Chapter 69 - Light and Shadow 48 {Combined 54/55} (233-235, 236-237 Takagaki's Fury, A New Proposal)
"No, the fact that the yakuza you met through Takagaki-san's setting actually exists and has now been identified is sufficient for a witness identification."
When Nishida replied as such, Takagaki looked at him with eyes that seemed to be pleading for something.
"What about the guy I was introduced to as someone from the construction industry, a Murayama-gumi associate?"
"Setting aside actual executives or employees of Murayama-gumi, given that the yakuza you met—who claimed to be from the Nissho-kai—was actually from the Souryuu-kai, it's obvious the self-introduction was a lie. In that case, the target pool is simply too broad..."
As Nishida informed him hesitantly,
"No, no, that guy is right here!"
Takagaki shouted, flipping back to a page he had already passed earlier.
"Eh? You mean the guy you met as a construction associate is listed here too?"
"That's right, this is him!"
To their surprise, it was a man named "Tanabe Kazuhiro," listed several pages past Kuriyama.
"This guy is an executive at 'Tanno Construction,' one of the Souryuu-kai's front companies, but of course, his true identity is a Souryuu-kai executive. He's lower than Kuriyama, though..."
At Mano's explanation, Nishida and Takeshita couldn't help but exchange smiles.
"Which means both of the interview subjects who framed Takagaki-san were connected to the Souryuu-kai... So it wasn't the Murayama-gumi and their yakuza backers, but both were members of the Souryuu-kai..."
They were delighted. And naturally, speaking of the Souryuu-kai, the possibility of a connection to the Isaka Group became considerably high. A criminal organization with deep ties to the Isaka Group was involved in the machinations of Kochi Publishing, which had capital ties to Tozai Shinbun. The line of Kochi Publishing—an affiliate of Tozai Shinbun, which has a strong pipe to the Minyu Party that Oshima belongs to—exactly overlapped with the Oshima-Isaka Group line they had seen until now. And with today's "exaggerated" article in the Tozai Shinbun, the situation exposed was one that could hardly be called unrelated. However, before they could soak in the afterglow, Nishida's phone rang. It was from Kurano. He had likely heard the message.
"Nishida, are you in the middle of the identification? Can you talk? Man, things have turned out quite badly..."
Despite asking if he could talk, Kurano started speaking on his own without waiting for a response. Partly because of that, Nishida lost the timing to report the facts that had just been discovered, so he had no choice but to go along with Kurano's story for now.
"I heard you were called in regarding the morning edition article?"
"It's about that... we got a warning from the Satchou (National Police Agency)."
"The Satchou...? Eh, a warning from the National Police Agency!? I—I don't quite understand what that means?"
When he reflexively asked back,
"In connection with the Kitagawa incident in August, on top of this being the second 'screw-up,' the fact that it appeared prominently in the national Tozai Shinbun has them saying, 'We have to be mindful of public opinion,' or so it seems over there," he recounted.
"No, uh... wait a minute... Certainly, regarding the Kitagawa incident in August, you could say Michishita-san from 'HQ' screwed up, but it's a stretch to blame us for Hamana's suicide this time, isn't it? And the National Police Agency being mindful of public opinion? That's definitely not it, right?"
As Nishida heated up in spite of himself,
"That's true, but the newspaper article is just the public face. Apparently, our Regional HQ Director Sonoyama was told over the phone by Criminal Investigation Director Toyama from HQ that it seems political pressure was applied through the Prime Minister's Official Residence. With Hamana's suicide, 'those people' must have had a fire lit under their asses..." he stated hesitantly. Hearing this, Nishida was aghast.
"Political pressure... Then, what happens to the investigation? What about the raid on Hamana's connections that we haven't done yet?"
"I was told explicitly that a raid regarding Hamana would be difficult. It might be different if something comes out that leads to absolute certainty, but the pressure seems quite severe this time. We haven't mentioned a word about Oshima or the tape, but it seems the people applying pressure are quite panicked even just regarding Hamana-related matters."
"Ugh..."
Nishida said nothing more, as the next words didn't immediately come to mind. However, he couldn't stay silent forever. Squeezing the words out,
"...Understood. Regardless, we just had Takagaki-san perform an identification, and as a result, it seems they were executive members of the Souryuu-kai. Both the yakuza member himself and the person from the construction company."
He finally managed to report.
