Chapter 213 - Superstition 3 {3 Alone} (5–6 The Significance of the Old Man Appearing Before Nishida and the Others)
"Regarding the old man who vanished earlier... could it be this person?"
What looked like a file turned out to be an album, and Matsushige was pointing at a person in a certain photo on one of the pages.
Nishida and Yoshimura lifted their hips slightly as they peered into the old-fashioned photo—color, yet aged—to confirm. Both of them instinctively cried out, "Ah!" Hearing this, Matsushige wore a troubled expression and groaned further.
"After all, it was him..."
"Who is this?"
Yoshimura asked impatiently.
"This person is... Mizukami Kisaku-san. He was an early member of the Jomon Tunnel Research Group. I believe he passed away nearly twenty years ago... around Showa 57 (1982), I think... Regardless, the fact that he is already deceased is something that cannot be denied. This photo was taken during a dinner party at our place, back when he participated in the final collection of remains before he died..."
Naturally, both Nishida and Yoshimura had considered the possibility that the old man was a spiritual phenomenon in their hearts, but being confronted with the reality of it left them genuinely taken aback.
"So that means... it really was a ghost, without a doubt?"
Yoshimura spoke in a way that sounded like he was seeking Nishida's consultation.
"If it were just an illusion, that would be one thing, but both you and I saw him right in front of us together, so that must be it... Though there are parts of me that still can't believe it... However, considering everything that has happened until now, it's a fact that the idea of him being a ghost makes things fall into place."
Nishida spoke as if confirming each word to himself in a low murmur.
"Since I've been involved with the Jomon Tunnel, I've heard many stories about spiritual phenomena there since I was a child, but I myself have never had an experience like that... To be honest, I thought most spiritual phenomena in the world were just tall tales or superstitions. However, based on what I heard from you two just now, I can only think that the late Mizukami-san appeared before your eyes."
While his words were composed, Matsushige's tone was clearly tinged with excitement.
The first time they met the ghost Mizukami was in '95, during the investigation of the Yoneda youth's murder, when they visited the memorial for the first time while returning from Kitami. The second time was in the December blizzard, after they were told by Criminal Investigation Director Ootomo and Section 1 Head Kurano that they didn't need to cooperate with the investigation into the Kitami Kyoritsu Hospital shooting. At that time, Yoshimura had nearly hit him with the car, but Yoshimura said he dodged with movements unlike an old man. At the same time, for some reason, he knew Nishida and the others were policemen. The third time was this June, when he handed them a towel in front of Kanehana Station. And the fourth time was today, when he told the two of them "Well done!" and vanished into thin air.
"You mentioned you encountered him several times, but was it always at Kanehana Station or in front of that memorial?"
Matsushige confirmed, and Nishida replied:
"Yes. That's right. I believe we met four times, and all of them were at that location or in the vicinity."
"Indeed, Mizukami-san was originally from that Kanehana district, from a family of pioneer farmers or foresters near Ikutahara... I heard from him that he was born around Meiji 34 (1901). Then, right around the time he was old enough to understand things, the construction of the Jomon Tunnel and the railway (1912 to 1914) took place. He said Tako-beya laborers would often escape and flee into his family home near the bottom of the pass... Most of the laborers who came fleeing were covered in wounds or extremely haggard, with unsteady footsteps; even as a child, he could tell they were going through something terrible. His parents would give them rice balls and help them escape, but pursuers would come from the labor camps, and even the police—who should have been helping—were cracking down on them, so quite a few were caught and brought back..."
After speaking that much in one breath, Matsushige lowered his gaze, his expression clouding over. However, as if reminding himself that what had already happened could not be undone no matter the tragedy, he resumed his story.
"According to the stories from the escaped Tako-beya laborers, not only did deaths from abuse continue during construction, but those who were caught and brought back were beaten half to death, or even killed as an example—that was the level of treatment. Above all, he said it was a shock to him as a child that the police, far from being allies of the weak, were complicit with those committing the abuse... Well, I myself was only about a middle schooler when I was being taken by my father to collect remains, so I wasn't much different in age from Mizukami-san back then..."
