Tribute to Takuro Morinaga: A Life of Passion to the Very End

The Reiwa Depression will inevitably come under Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba

And his final appearance was in October last year (October 18–25 combined issue). The location was the Micro Farm near his home in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture.

On a morning in late September 2024, at 7:30 AM, as he watched the steady growth of vegetables nearing their final harvest—long eggplants, green peppers, and okra—Morinaga left his final warning to the Japanese people. Here is part of that message:

“I don’t believe in the existence of the afterlife. This life is everything. That’s why I was born with nothing and will leave with nothing. For me, realizing that is my way of preparing for the end.”

Morinaga began speaking thoughtfully.

“As part of my advocacy to break free from capitalism’s grip by moving to rural or suburban areas—a concept I call ‘Tokainaka Living’—I started this as a social experiment during the COVID era. To counter capitalism, I rented a 20-tsubo (about 66 square meters) farm, aiming for self-sufficiency in food. The biggest benefit is being able to live without being bound by money.”

The words Investment Addiction printed on his T-shirt were the title of one of his books. It wasn’t a declaration of his own dependency but rather a message against reckless investing—arguing that investment, at its core, is a form of gambling with significant risks when done without a proper plan.

Although he had already sold most of his stock holdings as part of his estate planning, there was one company he continued to hold shares in: Takara Tomy.

“I’m a die-hard Tomica collector, and I want to keep receiving the original Tomica and Licca-chan dolls that come as shareholder benefits (laughs).”

Morinaga spent his life relentlessly pursuing what he truly loved. But at the core of his beliefs, he also had a deep concern for his country—an aspect of him that could be described as patriotic.

On October 1, 2024, during the Prime Minister nomination vote in the National Diet, the newly elected Liberal Democratic Party president, Shigeru Ishiba (67), was chosen as the next Prime Minister.

Morinaga foresaw a dark future ahead.