2012 9/13 5:20PM

Hinode Beer President Kidnapping Special Investigation

Novel by Kobayashi Kaoru
Lady Joker

Hello, this is investigation team

Get ready to guard Mr. Shiroyama!

Good morning.
I'm going to make an announcement

A moment ago at 6:28AM...

we were alerted by the Yamanashi prefecture police headquarter....

that Mr. Shiroyama Kyosuke is under their protection.

How is Mr. Shiroyama doing?

Is the perpetrator targetting Hinode Beer? Or Mr. Shiroyama personally?

Do you have any more information on the perpetrator?

We'll make an announcement later

Wait!

Police just made an announcement about Mr. Shiroyama!

Let's re-do the outline!

Seri, come with us!

Yashiro, you too.

Yamanaka lake firehouse?

So that's where Shiroyama went to get help?

He had no external injuries?

OK

It's me

I took care of everything.

We are set.

Yeah? ok

You didn't forget about the photo, right?

Of course not

Alright. Thank you very much

Shiroyama is coming out of the building now

Mr. Shiroyama!

How are you feeling right now?

I was not a free man yet.

I was embroiled in a large conspiracy...

and it was only the beginning.

LADY JOKER

LADY JOKER
Episode 1

1 Year ago

1 Year ago - 2011 9/2

- Good morning
- Good morning

Have a great day!

- Good morning
- Good morning

I'm going to read out today's schedule.

Sure

Ride to the US-Japan industrialist meeting is at 9:40am

I will bring the script to the lobby later.

Thank you.

And...

Mr. Sakata from Democratic Party will be calling at 4:15

- And that would be it.
- Thank you.

Kamata Playground Murder Special Investigation

Mr. Miyoshi, you're still quite the calligrapher.

Anyway, did you find out anything?

Not yet

Team 1 is here

Thanks for your hard work

We'll begin Team 1 investigation briefing.

Ok

I've investgated from area A to C...

but I didn't find anything.

That's it.

Can you please elaborate?

Who did you talk to, and what did they say?

Without details, we can't learn anything

I interviewed a homemaker aged 51 in area A.

She was home all day and went to bed at 11pm...

but she did not hear anything out of the ordinary

Go go!

Run run run!

Ah!... he was a favorite to win too.

How did it go?

Today is not our day. Right, Lady?

Lady?

She's had her first period

- Guess we'll have to make her adzuki beans rice
- Not sure if I can afford to celebrate. (Japanese tradition to celebrate girl's first period by making adzuki beans rice)

All I do is drive my truck between Kansai and Tokyo.

Watch her for a minute.

His wife must not be doing so well.

He's been grouchy all morning

Right?

Mono-san, try this

Ah thanks. Yo-chan, have some too.

Thanks

- I've got a favor to ask
- What is it?

Before this month goes by,

would you open a savings account at my bank?

Sure thing.

Thank you.

- How was the race?
- Terrible

Only the big banks make money

Mr. Go, doesn't your family business make a lot of money?

Pachinko?

That business doesn't suit me.

I wish I could play a different person everyday.

Salaryman on Monday
Business owner on Tuesday

Criminal on Wednesday
Japanese on Thursday

- Zainichi (ethnic Korean) on Friday?
- Real funny, heh?

I wish there were something exciting

Like what?

A perfect crime

Handa-san, shouldn' you be working today?

I'm just gonna check out the main event

What are you betting on?
Lady Aya

You're wastng money!

Hello?

What?

Ok. I'll call you later.

What's the matter?

My grandson died

Hatano Dentistry

Hello?

Weekly newsapaper?

Financial News Editor - Nishimura Shinichi

Financial News Editor - Nishimura Shinichi
Mr. Nishimura...

It's newpaper on stocks and finance

So how can I help you?

As I've told you on the phone...

It's about your son's job application being rejected from Hinode Beer

A few days ago, Hinode's HR department received a letter...

accusing the company of discrimatory hiring

You're the one who sent the letter, right?

Don't misunderstand

I'm trying to help you.

Does the name Okamura Seiji ring a bell?

Okamura Seiji? I don't know

He is your wife's uncle

But my wife's maiden name is Monoi

Monoi Seiji became a adopted son, and took on Okamura surname

Okamura Seiji was also employed at Hinode Beer long time ago

He was there from 1954 to 1956.

After his resignation, he sent a letter to Hinode

This is that letter

How is this related to my son?

If you read the letter,

you'll see that it is very critical of Hinode Beer.

Do you think Hinode would hire a nephew of the person who wrote this letter?

Moreover, there's a problem with your background.

In Okamura-san's letter,

he mentions 3 of his colleagues.

All three of them are Burakumin...
(Low-class Japanese who still suffer from employment discrimnation to this day)

and claims that they were unfairly terminated from the company.

Monoi Pharmacy

Hello, this is Monoi?

Sorry for calling late. It's Hatano

Ah...

- Are you ok now?
- Yes, thank you.

That's good

I don't meant to intrude...

but is your brother's name Okamura Seiji?

If it's an Okamura Seiji from Aomori prefecture, then yes.

Is he still well?

Well.. it's been awhile since I've seen him.

Ah ok..

- Sorry for troubling you
- Ah it's no big deal.

You're welcome
Good bye

(100 years of superior quality. Hinode Gold)

Yo! This is your brother Seiji. Say hi.

You've grown so much!

Do you remember me? I'm your brother!

Hinode beer is so good.

You want some?

I got fired from Hinode today

Good morning

Vice President Mr. Shiraishi and Mr. Kurata are waiting for you

They're early.
They said it's urgent

Good morning

I apologize for being here so early.

