Chapter 58 - Light and Shadow 37 (194–197: Obtaining Oshima Kaiji's Family Register; Takeshita's Skepticism on Motive)
Revised on December 27, 2017 (Regarding the importance of family register information)
On the way back, Nishida repeatedly explained the conversation he had with Kosaka to Yoshimura. Upon returning to Engaru Station, he immediately played the tape for the Section Chief and the other members. Perhaps because it was such a shocking truth, everyone listened to the tape in a state of constant restlessness.
However, when it came to the audio of Kitamura's final moments, even if they weren't direct colleagues, he was a comrade they had investigated with. Nishida saw his subordinates closing their eyes, their faces etched with bitterness.
Also, Nishida told Takeshita that the doubt Takeshita had—that Sada Minoru "lacked too much sense of crisis"—was resolved by the contents of this tape, and apologized at the same time. Regarding this point, having heard Kitamura's end, his feelings were undoubtedly complex, but he seemed honestly quite satisfied. Nishida thought that, given Takeshita's personality, it was likely satisfaction from the logic of the deduction fitting together rather than self-affirmation that his own reasoning was more correct than Nishida's.
"With this, the possibility that Oshima Kaiji was Kuwano Kinya has become extremely high, and at the same time, that may have been the motive for his involvement in Sada Minoru's murder. This is a huge step forward. Not to mention the possibility of his involvement in Kitamura's murder this time! And just who the man with the surname Abe is—that's what's important."
Section Chief Sawai spoke as soon as Yoshimura pressed the stop button.
"The Senior Staff's theory of Oshima's involvement has been proven; doesn't that take a weight off your chest?"
When Kurosu said that to Takeshita,
"To think it would be revealed through a story like this... But even so, the price was too high..."
Takeshita clicked his tongue regretfully, thinking of Kitamura.
"What's done is done. The only offering we can make is to catch Oshima Kaiji and the perpetrator of this incident."
Sawai spoke calmly, but there was no way his calm tone didn't contain anger. It could be said that his emotions, which must have flared up once, had simply settled down.
"But you know, there's something else that's a bit frustrating."
"What is it, Takeshita?"
While Nishida was pondering how to catch Oshima, Takeshita spoke up, so Nishida asked immediately.
"I thought that beyond Oshima cooperating with Isaka—or rather, being made to cooperate—Oshima himself had a major reason to actively participate in Sada's murder, but with this, I feel like that's weak. It ends up being a 'subordinate' relationship to Isaka. After all, these reasons already existed as the reason why Oshima, as a Diet member, had been providing benefits to the construction contractor Isaka before this."
He answered with an air of being completely unconvinced.
"Even so, since Oshima himself snatched the inheritance along with Isaka, even if Sada Minoru didn't know Oshima was Kuwano, it wouldn't be strange for a murderous intent toward Sada—who certainly knew part of the truth—to sprout in Oshima too, right?"
Nishida scrambled to patch together a reason.
"Well, you could say that, but I thought there was a murderous intent that went beyond that... I thought there was more risk in procuring a hitman than that... As for his identity, if it's something that would be exposed by tracing the family register, I wonder if it would lead to such a motive."
Takeshita still voiced his doubts.
"Takeshita, you're worrying too much! There's no need to obsess over such trivial matters now."
Nishida suppressed a slight irritation and tried to restrain Takeshita's words.
Nishida couldn't understand at all why Takeshita was so obsessed with that point; was it an emotion born of perfectionism?
"Also, what is it? Isaka said Oshima's 'old name' was Kuwano... Usually, you'd say 'real name,' right?"
"Isn't that just a matter of Matsushima's expression? It's not necessarily the actual words Isaka used, right? After all, he was a dying patient."
"I suppose so..."
With that, Takeshita's worrisome behavior finally subsided. Or rather, it appeared to subside. However, Nishida would realize years later that these doubts of Takeshita's had their own significance.
"By the way, Yoshimura, you haven't received a reply from your cousin about cooperating with the residency certificate matter yet, have you?"
"Yeah. He said he couldn't decide on his own and would ask his wife, so I haven't gotten a reply yet. I wasn't rejected, though..."
Yoshimura answered mumble-mouthed, lacking confidence.
