Inspector Imanishi Investigates

The movie theater you inquired about is the Asahi Theater. The owner is Tadokoro Ichinosuke, 49 years old. We asked Tadokoro-san to check with his employees, but none of them had met or talked with the person in question. On the day you indicated, the theater did show the two movies you mentioned, previews of the next week’s films, and the preannouncement of The Road of the Century. There were no other short films or PR films shown. Tadokoro-san said he does not remember meeting Miki-san that day.

Tadokoro-san has lived in Ise City for some time. He is a self-made man who started out as an employee in a movie theater. He was born in xx Village near Nihonmatsu City in Fukushima Prefecture. He has lived in our city since he left home at a young age and settled here. He has one son and one daughter.

It seemed that Miki’s two visits to the movie theater had not been to meet anyone. Then was the reason hidden in those four films, after all? It couldn’t be. But Miki must have seen something. Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to go there twice, or for him to change his travel plans and go to Tokyo. What was it that had beckoned him to Tokyo?

Imanishi was also concerned about the house that had been visited by the door-to-door peddlers. He wondered if he should go there to check it out himself. The two peddlers had started to feel sick to their stomachs in the entryway. Yet nothing had happened to the policeman. Imanishi saw a problem in his going there himself. If he did, his face would become known. He did not want to show his face for a while yet, nor Yoshimura’s either.

Imanishi’s mind was getting cluttered. It was just about the end of the workday. He tidied up the top of his desk.

It was dark when he stepped outdoors. The lights of the streetcars and the headlights of the cars glared brightly. Several darkened silhouettes walked toward him.

“Hi,” someone called out. It was a group from the security section.

Imanishi recognized them. “Thanks for your hard work,” he said. “It must be tough, day after day.”

“It’s only another two or three days,” the other fellow said, smiling.

Tokyo was in the midst of a political reshuffling. The cabinet had resigned en masse, and a new cabinet was about to be formed. The men from the security section had been assigned to guard the prime minister’s residence.

The next morning Imanishi read his newspaper in bed. On the front page was the lineup of the new cabinet. The newspapers had been full of this news for a while, but the new cabinet had just been confirmed late the previous night. Imanishi picked out one of the names printed in large characters: “Agriculture and Forestry Minister: Tadokoro Shigeyoshi (Fukushima Prefecture representative, 6th term; 61 years old).”

This was the first time that Imanishi had realized that Tadokoro Shigeyoshi’s district was Fukushima Prefecture. He continued to stare at the print.

“Dear.” Yoshiko’s voice came through the sliding doors. “You’d better get up soon. It’s time.”

Imanishi put down the newspaper. Whether a new cabinet was formed or the opposition gained power, it had nothing to do with lower-level civil servants like Imanishi. He rose and washed his face. As he brushed his teeth he could smell miso soup and scallions.

During breakfast Yoshiko talked to him, but he did not even respond. In glum silence, he was not really listening, he was just eating. He muttered to himself… So Tadokoro Shigeyoshi was from Fukushima Prefecture.

“Fukushima Prefecture… Wait a minute.” Imanishi cocked his head to one side. Something sounded familiar about that location.

“Did you sleep on your neck wrong?” Yoshiko asked from across the table, seeing him cock his head.

Imanishi remained silent.

“Oh, that’s it.” He put down his teacup. The owner of that movie theater in Ise was from Fukushima Prefecture, too.

The residence of the new minister of agriculture and forestry was located on a rise in the Azabu area. That evening, Tadokoro Shigeyoshi, still in his cutaway, was accepting the congratulations of his family and followers after returning from the cabinet swearing-in ceremony. He had an impressive head of white hair and an upright bearing. His healthy face was continually smiling. This was his second time as a cabinet minister, but he seemed to find pleasure in the occasion.

Because of the arrival of so many well-wishers, it was nearly nine o’clock before he could take a rest. He moved to the dining table where his wife had laid out a congratulatory dinner. The inner circle had gathered to toast the occasion.

Tadokoro Sachiko had been helping her mother, but when Waga Eiryo arrived, she turned her attention to him.

“Congratulations,” Waga said as he bowed to his future father-in-law.

“Thank you.” Tadokoro narrowed his eyes. He was in a good mood. “Please, everyone, sit down.”

Tadokoro’s younger brother and his wife, his wife’s niece, and Sachiko’s younger brothers all sat down with them at the table. Tadokoro sat at the head of the table with his wife beside him. Waga and Sachiko sat across from the new cabinet minister and his wife. On the table were impressive dishes catered from a first-class restaurant. The only nonfamily member was Tadokoro’s private secretary.

“Does everyone have some wine?” Tadokoro’s wife asked, looking around the table. “Let’s toast Father.” Her face was the most excited.

“Father, congratulations.”

“Congratulations, Uncle.”

The way those at the table referred to the man varied, but their glasses were all raised to eye level.

“Thank you.” The new minister beamed with joy.

“Father, please do the best you can,” Sachiko said from across the table in a loud voice after everyone had taken a sip of wine.

“I’ll try.”

The newspapers said that it was rumored that the post of minister of agriculture and forestry was not what Tadokoro had hoped for, but the man still seemed to be in good spirits.

This small dinner party started off full of laughter.

Tonight, Waga wore a charcoal gray suit with white pinstripes, a bright white dress shirt, and a burgundy- colored necktie with a black design. He wore his fashionable clothes well, and his good looks complimented the luxuriously dressed men and women at the table. Beside him sat Sachiko in a crimson dress and a white orchid corsage.

Gazing at the couple sitting across the table, Tadokoro smiled and whispered to his wife, “Tonight seems more like a wedding party for the young couple than a celebration for me.”

About halfway through this enjoyable meal, the maid came to Sachiko and, in a low voice, announced some visitors. Sachiko gave the message to Waga, who looked across at Tadokoro.

“What is it?” her father asked Sachiko.

“Some members of Waga-san’s group have come to give you their congratulations. It’s Sekigawa-san, Takebe-san, and Katazawa- san.”

“Well, that’s thoughtful of them,” the minister said affably. “Sachiko, you know them, too?”

“Yes, I see them all the time. When Waga-san was in the hospital after his accident, they came to visit him.”

“So the Nouveau group has a strong sense of duty.” Tadokoro smiled.

“Why don’t you show them into the living room?” his wife said.

“Why not have them come here? They’re not official guests, so it will be more informal if we invite them in here.”

The table was large enough to accommodate the extra guests. Mrs. Tadokoro ordered the maid to bring three more place settings at once. The young men, with Sekigawa in the lead, entered the room, guided by a maid. Seeing the gathering, they hesitated a bit, puzzled as to what they should do. Waga stood up and smiled at his friends.

“Congratulations on your new appointment.” The newcomers greeted their host and bowed.

Tadokoro pushed his chair back and stood up. “Thank you for being so courteous.”