Matsushige's story was beginning to head in a direction Nishida and Yoshimura had never imagined.
"Later, when Mizukami-san graduated from school in Kitami and considered his career path—since forestry was still a major industry back then—he thought about taking over the family business. However, he had an older brother, and since he had a strong sense of justice, he wanted to save weak people as a police officer. Of course, at the root of that was his righteous indignation toward the way the police handled the Tako-beya laborers when he was a child..."
"Eh? Was that Mizukami-san a police officer?"
Yoshimura confirmed in surprise.
"Yes. He was a detective for many years, and by the time he retired, I believe he had risen to the rank of Vice Station Chief of the Ikeda Station in Tokachi. After retiring, he bought a house in Kitami and moved back. When he learned that a group like our research society existed, he participated until the day he died. His family home itself should have moved from Rubeshibe to Kitami by then. I think his older brother sold the mountain and ran some kind of shop in Kitami... I don't remember the details clearly. At any rate, he is your senior. I think his words 'Well done' included that sentiment as well."
"So he saw through everything and was encouraging us..."
Nishida was speechless after hearing this unexpected fact.
"Well, I suppose that's how it is... However, Mizukami-san also mentioned that after becoming a policeman, he often felt a sense of agonizing regret when faced with realities he couldn't change... After all, it was the police of that era; if a suspect wouldn't talk, they would do things bordering on torture, and they often curried favor with the powerful or influential, refusing to intervene even in matters that should have been investigated. Even if he thought it was wrong, as long as he was within the organization, he couldn't easily rebel. He rose from a koban officer to a detective, and then somehow got promoted until he reached Vice Station Chief, but he said the regret of not being able to correct those things remained stuck in his heart until he retired. Of course, once he was in a position to give orders to some extent, he tried his best to prevent such things, but he said there were limits... I heard that story quite a while after we met, when I was a university student returning home from Sapporo to participate in the collection of remains, perhaps during a social gathering at night when alcohol was involved. He might have opened up to me because I was an adult, whereas he couldn't tell a child. Or perhaps he wanted to pass it on precisely because I had become an adult..."
"Is that so..."
The words Yoshimura exhaled heavily while looking down were a sign that this had already surpassed the level of a mere ghost story.
"And, as I touched on earlier, the reason Mizukami-san joined the research society was that he heard in Kitami, where he lived after retirement, that a group to collect the remains of the Tako-beya victims had been started in Rubeshibe. It was a memorial for the event that triggered his path as a police officer. And as a result, he participated as a form of reflection and atonement for having gone against the aspirations he held at that time. During the collection of remains, he would often sing 'Jinsei Gekijo' (T/N: "Theater of Life," a famous enka song) at the top of his lungs to ward off bears..."
As he said this, Matsushige closed his eyes for a moment as if remembering the individual, then pulled himself together and continued.
"Less than ten years after that, portable radio-cassette players... they were probably the monaural type with a single speaker back then... were released, so he bought one immediately and played 'Jinsei Gekijo' on the tapes that were also starting to come out, singing along himself. I imagine both were quite expensive at the time... Also, he would repeat it over and over, and I was a bit bothered by how the melody was slightly stretched out."
Matsushige let out a light laugh, as if he were listening to it right now.
"He probably played it all the time... I think he replaced the tape several times. There were years when it returned to the normal melody. I heard it so often during the collections that I naturally memorized it, even if it was only once a year... In later years, he bought and used a stereo type with two speakers."
Matsushige had been reminiscing nostalgically this whole time. The radio-cassette player Nishida and Yoshimura saw must have been that newer stereo model.
"Apparently, the lyrics of 'Jinsei Gekijo,' especially the first verse, resonated with Mizukami-san's heart. 'If I decide to do it, I'll go as far as it takes. Isn't that the soul of a man? If duty and honor perish, this world is darkness. Do not try to stop me, night rain.' Was that it?"