"I see... So a new route to the Isaka Group has been connected. You've done well... Give my thanks to Takagaki as well."
Kurano said weakly, then muttered,
"But that might have been in vain now."
"Please don't say such weak things. We're not at a stage where we should give up yet!"
Nishida bristled, but if even the central National Police Agency had started moving, then even for an elite, there was likely nothing a middle manager in the grand scheme of things could do. He knew that, but...
"Sorry... For now, I suppose we can only consider a direct investigation of the Oshima route by scrubbing the yakuza who were the actual perpetrators... It would be great if you could connect directly to Oshima from that side..."
"Are you going to tell the people at the Investigation Headquarters? At the very least, you have to explain about not raiding Hamana!"
Nishida pressed, but in response,
"I have to explain, but at this point, it's on hold and not yet a final decision. I don't think there will be that many complaints, will there? Anyway, that's what we know for now..."
Kurano remained hesitant in his responses.
"There's going to be a row... Unlike us, they don't know about the tape, but to ignore such an obviously suspicious target..."
As Nishida persisted,
"Anyway, that's how it is... Report the details of that matter to me later."
Kurano cut the call as if forcibly ending it.
※※※※※※※
As Nishida lightly slammed his phone onto the desk in frustration, the remaining four detectives felt something unusual.
"What happened? From what I could hear, did the political world and the Satchou intervene?" they asked one after another.
"Something like that... Apparently, we got a warning from over there regarding the Tozai Shinbun article..."
"I knew it! No matter how you look at it, Hamana committing suicide is like a kind of confession, isn't it? Why does it become our responsibility?"
At Nishida's report, Yoshimura was quite indignant.
"It can't be helped. According to Kurano-san, it's likely that Hamana's involvement being exposed was painful for them, so they applied political pressure and moved the Satchou. Most likely, the justification for that was this morning's article in the Tozai Shinbun. It's a match-pump (T/N: creating a problem to then 'solve' it) that was pre-established from the start."
After those dismissive words, Nishida remembered that Takagaki was right in front of him. Kurano must have known Nishida was with Takagaki, but he probably didn't have the leeway to care. Honestly, he thought it was bad that he had shown and let him hear the entire development, but it was too late now.
Then, Takagaki suddenly spoke.
"Just by listening to one side of the conversation, I haven't clearly grasped the situation, but..."
Takagaki said as a preface, then asked,
"In connection with the shooting incident, today's Tozai Shinbun article, and political pressure? Are those all linked? If so, it's not just about my article; you've been skillfully used..."
"Well... It has nothing to do with you, Takagaki-san. Since it's investigation information, the details are..."
Nishida was vague. At that moment, Takeshita suddenly instructed,
"Detective Mano, since we've managed to get confirmation for now, there's no further need for Division 4's cooperation. Just give us copies of the materials and you're free to go back."
"...Understood. Then I'll make the copies."
Saying so, he took copies of the materials on Tanabe and Kuriyama using the copier in the room and handed them to Nishida.
"Also, give my regards to your Section Chief. I think there will be a greeting later from Section Chief Kurano or Director Otomo. Truly, thank you."
When Nishida said that to Mano,
"Understood. Well then, please excuse me."
He exited as if fleeing. Apparently, the bad atmosphere had been clearly conveyed even to the young detective. Watching him leave, Takeshita asked Nishida something unexpected.
"Could I just confirm something with Igarashi-san from the Doho?"
"What?"
Nishida reflexively asked back.
"This morning's article. I want to confirm what stance the Doho took in reporting it."
To be honest, Nishida didn't quite grasp what Takeshita wanted to say, but perhaps because he was feeling a bit reckless due to the discouraging report from Kurano, he gave permission without much thought.
"Fine. Since there's only the Engaru folks and our 'guest' here, do as you like!"
When Takeshita made contact, he was immediately connected to Igarashi.
"Hello, this is Takeshita?"
"It's about this morning's article, right? I absolutely knew you'd call."
Igarashi immediately guessed Takeshita's business.
"Then this will be quick. Where was it leaked from? Would the City News Department know?"
"I've already researched that too. I can pretty much read what you're likely to ask."
He sounded a bit boastful, and although they were indebted to him, it was grating, but this was no time to be irritated by such small things.
"That's a help. Please."
"The leak was apparently from someone in the Kitami Regional Public Safety Commission."
"The Public Safety Commission? So it wasn't from somewhere within the police organization?"