"And if we further investigate the family register from the residency certificate and find out that Oshima Kaiji was Kuwano Kinya, how will we proceed from there?"
Oba confirmed the investigation policy.
"If such a fact can be proven, there's no doubt that the one who procured the hitman to kill Matsushima this time was Oshima or a surrounding person who received his orders. If we're talking about people around Oshima who could be hitmen, there's a good chance it's linked to the Aoi-ikka again this time. And the name Abe. We can narrow it down further with that. Either way, I think the key to catching Oshima is first catching the perpetrator of this incident. And whether we can reach Oshima from there... And if we reach Oshima, we can simultaneously interrogate him about Sada's case from eight years ago. That said, the shooting incident isn't our case; it's a Kitami Station case..."
Sawai looked a bit disappointed.
"Even with this information, is it still impossible for us to directly investigate the case from eight years ago?"
Oba asked Nishida this time.
"At this point, there's no way we can move ahead of Kitami on our own; the information is limited. To begin with, I can say for certain that Motohashi won't talk about Oshima in court. In that case, there should be a higher possibility in attacking from the shooting incident right in front of us. Most of the people involved in the case eight years ago have already passed away... It really depends on Kitami's investigation into the current shooting incident. If the path forward becomes visible from there, since Sada's murder was within our jurisdiction, our turn might come, well..."
Nishida said that and continued,
"Even if the yakuza conflict theory collapsed with Kitamura's tape, considering the nature of the perpetrators, it seems the investigation headquarters' policy won't change much in that we still have to scour the yakuza circles."
In response, Sawai asked, lining up several adverbs, "So, it's fine for us to move in a way that quietly and independently supports the Kitami investigation headquarters where they can't move, without being seen? Nishida."
"Yes. There's the balance with Kurano-san, but it would be helpful if you could make it that way. Please go with the twin wheels of cooperation and independent action. For now, keep it as a covert operation."
Nishida emphasized while showing his gratitude.
After finishing the general discussion, before returning to Kitami, Nishida beckoned Takeshita over and spoke about the strange connection between the weekly magazine article and this incident, asking for his view. The reason he didn't speak to Sawai was that he felt it hadn't completely left the realm of the absurd for the entire Detective Division to move on it.
"The weekly magazine story where the Team Leader got the hint about the forged bond... Come to think of it, incidents really did happen one after another following that... The Team Leader thinks that might have been information manipulation to hide the true purpose of the incidents, right?"
"To put it simply, I think that's possible, but what do you think about it, Takeshita?"
He asked while searching Takeshita's expression.
"Honestly, I can't deny it's a delicate point. However, circumstantial evidence has actually appeared where the weekly magazine article came first and the facts followed, so I think it's worth checking out."
His tone didn't necessarily push the opinion, but Nishida took his expression as positive.
"Alright! I think I'll check it out after all."
"Yeah. But as you predicted, there's almost no time to spare..."
"Hmm."
Naturally, even with the support of his excellent subordinate, the fundamental situation hadn't changed. If so, the ways to check it out were limited.
"Maybe..."
"Maybe what?"
"If I don't have time to go to Tokyo, I might ask Section Chief Sawai to have you go to Tokyo. To interview Takagaki, who wrote that article."
Takeshita was bewildered by Nishida's sudden proposal.
"Wait a minute? Is that okay?"
"You're the only one I can ask for this."
"I see... If you go that far... Understood. I'll keep it in the back of my mind."
Takeshita said so with an uncharacteristically unconfident face.
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Nishida and Yoshimura rushed back to Kitami and attended the investigation meeting. Only three people in this room—Nishida, Yoshimura, and Kosaka—knew the facts, plus Shibata, who was not present. While the meeting proceeded without any notable progress, Yoshimura put his hand to his chest and took out his cell phone. He seemed to have it on vibrate, but he whispered to Nishida, "It seems to be about the residency certificate. I'll go talk outside for a bit," and slipped out of the meeting room as if hiding.
When Yoshimura returned five minutes later, he said quietly, "Please be happy; it seems they've already obtained the family register, let alone the residency certificate."
"Really!? I thought it would be after getting consent first, but it's so sudden. If they got the family register, that means the permanent domicile was in Abashiri!"
Surprise preceded joy.
"More than that, it's the result, the result!"