Matsushige recited the lyrics of "Jinsei Gekijo," which he said he had naturally memorized, with a light melody. Then he spoke:
"As a man, one should have followed through with their principles and upheld justice—it was precisely because of his deep regret regarding his experiences during his time as a police officer that Mizukami-san was so strongly drawn to these lyrics."
Indeed, even if most individuals are decent, the reality of society—regardless of the era—does not necessarily align with that decency. Even if everyone wishes to live by their principles, the wall of reality—the livelihoods of oneself and one's family, the survival of the organization—is high and thick. Therefore, Nishida could well understand being captivated by lyrics that allowed one to forget that rotten reality, even if only in the world of song, and Yoshimura likely felt the same.
"And so, on the site of the former Kanehana Elementary School (which closed in Showa 52 and was merged into Rubeshibe Elementary) in the Kanehana district where Mizukami-san spent his childhood, he and other volunteers decided to erect the Jomon Tunnel Construction Martyr Memorial, and they achieved that great ambition in the late autumn of Showa 55 (1980). (Author's Note: It is a fact that the memorial/monument was erected by local volunteers in Showa 55, but the individual names are, of course, unrelated.) I believe he passed away about two years after that; perhaps he felt at peace having done what he finally needed to do... He was blessed with grandchildren, and I think he had a good life overall. However, the fact that he lived a life different from the lofty aspirations he originally held during his time as a police officer might have been something that weighed on him even after he died..."
Matsushige's statement showed that he himself was searching for the meaning behind why Mizukami had bothered to appear in this world so long after passing away.
"Excuse me, but as I asked earlier, regarding this matter with Ooshima... as far as I can see from the news and newspapers, there were parts where various pressures were put on the police and the investigation was difficult, right?"
To Matsushige's further confirmation, Nishida replied frankly:
"Well, unfortunately, that is the case. It is an undeniable fact that the police organization, both in the past when Mizukami-san was active and now, faces major challenges."
"So, Nishida-san, you had your own thoughts on the matter as well?"
"Yes..."
This time Nishida admitted it, albeit with some hesitation.
"In that case, I wonder if the strong regret stemming from Mizukami-san's childhood and his time in the police force, and his desire to do something about it, acted as a desire to support you in the face of your struggle. Perhaps he wanted to tell something to Nishida-san and Yoshimura-san, who happened to appear in front of that memorial, because he didn't want his juniors to taste the same regret he experienced? Even if it wasn't through direct words... Could that be the reason he appeared before you several times? And I think that's why he finally went back satisfied today."
Matsushige's wording was reserved, but this time he was clearly convinced. And both Nishida and Yoshimura were also convinced that Matsushige's thinking was correct.
At that moment, Nishida remembered something and gave Yoshimura an exaggerated instruction.
"Hey, Yoshimura! That towel! Bring it here and show it to Matsushige-san!"
"Ah! That's right! Understood! I'll go get it from the car right away!"
Yoshimura quickly stood up and left the room.
"What is it? A towel!?"
Matsushige was unable to grasp the situation, not knowing what was going on due to the sudden development.
"Regarding the story from earlier, during our third encounter, when we met Mizukami-san in front of Kanehana Station this June, he gave us a towel to wipe the inside of the car, which had gotten wet from the rain blowing in during a sudden storm. And I'm a bit curious about what was printed on that towel. So I'd like you to check it, Matsushige-san."
Nishida explained roughly.
"To be honest, I don't quite grasp the situation, but understood."
Though confused, Matsushige seemed to decide there was no point in asking further and accepted for now. Then he and Nishida waited for Yoshimura to return.
In just a few minutes, Yoshimura returned out of breath, clutching the towel, and placed it on the table.
"Oh, sorry for making you rush."
While lightly thanking Yoshimura, Nishida picked it up.
"So, it's this," he said, unfolding the towel and showing it to Matsushige.
Printed there was "Onsen Ryokan Yumoto Shochikubai, Phone 0157-△△-4126." It was also the number Nishida had called from the car and gotten a wrong number.