Teito Monogatari:
The Tale of the Imperial Capital
Part 1: Great Spirit of Tokyo
Author: Hiroshi Aramata
Part 2: Nobuhiro Revived
Chapter 11: Opinions and Perspectives of the Scientist
The next day, Terada Torahiko returned to his basement laboratory in a foul mood. His freshly laundered white shirt was tightly fastened at the neck with a black bow tie. With each step, the tie rode up and pressed against his throat. It felt less like a necktie and more like a collar.
Torahiko was not the type of man to pay much attention to such details. He carelessly rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and devoted all his attention to his lab work.
“This is the best place for me to be.”
The underground laboratory felt like his own secret room. It had poor ventilation and was far from comfortable, but there was no place where Torahiko would rather be while conducting his experiments.
“Mr. Terada, what’s wrong?” asked Ōkōchi Masatoshi, his research partner.
Terada loosened the tie around his neck and replied, “There are all sorts of worldly entanglements that a noble like you wouldn’t understand.”
Ōkōchi was an old noble name listed in the peerage directory. Masatoshi's family once served a prestigious feudal lord, though that was ancient history at this point. Like Torahiko, Masatoshi held a degree in science. Unlike Torahiko, who had graduated at the top of his class in engineering but narrowly missed the chance to study abroad, Masatoshi's future was completely secure in his chosen profession. The two of them were close friends.
"I heard Professor Nagaoka wanted to talk to you," Masatoshi said. "Did he want to punish you or something?"
"I wish he had," Torahiko said. "I've been asked--more like ordered--to assist with another government project. It's a secret project, though, so I can't say much about it."
“I see.”
Ōkōchi took a handgun out of the experimental apparatus and began polishing the barrel with gauze. The experiment the two of them were currently working on involved photographing and analyzing the trajectory of fired bullets—that is, ballistics.
“So, our experiment is going to be interrupted again, huh? How annoying!”
“The first meeting is scheduled for June 4th. That’s just a little over a month away. But honestly, it’s not entirely a nuisance for me. Four years ago, I was commissioned by the Ministry of Education to join the Earthquake Prevention Investigation Committee. I worked with Professor Kotaro Honda on surveys of sea water vibrations and investigations of the hot springs in Atami. It was preliminary research for earthquake prevention.”
“Yeah, I know you're interested in natural disasters and earthquakes. Just last spring, you investigated the major frost damage in the Kanto and Tohoku regions, didn’t you? You're a research associate at the Agricultural Experiment Station. Your report on the relationship between atmospheric electricity, lightning, and rice growth was quite interesting. Electricity and rice—that combination is typical of you, Torahiko.”
“That’s probably because I grew up in Kōchi. Typhoons are common there, so we’re constantly facing natural disasters.” Smiling bashfully, Torahiko began cleaning the experimental apparatus. Today’s experiment had been conducted almost entirely by Ōkōchi alone.
“The task assigned to me by Professor Nagaoka this time is to assist with a secret project operating behind the scenes of the Imperial Capital Renovation Plan. I've heard that the project is being managed by Shibusawa Eiichi himself.”
"I don't know everything yet, of course, but the plan seems to be to make Tokyo impervious to all threats. Not only in terms of military and architecture, but also in terms of religion and divine protection. Diviners and sorcerers from the Tsuchimikado family in Kyōto and Shinto priests are also participating."
“That sounds just like an ancient capital relocation. Remember when they did geomancy right in the center of Kyōto?”
Torahiko frowned slightly. “Yes, and that’s the problem. Personally, I fully support making Tokyo a disaster-resistant city, and I’m willing to help with that. But Professor Nagaoka said that we shouldn’t look at this project only from a scientific perspective. That’s not like him at all. I think he's been influenced by those sorcerers.”
“He must have his reasons for that.”
“He's not a superstitious man or a magical thinker. Professor Nagaoka denied the possibility of airplanes because objects heavier than air can't fly. Sometimes, I really can’t tell what he’s thinking.”
“Do you have to, Torahiko? Everyone thinks differently, after all.”
“That's true, and I do I intend to help with this project. We could build the world’s first perfectly earthquake-resistant city. But I have a bad feeling about it.”
Ōkōchi smiled brightly. It was a generous smile that would put anyone at ease. He was kind and broad-minded and wanted to help his friend. “A bad feeling? Is it about Dr. Imamura’s prediction? He said a major earthquake will occur in the Kanto region every fifty to one hundred years.”
That prediction wasn't too surprising to anyone. Everyone knew that earthquakes happened in Kanto.
Torahiko shook his head. "It's not just that. I feel like Tokyo itself could just... disappear. Vanish from the face of the earth."
"What nonsense," Ōkōchi said. He laughed and then slapped Torahiko on the shoulder. “You’re just tired. Let’s call it a day and go on a coffee tour in Ginza. I’ll come with you.”
Ōkōchi’s laughter filled the cramped laboratory, shaking everything in the room. He was a bold, brave man.
Translator's Note
Historically, Japan's capital has changed places several times. Kyōto was the capital of Japan before Tokyo, and Nara was the capital of Japan before Kyōto.
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