Yoshimura's voice suddenly grew louder, so Investigation Division Manager Hiruma, who was explaining the investigation status, questioned him, "What is it? Did something happen?"
He wasn't particularly angry, but Nishida bowed his head repeatedly in silence, apologizing profusely to settle the situation.
"I'm sorry."
When the apology to Hiruma was over, Yoshimura apologized in a low voice.
"That doesn't matter. So, the result?"
"Well, I don't know the details, but it seems he was definitely Kuwano Kinya at birth. Then, after various things, Oshima apparently married into a family as a groom, and the head of the current family register is his wife, 'Tadokoro Yoshiko,' and his current real name is 'Tadokoro Yasuo.'"
"Eh? The Tadokoro surname is a result of marrying into the family?"
"It seems so. Anyway, for the details, he told me he took a copy, so check it after seeing that."
"True. It's faster to actually see it."
Nishida nodded with satisfaction.
"Anyway, I can't get the details over the phone, so after the meeting is over, I'll speed to Abashiri and pick up the copy."
Since Yoshimura said something unexpected, Nishida countered, "Can't you just have it sent by fax?"
"Well, that's true, but I want to thank him directly, and I haven't seen him in a few years, so I want to see his face..."
"I see, so that's it. Well, that's fine. Alright, then I'll go with you!"
The subordinate was bewildered by the unexpected sudden flow of the conversation and said, "Eh? No, you don't have to go that far. I'll go alone?"
"I want to check it immediately!"
Nishida stated the reason, but perhaps because his voice grew loud again, Hiruma gave a warning with a pointed cough.
"So that's how it is; I'm going too when this is over."
While watching Hiruma's face, Nishida emphasized quietly.
"Understood."
Ending the conversation in a whisper rather than a low voice, the two looked down at the distributed materials as if nothing had happened. Originally, Nishida certainly didn't need to go all the way to Abashiri, but for some reason, he felt awkward staying in Kitami alone. Perhaps he felt a latent guilt about being here alone while hiding important information.
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Driving from 8:00 PM when the meeting ended, they arrived at the house of Fujii, an Abashiri City Hall employee who was said to be Yoshimura's maternal cousin, at 9:00 PM. Nishida had explained the situation to Kosaka before heading to Abashiri, but since Kosaka had a meeting with executives immediately after, it was decided that even after obtaining it, they would settle for a phone report for the day.
The employee who came out after they rang the bell was a man with a very calm demeanor for someone said to be related to Yoshimura, and the word "blood relative" didn't seem to apply. At most, Yoshimura would also look like a "normal" civil servant to someone who didn't know him well, and Nishida reconsidered that he might just be underestimating Yoshimura.
"I don't really get it, but since you said you needed it, I asked my wife to take a copy... Seriously, it'll be trouble if this is found out, so I'm counting on you..."
"I'm really sorry about this."
Yoshimura said so, but Fujii, while glancing sideways at Nishida who had already introduced himself, asked, "Did Oshima do something?"
Certainly, with even the boss coming, it was strange to say it wasn't "for investigation." Nishida reflected that he should have refrained from coming along.
"No, it's not like that, so don't worry about it. Anyway, you really helped us out. I'll pay back this debt. Give my regards to your wife! For now, we have to head back immediately, but I'll thank you properly next time!"
Saying so, Yoshimura received the copy and, while thanking him repeatedly, left the entrance and got into the car. However, as soon as they reached a position where the car couldn't be seen from the Fujii residence, he stopped and hurriedly checked the contents with his superior in the passenger seat.
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As confirmed beforehand, the head of "Oshima Kaiji's" family register was his wife, "Tadokoro Yoshiko." In July of Showa 31 (1956), "Tada Yasuo" had married into the family, a new family register was created, and he became "Tadokoro Yasuo." And as they read through the document, it stated that Oshima Kaiji, alias Tadokoro Yasuo, was born on May 20, Taisho 4 (1915), in Taro Village, Iwate Prefecture (later promoted to Taro Town in 1944, absorbed into Miyako City from 2005), to father "Kuwano Tatsunosuke" and mother "Kuwano Tokiko," and a birth registration was made as Kuwano Kinya on June 1.
