Teito Monogatari:
The Tale of the Imperial Capital
Part 1: Great Spirit of Tokyo
Author: Hiroshi Aramata
Part 5: A Preposterous Proposal
Chapter 20: Mr. Terada Discusses His New Plan
"Won't you wait a moment, Mr. Terada?" The startled and flustered Baron Shibusawa asked, interrupting the young physicist's remarks. He had the maids clear the table of dishes to center himself. "You calmly utter such outrageous delusions—is this what comes of being a physicist? To build an underground city a hundred feet beneath the ground—how could such a project possibly be accomplished?"
Terada Torahiko took a long, deep breath. He looked around at everyone and then said, "You may all think it is an outrageous delusion to utter such nonsense. However, in Europe and America, there are already vast subway and train systems. Of course it is not possible to put everything underground. But our critical infrastructure would be well protected if it were built there. So we build our ministries underground, create parks and other green spaces to cut down on fire risk further, and maintain the plan to divert water sources to other places as further fire mitigation. We could be like Venice and have canals travel everywhere in our fair city."
As Mr. Shibusawa listened to Mr. Terada's explanation, he began to laugh. His laughter seemed to further confuse the meeting's participants.
"Mr. Terada, you are as frank and unpretentious as I thought you would be. I understand why Professor Nagaoka Hantarō chose you as his disciple. I thank you for sharing your proposal."
"Thank you for allowing me to present it," Mr. Terada said.
"I would very much like to agree to your proposal. Both of the proposals we've heard have their merits. I never dreamed that we'd be debating the pros and cons of a high-rise city and an underground city." He shrugged. "I, too, have a proposal. I wasn't sure if I would bring it up, but Mr. Terada's and Mr. Tatsumiya's remarks both reminded me of it. I, together with the Mitsui Group and Mr. Inoue Kaoru, had a grand vision of building a city on the water.1 I even dreamed about it once.
"In 1871 (Meiji 4), the Kabutochō vicinity of Nihonbashi was sold off to private merchant houses.2 As chairman of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I joined hands with the gentlemen of the merchant houses and set about creating a plan to remodel the Kabutochō area into an international commercial district in the city. My plan is not just to make Tokyo a refined and beautiful city, but to design it like a European capital with Western-style buildings—a Chamber of Commerce, a Stock Exchange, a national bank, an opera house, etc. Our port must also be incorporated to make it an industrial city, or there will be no future economic development.
"Earlier, Mr. Terada cited the Yoshikawa Plan of 1884 (Meiji 17), but that was a draft plan that would have made citizens bear the total cost. No imperial decree was issued to enact the plan.
"You may find it puzzling why no imperial decree was issued. Mr. Oda Kanshi understands the circumstances surrounding the Yoshikawa Plan, I believe."
Mr. Oda nodded. "The circumstances were quite complex. There were two plans being advanced at the same time. One was the Yoshikawa Plan, and another was being advanced by the Daijōkan.3 The Daijōkan plan would have made Kasumigaseki and Hibiya into a government district, and the Marunouchi and Ōtemachi area into an office district.
"Some of you already know all this, so I'll be brief. Marunouchi was bought up by the Mitsubishi Group. Mitsubishi's archenemy, the Mitsui Group, had a vested interest in turning the area into an office district. The plan to make the Marunouchi and Ōtemachi area into an office district was executed by the Temporary Building Bureau, which opposed plans put forward by the City Improvement Committee.
"As our city took shape, Tokyo became a city of overland routes rather than waterways. Overland commerce was supported by the Mitsubishi Group, which bought up the land in Marunouchi. Overland commerce is our current model; it is too late to switch to a primarily maritime transport system for shipping. By acquiring the right land holdings, Mitsubishi gained shipping rights for all goods traveling overland in Tokyo. This decision doomed Mr. Terada's desire for a city of canals, unfortunately."4
"Exactly so," Baron Shibusawa said. "Port construction was relocated to Yokohama. His Majesty, taking pity on our defeat, commanded us to take on the role of breathing a soul into the city of Tokyo. That is why the Imperial Capital Renovation Plan is currently being funded and implemented. Though there is friction with Iwasaki Yanosuke, the head of Mitsubishi, the reconstruction of the capital has also been a long-cherished dream of mine, and so I gladly took command of this secret undertaking. I am pleased to have heard a truly exhilarating remodeling plan today."
"Excuse me," Lieutenant Katō interrupted in a voice like ice. The meeting had gone long; it was already dark outside. "I find these ideas of yours fascinating, gentlemen. I oppose the unprincipled reclamation of swampland. According to what I have heard, much swampland is being filled in to create roads and widen existing ones, beginning with Sukiyabashi and extending to Hibiya. The Tsuchimikado family, which continues to preside over astrology and calendar-making, has publicly proclaimed these activities legitimate. I find it difficult to understand why."
