Chapter 10 investigation

one The ABC Newsreel Company had an office near Kyobashi, on the fourth floor of the building. Mihara had already called in advance, found the person in charge, and asked for a newsreel about the ceremony of the Nunakari Shrine. Probably not yet returned to Kyushu, the sales director replied on the phone, I will go to Katakura to look for it now, and please come to our company to see it in an hour. Thank you for your trouble. You're welcome.As long as it can help the investigation, we are happy to do it.The attitude of the other party is very good. Mihara hung up the phone, and an hour later, he went to ABC Company and opened the glass door.The whole building was filthy and the offices were in disarray.

Five or six tables are put together, and four or five employees are busy. After all, it is a film company, and the walls are covered with posters.There is an iron box containing film on the table, as well as stacks of promotional materials. Mihara was taken behind the screen, and that was the simple living room. The sales director who met for the first time, about 42 or 3 years old, immediately said: The film is ready and waiting for the screening in the screening room. What a bother.So, watch it now!Mihara said. However, the police want to see the newsreel about the Bukari ceremony, which case is it related to?The other party is obviously very interested in this matter.

one little thing. During the search, unwilling to publish? Can't publish at the moment, sorry.Mihara bowed. Well, when the truth comes out, let us know.After the sales director finished speaking, he took Sanyuan to a completely isolated room opposite.That's the test room. The average movie theater has a big screen, but ours is much smaller here.said the sales director before turning off the lights.The film has to be played from the beginning, with the Bukari Shrine ritual in the middle. Nevermind, I haven't watched a newsreel in a long time either.Mihara said. At the order of the sales director, the room was completely dark and the music started.

What was shown on the screen was the news of the third week of February this year. The news at that time seemed quite old now. After playing for a few minutes, the theme changed, and the sales director came over and whispered in Sanyuan's ear: "The following is it." Before the sentence was finished, a close-up shot of the roof of the shrine appeared, and the bonfire was brightly lit. Superintendent Mihara couldn't help becoming nervous. The narration is accompanied by music. A close-up of the front of the shrine.In a long shot, the picture panned to the dark sea, and another torch appeared, reflected in the sea.

An explanatory text appeared on the screen, introducing the reason for the sacrifice. The Hebukari ceremony is held every year in the early morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year.According to the ancient ritual, the priest entered the sea before the tide came.This custom has been recorded in the Chronicles of Koji, and it has been the oldest shrine ritual in my country for two thousand years.No matter how cold the weather is, the priest must go into the knee-deep seawater, use a sickle to cut off the wakame at the beginning of the year, put it in a bucket, and pray for a good harvest in the new year in front of the god.

A close-up of the bonfire, followed by a shot of the three priests.Holding sickles and wooden barrels, they cut off the seaweed and put it in the barrel. After the shot is over, we return to the ceremony inside the shrine. Mihara's eyes were fixed, noticing whether the camera angle on the screen was the same as the photo taken by Mineoka.Mihara has already remembered the photos taken by Mineoka in his mind. In order to visit this festival, people in Kyushu are naturally no problem, and some people come from Osaka and Tokyo. There was a scene of a crowd watching lively, and flashing lights were constantly flashing in the crowd.Shots of the priest, the old man, and the exterior of the shrine appear alternately.

Finally, the camera switched to a long shot of the scenery of the Kanmon Strait at night, and this report came to an end. stop!The sales director waved to the projectionist. The lights in the room came back on, and the projectionist waited to see what was going on here. Sorry, can I show it again.Mihara begged. I understand that you can't see why just by looking at it once. The sales director ordered the projectionist to play it from the beginning, and the two waited for the lights to turn off while listening to the sound of the film being reversed. The sales director asked: Have you roughly found the place you need now?

I found it, but this time I have to focus on a small area and conduct research. The movie starts again. Mihara still stares intently, not missing anything. No, not at all. Mihara looked at it while denying it.In the end, he completely denied it. Thank you very much. The lights in the test room were turned on again, and Mihara thanked the sales director again and again. Where, it is very convenient. Although I didn't find out the clues from the film, it can always be seen that many people in the audience did use flash photography. Who made this newsreel, is it here?Mihara asked.

The sales director turned around and shouted, "Is Gu Chuan-kun there?" It seems here. So, can I meet the photographer for a while.Mihara requested. very convenient.He will also be happy to do his best.said the director. The lad is capable.The number one in our company.Young and traveling everywhere. two Sanyuan was brought back to the original place by the sales director. This is Mr. Furukawa. The sales director introduced the person who called to Mihara.The photographer, Gu Chuan, is a young man in his twenties, tall, and his face is tanned by the sun.One can tell at a glance that he is a photographer who often goes out on location.