Then, after moving his family register from Taro Town, Iwate Prefecture, to Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, in October of Showa 22 (1947), he was permitted, likely by the Tokyo Family Court, to change his name to "Yasuo" in February of Showa 25. In Showa 26, he entered into an adoption agreement with a woman named "Tada Sakura" at a different address in the same Chiyoda-ku, and was newly entered into Tada Sakura's register as "Tada Yasuo." Subsequently, through marriage, it was recorded in the Abashiri family register that he was entered into the family register of Tadokoro Yoshiko, the new head of the register in Abashiri, in Showa 31 (1956) (Author's Note: Current family register transcripts have been sequentially managed by computer since Heisei 6, i.e., 1994, making them quite easy to read, but in 1995, most were still in the format called the Showa 23 style, which was apparently quite difficult to read. Even now, not all municipal family registers are computer-managed. Also, due to the novel's setting or the author's knowledge, there may be some differences from actual family register notations and procedures; please understand).
"Oshima was born in Iwate Prefecture. From the impression of his speech, he didn't have an accent, and I didn't have the image of him being from Tohoku at all. Even so, did he have to go this far..."
While staring intently at the copy of the family register transcript, Yoshimura was reflecting on the changes in Kuwano Kinya's family register at the time.
"Before coming here for marriage, he moved his family register to Tokyo and even got adopted... Well, if he's been away from his hometown for this many years, it's not strange for the accent to disappear, even if it was a strong Tohoku accent."
Nishida also spoke while looking at the copy from the side.
"But I wonder. Isn't it a bit mysterious?"
Yoshimura suddenly posed a question.
"What is?"
"What do you think was Kuwano's intention in laundering his family register like this?"
"Let's see... probably he wanted to hide his identity and origin..."
Nishida was momentarily at a loss at his subordinate's sudden question but managed to gloss over it.
"Common sense-wise, that would be it, but in this era, there's no such thing as plastic surgery, right? So his face stayed the same. And for a person who went to the trouble of moving his family register all the way to Tokyo... despite having been in Ikutahara in the past, he returned to a relatively close place like Abashiri as a Diet member. There's no way the risk of being noticed by Isaka, or anyone else, was zero, right? He's doing something contradictory... And what's the reason for wanting to hide his origin in the first place?"
Yoshimura pressed on.
"That would be... isn't it because of the snatching of the inheritance from his employer, old man Senzaki, when he was working with Isaka? It's a kind of crime. Maybe the consciousness of wanting to hide his involvement in such a thing made him do it?"
Nishida also felt in his heart that Yoshimura's point was on the mark, but for the sake of form, he provided an explanation for why he might have wanted to hide his origin.
"Hmm. Even if that's the case, I don't think it's a reason to be this desperate... Isaka also changed his name, but he didn't hide it. And as a result, Sada Minoru found him... Kuwano also ended up returning to Hokkaido, and since he's deeply involved with that Isaka even after the war, to be honest, this laundering was a waste of effort. In fact, he's being exposed through the family register now. However, he went to Tokyo, got adopted, changed his surname, but returned to Hokkaido, married into a family, and further became a politician under an assumed name... I have no idea what kind of change in heart or change in circumstances occurred..."
He tilted his head with a face that said he couldn't understand it at all.
"Maybe the main thing he wanted to hide wasn't the origin itself, but the name?"
Nishida could only say that.
"It's probably reasonable to think so, but since you can trace the past relatively easily even with a family register, something feels off. The Senior Staff was saying so earlier too."
Even when told by his superior, it seemed impossible for him to be convinced, but in this case, Yoshimura's doubt was quite logical. And regarding the doubt Takeshita had mentioned earlier, based on the results of searching the family register like this, he couldn't help but agree.
"Does this mean we have to go to Tokyo again? It might be better to check the family register in Tokyo too."
Yoshimura peeked at the expression of his superior, who seemed slightly troubled by his statement.
"Hmm, if possible, it's definitely better to properly trace the family register in order, including Iwate. Especially since it says he was adopted in Tokyo. I'd also like to investigate what kind of place he was adopted into. However, while I don't mind going, what about the reason... While it's fine if we're investigating alone, we're already in a form of cooperating in Kitami. We can't just head out on our own."
To the superior lost in thought, Yoshimura proposed, "The weekly magazine matter—can't we go with that?"
"In the form of interviewing Takagaki because there was an article that seemed to predict the yakuza conflict?"