"Well, but the Public Safety Commission handles police misconduct just like the Inspector's Office, so it's not a strange story, is it?"
"Well, I suppose."
That was all Takeshita could manage to say.
※※※※※※※
The (Prefectural) Public Safety Commission is, simply put, a "committee that manages, supervises, and monitors the operation of the police." Additionally, it has authorities such as issuing driver's licenses and business permits for the adult entertainment industry. Committee members are basically appointed by the Prefectural Governor from among civilians (those holding the right to be elected in each prefecture) after obtaining the consent of the Prefectural Assembly.
In reality, local notables or influential business figures are often chosen. Also, in the case of Hokkaido, just as the Hokkaido Police Headquarters adopts a "Regional Headquarters system," Public Safety Commissions exist for each regional headquarters; for Kitami, it is organized as the Kitami Regional Public Safety Commission.
※※※※※※※
"But this case isn't misconduct."
"Well, since he committed suicide before being brought in voluntarily, we know that too, but even in past examples, if a suicide occurs even during a proper investigation, it gets reported, right? This time, we also reported it, but we stopped at reporting without criticism—reporting that shouldn't be disadvantageous for you guys, right?"
"However, it seems only the Tozai Shinbun handled it on the national third page?"
"I haven't confirmed it with my own eyes, but apparently so. I don't know what the intention is. However, synthesizing our conversations so far, it reeks of political involvement, doesn't it?"
Igarashi hit the nail on the head.
"Something like that."
Takeshita responded with a wry smile, even though it was over the phone.
"I see... Be careful. During the separate arrest in August when the guy went unconscious, you tried to use our article, but this time, we weren't told anything in particular, and suddenly it's this in the Tozai Shinbun, the number one in national share, bypassing Hokkaido. I feel like the story is getting big—no, it's definitely getting big."
Igarashi displayed a rather sharp reading of the situation.
"By the way, do you know which Public Safety Commissioner leaked it?"
"Yeah. From what I heard earlier, it was apparently the former Kitami Mayor, Futagawa. He's also Minyu Party, right? And the one who died was Chairman Hamana of Kitami Kyoritsu Hospital? A dead collaborator and a living collaborator of the Minyu Party, I guess. Quite a contrast."
"I see... I've grasped the general situation... The leak to the Doho and others was likely just to the extent of saying, 'I gave information to others too.' To show a minimum level of fairness."
"I suspect so. Ah, the Desk is calling me! Well, call me again if something else happens later."
"Sorry for calling while you're busy."
Igarashi had hung up before Takeshita could finish speaking.
※※※※※※※
"How was it?"
Nishida immediately asked for a report.
"The source of the leak for Hamana's suicide was apparently the former Kitami Mayor, Futagawa. However, there was no reporting pressure on the Doho; it was just a normal leak, or rather, a provision of information in a common form."
"In other words, the Doho just did reporting that was left completely to their discretion?"
"Yes. Therefore, it seems it didn't become an article criticizing the police. With this suicide, it's a story anyone can understand that we aren't at fault..."
"But the Tozai Shinbun made it into an article as if the responsibility lay with us on a grand scale."
"Yes, Igarashi-san said that the purpose of the leak was that side, and they probably reluctantly told the Doho and others just to guarantee fairness. In short, to create a situation that the National Police Agency, the headquarters of the police, would view as a problem, they had the national Tozai Shinbun do it through political power."
"Tch, they keep doing nothing but clever little tricks."
Nishida clicked his tongue with a bitter face. In that situation, Takagaki spoke again.
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
"From this morning's newspaper to the talk just now, and my own experience... Considering all this, is it safe to say the Tozai Shinbun screwed up again?"
Emphasizing the "again," he took off his glasses, pulled a lens cloth from the case, and busily wiped the lenses.
"Well, that's about it."
Takeshita replied in a monotone while watching him. However, since he had heard a bit about the circumstances under which Takagaki had quit the Tozai Shinbun, he understood those feelings to some extent. Having finished listening, Takagaki put his glasses back on, stared at the four detectives as if glaring at them, and began to say something unexpected.
"Is there anything I can do? For example, I could investigate the flow leading up to this article! However, for that, I want an overview of the investigation information so far! I need to know what the opponent is aiming for before I investigate, or there are things I won't be able to grasp. That's the condition."
"?" Everyone's eyes widened as they stared intently at Takagaki.