After the introduction, Mihara pulled an envelope from his pocket, which contained a replica of Mineoka's photo of Monday. Mr. Furukawa, do you recognize these photos? Gu Chuan took them over, looked at each one carefully, and immediately said, this is a ritual of the Wabu Kari Shrine. Mihara looked at his face, and you thought it was exactly the same as the ceremony you photographed at that time! Yes, it's this year. So, you shoot every year? No, I didn't go last year, I just went once three years ago.I don't go there every year, I travel to Kyushu once every three or four years.So, this year is the third time I went after the war.These photos were indeed taken this year, I can attest to that.

From the perspective of photos, what is the difference between the location and the newsreels you shot? The location of these three photos is probably to my right.For the other five, the positions have changed a lot. The so-called right side is the right side facing the sea? yes.I stood in front of the main hall to take pictures. The angle of these photos was probably taken from the east square. These materials are very helpful, Superintendent Sanyuan recorded them one by one. Judging from the newsreel shown just now, there are many people holding cameras and taking pictures? Yes, cameras have become very popular in recent years, no matter how remote the place.Both amateurs and ordinary people like to take a few photos. Please take a look at these photos again.Are there any places that are exactly like the ones you photographed? The scene of the photo? I mean the photo is exactly the same. Gu Chuan understood his intention.You mean, did you use my newsreel remake.The man's mind was quick, and after reading it again, he concluded that no, it was not at all different.First, the angle is wrong. You just said that this was taken in the East Square.How many amateur photographers are there in the square? That can't be said, it's a lot anyway.He thought for a while.It is best to take the sacrificial ceremony on the square.According to my memory, there were about a dozen people. Can you see the faces of the people taking pictures over there? I can't see clearly, the ceremony is carried out in the dark, and I can't see the faces clearly at all. Even though there are electric lights before the ceremony, it is impossible to write down the faces. To be cautious, Mihara took out a bust of Mineoka Zhou Yi from another pocket: Is this person in the audience, do you remember? The photographer Gu Chuan looked at the frame of the photo, shook his head and said: I don't know if this person is there.The main reason is that there are too many audiences. I am afraid that the camera will be overwhelmed by people, and I have been taking care of it, so I can't care about other things. Did any of the other newsreel companies send someone to the scene? No, only our company went to take pictures of the Wabu Kari Shrine.I heard that there was no one on the TV station either. The TV station didn't send anyone at all? Never seen. When it comes to this, the TV thread is all dead.There are no TV films, and newsreels are useless. Only this ABC newsreel company makes films. Superintendent, do you think someone used a normal camera to re-take pictures from the screen? Technician Furukawa asked with a smile on his black face. Yeah, that's what I was thinking.Mihara said. That's impossible.Furukawa said.The photos you brought here were taken directly with an ordinary camera.If it's our picture, the lighting is different, you can see it right away. These few words are completely consistent with the opinion of the technician of the Forensic Division of the Metropolitan Police Department. Mihara left the old building.Although this trip did not gain much, it did not return empty-handed.From what Gu Chuan said, we can know that there were more than a dozen amateur photographers in the shrine that night. Mihara returned to the Metropolitan Police Department.He called the newspaper that issued a professional photography magazine.It was the editor in charge who listened. We are the Metropolitan Police Department here, and we have some inquiries. Please say. I heard that there is an organization of amateur photographers in Kitakyushu, can you find the list? It will be found soon, please wait. Waited three minutes. The editors read out the names, addresses, and responsible persons of amateur organizations in Moji, Ogura, Shimonoseki, Yawata, Tobata, Wakamatsu, and Fukuoka, and Mihara transcribed them. He then drew up an official letter. From the night of February 6th to the early morning of the 7th this year, as we all know, the Moji City and Nunari Shrine held sacrifices as usual.Come to think of it, members of your organization also went to take pictures and got excellent works.For a certain case, the Metropolitan Police Department would like to ask the following questions: (1) The name and address of the person who went to take the photo at night when the ceremony was held at the Nunari Shrine, (2) Did you lend the film or the photo, (3) Has anyone borrowed the film or the photo, (4) If you have given the photo to a friend, please ask as much as possible The list of the other party, (v) Is there a photo exhibition of the Henukari Shrine ceremony, and if so, the date and place of the ceremony, (vi) If you have photos of the ceremony, can you borrow them all to see, (vii) Has there been any stolen films or photos. three The official letter was copied by the printing department and distributed to various photography groups. In addition, several copies were sent to the Fukuoka Prefectural Police Headquarters, which forwarded it to the six police stations in Kitakyushu City. A copy was also sent to the torikai detective at the Fukuoka Police Station.Report the case summary to the prefectural police headquarters in detail, and fully explain the intention in this regard. This process is actually too late.As long as people's concepts are fixed in one place, their horizons will easily become narrow.Until then, Mihara's thoughts had been fixed on newsreels and television. Copying a photo taken by others, the effect