Cross-Generation Trust as Deal Currency

“Today, I live in Singapore, a place deeply connected to my father. From the late seventies to the eighties, my father spent half of the year in Singapore. He became an external director of the second largest conglomerate in Singapore, the Hong Leong Group, and engaged in joint investments in Asia. Mr. Quek Hong Pung, the founder of the Hong Leong Group, was my father's best friend. Now I am close with his son, Mr. Quek Leng Beng, as families. When I was arrested in 2006, Japanese weekly magazines rushed to interview Leng Beng. He answered straightforwardly, "Our families have been close since our parents' generation." I was very pleased to hear that.”

“The first was Den Fujita, president of McDonald's Japan. He said immediately after meeting, "You're interesting, a hundred million yen is fine. I'll write you a check right away." Afterward, he frequently contacted me regarding various ventures including venture investments. However, after a while, the contact ceased. I later found out that he had been stricken with a serious illness and passed away without being able to meet him again. I heard that he had expressed a wish to meet me again and regret not being able to visit him.”