"Sir?" Mr. Kamo, the representative of the Tsuchimikado family, stood up. "What are you trying to imply? We declare activities legitimate because they are! We have presided over astrological and calendar matters for the government since time immemorial. Your implications of impropriety are rude. Slander from a soldier against the family will not be tolerated."
His anger was genuine. His hands shook.
The Tsuchimikado family's misfortune had started at the beginning of the Meiji Restoration. In the first year of Meiji, Tsuchimikado Haretaka petitioned the Emperor to transfer the Edo Astronomical Bureau to Kyōtō and was granted permission to do so. He was on the verge of establishing astronomy and calendrical studies for a new era—but then he died suddently at the age of forty-three.5 The entire enterprise of calendar-making was absorbed by the imperial government.
After the loss of their heir, the Tsuchimikado family experienced a succession crisis that nearly tore the family apart. The extinction of the Tsuchimikado bloodline would have meant the disappearance of Japan's most powerful sorcerers.
For these reasons among others, Mr. Kamo's dignity was severely wounded by Lieutenant Katō's remarks.
"Slander, is it?" Lieutenant Katō raised an eyebrow. "Did you know that Ōta Dōkan himself--the man who founded Edo--chose this land in accordance with what feng shui teaches? If you dislike the Chinese-style term feng shui, you may call it geomancy. Edo was fated to become the imperial capital of the future."
"Of course I'm aware of that! Lord Ōta Dōkan's father's spirit rose at his bedside in a dream and told him to found Edo in a specific place. That the city's location was chosen by a spirit—namely, Taira no Masakado's vengeful ghost—is a strange thing. Consider the matter more closely and you'll discover--"
"--Hold on a second," Mr. Oda cut in. "We have shifted topics to spiritual matters. I believe that the Baron has listened to quite enough of our nattering for today. Shall we postpone discussing these matters until our next meeting?"
There were nods around the table. Baron Shibusawa agreed to adjourn the meeting. "I believe this was a most productive use of time. Not to impinge too much on you all, but might we meet again here in a week's time? How does that suit you, gentlemen?"
Everyone agreed to this proposal. The atmosphere became more relaxed and jovial as people spoke with their friends, finished eating dinner and prepared to go home.
In this convivial state of affairs, a servant of the Shibusawa household entered the study and whispered into Lieutenant Katō's ear, "A messenger has arrived from General Mori. You are to hurry to His Excellency's residence the moment this meeting ends."
Lieutenant Katō nodded rapidly. He adjusted his military cap, then spared a glance at Terada Torahiko. The young physicist was exhausted. He sat heavily in his chair. Seeing this made Lieutenant Katō smile broadly. He excused himself from the meeting, walking briskly out the door.
Torahiko found Lieutenant Katō's expression as he left strangely irritating. That smile was smarmy and self-serving. He shuddered.
Mr. Kamo was pale and shaking with quiet fury. Sweat dripped down his face; he didn't bother to wipe it away. He stared daggers at Lieutenant Katō's back as he left.
Translator's Notes
1
The Mitsui Group and the Meiji era (1868-1912) are deeply
intertwined, as Mitsui transformed from a drapery business into a powerful
conglomerate by aligning with the Meiji government, becoming crucial in
Japan's modernization through banking, mining, and trading, importing
machinery, and establishing a significant role in finance and commerce,
setting the stage for Japan's modern multinational presence. Marquess Inoue
Kaoru (January 16, 1836 – September 1, 1915) was a Japanese politician and a
prominent member of the Meiji oligarchy. As one of the senior statesmen in
Japan during that period, he had a tremendous influence on the selection of
the nation's leaders and the formation of its policies. ↩
2 兜町: Kabutochō is a district in Nihonbashi, Chūō,
Tokyo, known as the financial center of Japan. ↩
3 太政官: The Daijōkan was the highest organ
of Japan's government from 1868 to 1885, essentially the Grand Council of
State during the early Meiji period. ↩
4 The Mitsubishi and Mitsui groups had significant, competing interests in
developing the Marunouchi district in Tokyo. The Mitsubishi group, in
particular, was a primary landowner in the area and played a pivotal role in
transforming Marunouchi from its original use into Japan's premier business
and office district.
In the early 20th century, Mitsubishi purchased the land that makes up much
of the Marunouchi district from the government. The company pursued a vision
of creating a modern office town based on London's urban design, which
involved the construction of numerous brick office buildings.
The rivalry with the Mitsui group stemmed from the fact that both were
powerful business conglomerates with substantial real estate holdings and
competing visions for urban development in central Tokyo. While Mitsubishi
focused on the Marunouchi side west of the Imperial Palace, Mitsui developed
properties on the Nihonbashi side to the east, leading to a historic
competition to define Tokyo's modern business landscape. ↩
5 土御門晴尭: Tsuchimikado Haretaka (1827–1869)
was the head of the Tsuchimikado family during the turbulent period of the
Meiji Restoration. ↩
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