"Yeah. And since we need to meet Takagaki anyway, wouldn't it kill two birds with one stone?"
Coincidentally, Yoshimura seemed to have the same idea as Nishida.
"I see... That might be a good idea... However, since we're involved in the investigation related to Sada's case, investigating yakuza-related matters would be overstepping our authority, and in the first place, I wonder if it would be approved as a reason for a business trip... No, even if I can't go, there's the option of asking Takeshita if it comes to it, and actually, I just told Takeshita that just in case. He can move on Engaru's sole discretion. Yes! That'll do at worst. And besides, either way, there's something I want to check through Takeshita in advance. I guess I have no choice but to ask Takeshita after all..."
Saying so, thinking there's no time like the present, Nishida immediately called Takeshita from the car.
"Takeshita? Sorry, but about your university senior, the Doho reporter—was it Igarashi? Is there any way you could talk to him for me? Could you put in a word?"
"Yes? Igarashi-san...? I don't mind, but whether the other party will respond to it is another matter."
Even at his superior's sudden request, Takeshita, who received the call, didn't question the reason but spoke frankly about the situation.
"I see... Is it tough if there's nothing to give in return?"
"I wonder about that. In the relationship between me and Igarashi-san, it would explicitly be like that... but you won't know until you ask. However, please assume there will definitely be a future debt. Even if it's not something right away... Oops, what's the essential request? It won't start until I hear that!"
Pointed out on something obvious, Nishida was momentarily flustered.
"T-That's true. Then, could you ask him if he knows what kind of person the journalist Takagaki Shinichi is?"
"Takagaki—does that mean it's about that article?"
"That's right."
"I see... Considering the prophetic article, it's true we'd want to do various preliminary investigations before actually approaching him. And before that, if there's a possibility the article was favorable to Oshima, there's a chance Takagaki himself is on that side, so I understand even more that we should investigate in advance."
Takeshita indeed understood Nishida's intentions. And he emphasized, "Understood. I'll contact him right away. However, I'm sorry for being persistent with you, Team Leader, but please be prepared for a future 'provision of benefits.'"
"Yeah, I know. Well then, I'm in Abashiri now, but I'm in the middle of returning to Kitami by car, so I might not be able to receive calls for a while, so I don't need a call for a bit."
Nishida replied to Takeshita's reminder while explaining the current situation.
"Eh? You're in Abashiri now? Did you manage to get the residency certificate by any chance?"
"Yeah. Not just the residency certificate, the family register was also in Abashiri, and I just obtained a copy. I was able to firmly confirm that Oshima Kaiji was originally 'Kuwano Kinya,' but I think I need to go to the mainland to confirm various things. Since I also want to talk to Takagaki while I'm at it, I called for the preliminary investigation."
"I see... You've finally reached it..."
Takeshita said deeply, sounding moved.
"Also, I forgot to mention, but if Yoshimura and I can't go to Tokyo, Takeshita! In addition to the 'mission' of approaching Takagaki whom we talked about earlier, I might also request an investigation into Oshima!"
When Nishida suddenly added that, Takeshita was full of momentum, as if saying "leave it to me," unlike before, perhaps because the situation had progressed further. "Of course, I don't mind. If the Team Leader can't go, I'll go! It would be my heart's desire if we can settle this!"
"When I get back to Kitami, I'll fax the copy of the family register to your house. I want you to think about various things too, Takeshita."
When Nishida asked that, Takeshita said strongly, "Roger! Well then, I'll call you again later!" and the call ended.
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"How was it? From what I heard, there were no problems?"
"Yeah, he said he'd talk to him."
Hearing that, Yoshimura next to him seemed relieved, but he voiced a new anxiety. "By the way, about the Tokyo investigation, even if we check the family register, will Oshima be okay?"
"I can't say for sure, but unless he checks the family register in Abashiri, I don't think Oshima would expect his family register to be suddenly checked in Tokyo. The information that the family register moved through Tokyo is information that won't come out unless you check in Abashiri. I think it's fine as long as your cousin isn't exposed."
"Now that you mention it, that's true. If you suppress the source, they can't reach it. Then, since I'm relieved, shall we head back to Kitami?"
Yoshimura was deeply convinced, released the handbrake, and put the car in gear.