What is the problem?

We just received a CD with weird voice recording.

CD?

During the 2nd round of job interview,

there was a candidate who dropped out because he wasn't feeling well.

His name was Hatano Takayuki

Because he didn't complete the interview, we rejected his application

But his father sent a letter objecting to the interview result

The father is from Burakumin background,

and accused us of discriminatory hiring practice.

Discrimination?
It's not true

So the HR denied the accusation.

And that's when we received this.

The interviewee Hatano died in a car accident after his second interview.

Died?

He was allegedly driving too fast.

So his father is now very upset.

This CD was also sent by his father?

There was no return address, but it's the same post office

Here's the transcript

Do you want to listen?
Yes

I, Okamura Seiji, am one of 40 people who left Hinode factory in Kanagawa prefecture last August.

The labor union pressured me to leave because of my health.

But I recently found out that the order came directly from the police.

On 5/1/1956, I was staying in Hibiya, Tokyo with a former colleague Noguchi Kazuichi.

Because the police considered Noguchi as a 'radical',

they urged termination of his employment.

Even though we were both eventually terminated,

I know there another painful reason behind Noguchi's termination.

December, 1952.
Okamura Seiji.

We confirmed that Okamura Seiji did work at the Kanagawa factory

and resigned Hinode in 1956

Based on our investigation, Okamura Seiji is...

a distant relative of the interviewee, Hatano Takayuki

So how did his father find out about this past?

A "Sokaiya" probably told him.
(corporate blackmailer who extorts money)

The day after the second interview, we received a suspicious call thought to be from Okada Association.

The caller claimed that the interviewee Hatano Takayuki is a distant relative of Okamura Seiji.

It's Okada Assoication again, huh.

Yes, I'm sorry.

It's not your fault, Mr. Kurata

And there's one more thorny issue

What's that?

Director Mr. Sugihara's daughter...

that is, your niece Yoshiko, was dating Hatano Takayuki.

She told her father that they intended to get married.

Yoshiko did?

Naturally, as parents...

they were curious about the boyfriend's family background

In short, Hatano's father's Burakumin background became an issue

So director Sugihara opposed the marraige

Yoshiko,did you know that Hatano Takayuki had applied to our company?

Nope

He had a second interview on the 2nd.

When did you last meet with him?

On the 1st.

The day before the interview

Yes, at the university

Sorry for asking, but what did you talk about?

That I intend to move out,

so we can live together.

Why did you say that?

About 3 months ago,

I told my parents about him.

So Dad hired an investigator.

When he found out about Hatano's father's Burakumin background,
he opposed the marriage

I told him I don't need a stupid parent like that

Yoshiko, you are out of line
But it's the truth!

You're no different Mom!
Calm down.

And?

And......

With my mind set on moving out,

I met him on the 1st.

What did he say?

He was shocked when I told him I'd be moving out.

But I didn't know how else to explain it to him.

So I just told him everything.

Everything?
Yes, everything

About the background investigation too?

But you can't be sure that's what led to his accident.

You're wrong.

He killed himself because of what I said.
That's enough.

Is this going cause problems for the company?

No, it won't.

Did you go to his funeral?

How can I possibly go?

His Parents know nothing about me.

I can't even go apologize...

Yoshiko, listen.

You are not responsible for Hatano's traffic accident

It happened because he was driving too fast

So you have to go meet his parents and give them you condolence

OK?

Let's go to your room

I'm sorry about this

Make some time tomorrow,

and go pay your respect with Yoshiko.

But VP Mr. Kurata said we should be careful because Okada Assoication is involved.

This is not a company problem.

It's strictly family problem.

I'll talk to Mr. Kurata about it, so you should still go.

Ok

I'm sorry about all this.
Is Yoshiko ok?

Somewhat

- Bye
- Bye

Nursing Home

Excuse me?
Yes?

I'm Monoi and I called yesterday.
Where is Okamura Seiji?

This way please

Seiji, I found you.

It's your little brother, Seizo.

Got a present for you

Hinode beer is so good

Seiji, don't you despise Hinode?

It's so good...

About that case, there hasn't been any changes.

OK

Thank you

Hey Handa, Mr. Miyoshi is looking for you

I'm excluding you from the investigation team.

I know what you've been doing for the past two months

You've been roaming outside your area, and completely neglecting your duty

There's no excuse for your behavior

I'm sorry!

From now on, go help out Mr. Takahashi...

with civil cases.

- That would be it
- Yes sir.

Excuse me.

You wait over there. I'll be right there.

What kind of case is it?

It's about intefering with business operation

Letter of complaint

Plaintiff: Hinode Beer Co.

Hey, you!

Why did you stare at me?

Why did you just stare at me?

No Reason

- Don't take me for a fool!
- Stop it, Handa!

Let it go!

Where did you find this letter?

A report named Nishimura sent it to me

What does he look like?

He is around 185cm

In his late 40s

He had a birthmark on his right

What did he want from you?

He claimed that the reason why Hinode didn't hire my son,

was because of their discriminatory hiring practice.

And we wanted be of assistance and gave us that letter.

Was it necessary to file a report?

You don't know Shinichi Nishimura?

- Shinichi? Why, you know him?
- Of course!

There's only one Nishimura with that birthmark.

He works as "Sokaya" for Okada Association

Okada Association?

I blame my husband for all this.

What?

He is completely at fault.

Ultimately, he hid his Burakumin background.

If I were to place a blame on someone,

it wouldn't be the girl's parents.

Because if your daughter wants to get married,

it's natural for the parents to be curious about the prospect's family background.