hanzawa entirely, demanding he recover the 500 million yen or face career destruction (“batsu”).
Branch Manager Asano Tadasu pressures Hanzawa to approve a massive 500 million yen loan for Nishi Osaka Steel. Hanzawa Naoki Episode 1
Hanzawa’s drive isn't just about professional survival; it's rooted in a tragic past involving his father, which is briefly glimpsed in flashbacks. Hanzawa reluctantly complies, trusting his boss’s judgment
This is the fatal error.