"No, that's why I'm saying I want to help if I can? Of course, I won't leak the information outside. I've actually submitted a pledge, haven't I?"
Takagaki didn't hide his displeasure at the four men's indecisive attitude, but when Kurosu said,
"I say this knowing it will sound rude, but Takagaki-san, you are a complete outsider! We appreciate the offer of cooperation, but it's too difficult to leak various other pieces of investigation information. You've provided enough investigation cooperation with this identification."
Takagaki then countered dismissively,
"I'm cooperating with the police, whom I don't even like, and that's the way you talk?"
Immediately after, a prickly mood filled the small meeting room. As the detectives, they had no way to respond, so they could only remain silent. But Takeshita was the first to break that mood.
"Team Leader, what do you think? Since we've come this far, why not have Takagaki-san cooperate?"
Hearing that, Nishida's mouth hung open before he said,
"Hey, Takeshita! It's true that in this investigation so far, we've gone against the organization and done some slightly risky things, but I think it was at a level that could be settled as an internal police matter. But if it's on the premise of giving a considerable amount of investigation information..."
He showed concern.
"But it's also true that we leaked our information to Igarashi-san to get investigation information. Igarashi-san eventually made it into an article, but Takagaki-san has said he won't put it out until the minimum necessary time comes."
Takeshita raised an objection that was, in its own way, reasoned. Indeed, logically it wasn't that different from the time with Igarashi. However, the real problem was that in Igarashi's case, the initiative in how to give the information lay with the police side, but that couldn't necessarily be said this time. It was natural since they were going along with Takagaki's gambit.
And this time, there was the fact that the level of the opponent's investigation interference had risen significantly. The degree of seriousness was different. Requesting Takagaki's cooperation meant that, in a sense, it could turn into an all-out war. This undoubtedly meant that the situation had changed greatly. Kurosu and Yoshimura were also watching the situation anxiously.
"Even so, that was information provision at a level where we could manage even if we gave it, and moreover, it was just to have him scout the 'periphery,' but this time we'll be investigating the main stronghold, you know? The danger is on a different level."
Nishida had no choice but to say so.
"Team Leader! However, how many people's deaths will be in vain in the incidents so far... Personally, I feel like I want to do something even if it means utilizing Takagaki-san."
Takagaki, who was listening to this from the side, goaded with a smile,
"Exactly! For the pursuit of truth, I want you to use me more and more. Even if it ends up benefiting the side of power, the police! That is the very duty of a journalist."
"Takagaki-san, why on earth would you go that far..."
Rather than being suspicious, Nishida simply couldn't understand that strong motive compared to what Takagaki had done until now. On that point, even Takeshita, who had heard directly about the circumstances of his quitting, wasn't entirely satisfied.
"Takagaki-san, while I agree with accepting the offer of cooperation, to be honest, I also feel a bit of a mismatch from the reasons I heard in Tokyo, not just that you're simply cooperating, but the reason why you'd go that far..."
He spoke honestly.
"I see. Certainly, if someone like me, who has been bashing power including the police for things that don't gain me a single cent, says this much, it's only natural to be suspicious... Well, I think you guys understand that there's naturally the merit of being able to write an article if the case is solved."
Saying so,
"Then it seems I need to be the first to open up. It's a bit of a long personal story, but will you listen?"
He asked the four for permission.
"I think Takeshita-san knows, but until just the other day, I was in Okinawa covering that incident of the assault on the young girl by the American soldier. In connection with that, you guys have heard of the 'Status of Forces Agreement' that often comes up in the news this time, right?"
Nishida and the others, having been asked that, did indeed know it was being viewed as a problem due to laws such as the Japanese side not being able to investigate American military criminals without permission from the US military.
"Yes, we've heard. The Okinawa Prefectural Police also seemed quite frustrated."
To Nishida's answer,
"You probably know the gist, but it's like a modern-day 'extraterritoriality,' so to speak. It's the thing the Meiji government had abolished through Mutsu Munemitsu's negotiations, but with the entry into force of the Japan-US Security Treaty, a de facto extraterritoriality was born again in Japan some time after the war. Okinawa, before its return to the mainland, was treated as second-class citizens of a colony as a problem before that, and suffered from US military crimes, but even after the return, it frequently became a problem because of that. And then this incident! Naturally, anger would explode. But you know, there was a time when it became a major problem on the mainland as well. You guys should normally know this too given your generation, but it's the 1977 US military aircraft crash in Yokohama."