of the negative film is actually not much different from the actual photo. Mihara has great expectations for this treatment. However, this treatment is not completely comprehensive.This is because although the official letter was sent to an amateur photography group, there is a possibility that someone other than the members leaked the photos.He entrusted the Fukuoka prefectural police to conduct an investigation in order to conduct the same investigation in various photo printing shops in Fukuoka City, in addition to the above-mentioned groups. Ordinary amateur photographers mostly post their photos in photo printing shops on the street.After all, there are not many people who make films and post photos by themselves. Moreover, the people who visit and the Nukari Festival are not limited to those who live in Kitakyushu.However, there will not be too many other people.Members of the photography group must have a lot of enthusiasm to stand in the Wabu Kari Shrine all night in the cold February night, so there are certain restrictions on such people. What Mihara thought of was not only to lend the film he had shot to others for reprinting, but also to exhibit his works at the Nunakari Ritual. Amateur group photography will be plentiful.Maybe Mineoka knew that there was such an exhibition of works, and then flew from Tokyo to Kyushu again to retake the photos taken by others at the venue.If this is the case, Mineoka can freely use his eight-frame film to take pictures of the scene without the photographer's attention. So, did Mineoka travel to Kyushu again later?If you have been on a business trip, when did you do it?Mihara felt the need to investigate. He called an agent in this time and told him that he didn't have to ask Mineoka in person, but that it was enough to try to find out whether Mineoka had been on a business trip after February 7th. The detective came back that evening and reported that Mineoka had indeed been out.I inquired with the staff of Aurora Transportation Company and found out the place and date of his business trip.That's it. The agent handed over a piece of paper.Three days from February 16th, to Fukuoka Daito Company; two days from March 15th, to a certain automobile factory in Nagoya; two days from March 27th, to another automobile factory in Nagoya. Mihara read the report two or three times. Sure enough, he went to Fukuoka again. From February 16th, he went to Fukuoka for three days.Either there was a photo exhibition of the Wanukari Shrine ritual, or a newsreel was shown in the city movie theater.Unfortunately, however, neither photos nor newsreels can be found. This time he went to Fukuoka for a business trip, only in Fukuoka city?Mihara raised his head and asked the detective. When the detective heard this, he scratched his head unconsciously.I just wrote it down as the clerk over there wrote it down.I did not inquire about this matter. Enough is enough.Don't ask any more questions just yet. Mihara's reluctance to startle the snake made Mineoka on Monday vigilant.Or ask Fukuoka detective Shigetaro Torikai to handle it quickly and steadily. He often goes to Nagoya.I went for two days on March 27th, isn't it just a few days? Calculated, it was only five days ago. It is said that their transportation company often needs to change cars and order orders, so there are many business trips to Nagoya. When Mihara heard this, he ended his conversation with the agent. He picked up the letter to Shigetaro Tokai that had been written but had not yet been sent, and added a few points. Mihara waited for an answer with trepidation. According to his thinking, the earliest reply would be Agent Torikai.It takes time for photography groups to communicate among members and to hear news.With the note from the Metropolitan Police Department, the other party must be more nervous and cautious in doing things. Mihara's conjecture was really good. Three days later, Shigetaro Torikai's reply came first. After receiving the letter, an investigation was immediately launched.There are currently eight photography groups in Fukuoka, which are unprecedentedly grand, but after in-depth investigation, there are many of them with only three or five members.According to separate inquiries, none of the eight groups held a photo shoot with the Nunikari Shrine.Therefore, an exhibition of festival photos from Muwa Nunakari Shrine is held. Secondly, the photo printing shop has also been investigated in detail.At present, there are about 40 printing shops in Fukuoka. We sent people to check with each other, and none of them received business to print photos of this year and the festival of Nunakari Shrine. However, it is clear that someone went to Wabu Kari Shrine to take photos of the ceremony, but where are the photos developed?This remains to be investigated in detail. Next, we should report Mineoka's development on Monday. Mineoka took the express train to Fukuoka at 11:25 am on February 16, and arrived at Dadong Company at 1 pm.He told Dadong Company about the arrival time of the train.It took more than two o'clock to negotiate business, and I resigned at three o'clock.According to what Mineoka told the company staff before his departure, he will go to Fukuoka City for a while to visit, and see you around 6 o'clock.From six o'clock, Mineoka and the main staff of Dadong Company had dinner at the Shin Miura restaurant in the city.After dinner at nine o'clock, accompanied by staff from Dadong Company, he went to two or three bars in the city to drink, and then returned to the Hakata Hotel where he was staying. According to the hotel report, he went back to his room at around 11:30 that night and went to sleep, got up around 10:00 the next morning, had breakfast in the room, and went to Dadong Company at 11:20, and started to negotiate at noon.On that day, it lasted until after five o'clock, and then I was accompanied by the staff of Dadong Company to the station, and took the express train back to Tokyo at 6:18. Hereby report as above. After receiving the letter from Torikai, Mihara is waiting for answers from other photography groups. There are new cases in the west.