As Takagaki said that, he clenched his fist in frustration.
※※※※※※※
The "Yokohama US Military Aircraft Crash," as a general name, refers to an incident on September 27, 1977, where a US Marine Corps reconnaissance aircraft suffered an engine fire and crashed into a residential area in Yokohama. Fires broke out in surrounding houses, and a total of three residents died. Note that the pilot ejected and survived before the crash.
However, because of that, control of the aircraft was lost early on, and in terms of avoiding danger in a residential area, it was a rather sloppy response. However, the essence of the problem might have been the subsequent response of the US military and the Japanese side. Due to the Status of Forces Agreement, the responsibility for the accident and the investigation into the cause of the engine fire were conducted under US military leadership, and the investigation by the US military side was not properly explained to the Japanese side. Furthermore, no criminal responsibility was ever pursued.
In particular, the episode of the mother and child who became victims of the accident was something that made even Japanese people feel anger and couldn't help but feel sympathy for, and it continues to be talked about for a long time even now.
※※※※※※※
"In that coverage, as a young, green reporter in the City News Department at the time, I struggled vigorously with my seniors to write articles about the Status of Forces Agreement problem, but because the Tozai Shinbun is stuck like glue to the ruling Minyu Party, which makes maintaining the Japan-US security its supreme mission, the 'Dhaka Incident' that happened to occur on consecutive days was used to trivialize this problem, and most of the important parts of the articles were suppressed. Of course, other companies were reporting properly on the crash incident, but this side succeeded in avoiding handling the viciousness of the Status of Forces Agreement with articles that skillfully evaded the essence of the problem. It made me furious! I wasn't so green even back then as to become a journalist thinking a newspaper is something that can always handle every social problem, but I wondered if there was any meaning to a newspaper as a public instrument if it didn't handle a problem of this magnitude!"
※※※※※※※
The "Dhaka Incident" = "JAL Dhaka Hijacking Incident" refers to an incident on September 28, 1977 (the day after the Yokohama US military aircraft crash), where a JAL flight from De Gaulle Airport in France to Haneda (a route that stopped at several international airports) was hijacked by five members of the Japanese Red Army immediately after takeoff from Mumbai Airport, a transit point.
Afterward, it made an emergency landing at "Dhaka International Airport" in Bangladesh, and the group of perpetrators demanded a ransom and the release of nine people being detained or serving sentences in Japan. In response, the Takeo Fukuda administration at the time took measures called "extra-legal measures," also known for the statement "Human life is heavier than the Earth," and released the terrorists who were serving sentences or being detained.
Regarding this, it's true there was considerable criticism from that time, but in fact, at that time, not only Japan but also other foreign countries would accept the demands of terrorists and release terrorists under detention, so it must be made clear that it wasn't necessarily only Japan that "yielded to terrorism."
However, in the "Lufthansa Flight 181 Hijacking Incident" that occurred immediately after this (October 13, 1977), the West German government at the time dispatched special forces to Somalia, where the plane had ended up after the hijacking. By shooting and subduing the terrorists along with British special forces and releasing all crew and passengers (the captain had already been shot dead before the storming), it is said the tide completely changed.
Because the Dhaka Incident was just before that, Japan's response is easy to pick out, but looking at the timeline, the Japanese government's response was not "singular" when viewed internationally. Naturally, the fact that it was an act of suicide for a constitutional state is a completely different problem.
※※※※※※※
Takagaki was showing anger as if it were yesterday, but then he said something unexpected.
"But even with that Status of Forces Agreement, it's not necessarily that only America is the one-sided villain. This might be rude, but Japan's criminal litigation procedures are extremely pre-modern things, and I don't completely fail to understand the American side's feeling that 'We can't leave it to the Japanese judiciary' in that regard. I believe the inhumane methods of you police are also one of the essences of the problem. Even the story that came out in today's article about the guy going unconscious during interrogation after the separate arrest in the summer—if the police had responded properly, that could have been avoided, right? On top of that, if it hinders the clarification of the case, I don't know what the interrogation is for!"
The sparks had fallen on the four themselves, but while the other three were bewildered, Takeshita was nodding deeply at that opinion. Of course, considering the flow so far, it was certain even from Nishida's view that Takeshita was qualified to show such an attitude. Ignoring that, the indignant Takagaki's story still continued.