Meiji Tokyo Renka
Goodbye...
Goodbye.
Good—
Meiji Tokyo Renka
So, have you heard about that café they introduced on TV yesterday?
Oh, I saw that. It's near here, isn't it?
Their desserts should be half-price right now.
Why don't we go check it out?
I'll totally go.
I definitely want to go!
Let's do it!
I used to laugh like that a lot.
Happy Birthday Mei-chan!
Blow out the candles, Mei-chan!
One big blow!
Okay!
Yay!
Okay, time for Mei's favorite dish, roast beef.
I love roast beef!
You're so funny, Mei-chan.
But that's when the fun ended.
Cake? I like cake too, but I like beef even more!
What about you? Oh, you do? Really?
Hey, Mei-chan, who are you talking to?
Huh? My friends.
Y-Your friends?
Where are they?
They're right here, see?
Can't you hear them talking?
You want to join in? Okay, sure.
You do, too? Of course, what's your name?
I see, I see. Really?
It's okay, right?
M-M-Mei-chan!
G-G-Ghosts?
I heard that Mei-chan can hear ghosts talking.
Did you know? Apparently, that girl can see ghosts.
Whoa, really?
Mei-chan!
I never realized nobody else could hear them.
Mei-chan!
Hey, Mei-chan!
Talk to us!
Mei-chan, Mei-chan!
I've been alone ever since.
Yes, it's easier this way.
Hey, isn't that girl in your class? We should invite her.
You're Ayazuki Mei-san, right?
Do you wanna come with us?
Hang on a second!
Oh, I'll have to pass.
But thank you.
Y-You sure?
Forget about her.
She's always by herself.
She seems to like it that way.
Huh? Really?
She's been able to hear ghosts talking since we were kids.
Is that true? That's pretty amazing.
Amazing?
Never mind that, cake!
Yeah, that's right!
Mei-chan...
Mei-chan.
Now then, ladies and gentlemen!
The light of the Strawberry Moon shines bewitchingly on this night.
I invite you all to a mysterious world in this great magical show,
brought to you by a master of Western magic!
Behold, this box is an incredibly mysterious one
that makes everything that goes into it disappear.
I will show you how it can make anything disappear at once,
be it an elephant, tank, or airplane.
Of course, that includes any of you who wish to be anywhere but here.
Now, is there anyone here who might wish to step inside the box?
Perhaps you there, young lady.
What do you say?
Young lady, I insist.
Now then, allow me to show you how this young lady
will completely disappear once I count down from three.
How did I get roped into this?
I really hate being the center of attention.
What fate will befall this courageous young lady?
Please give a round of applause when she successfully disappears.
For some reason...
I feel rather at peace.
Three...
two...
one!
The Unexpected Strawberry Moon
Huh?
Wha—?
Why?
Eh? Huh? Eh?
What?!
What's wrong?!
Are you all right? Are you hurt?
I-I'm fine.
Let me take a look.
Are you in any pain?
I-I'm not.
You seem all right.
Yes.
What's this?
Oh, these are my headphones.
Headphones?
She appears to be unharmed.
Yes.
Come now.
Nevertheless, you are wearing quite reasonable clothing.
Huh?
It's a simple design using the minimum fabric necessary.
A style that emphasizes only functionality, without being inclined to extravagance.
I would say it is truly innovative, no, almost revolutionary.
Ougai-san...
Oh, pardon me.
Where do you live?
Unfortunately, we both have somewhere we need to be shortly.
However, afterward, I can have you taken home in this, if you wish.
A carriage?!
No, honestly, I'll be fine.
Thank you very much though.
You will not be fine.
Please feel free to ride with us.
We cannot just look the other way and let you go off on your own like this.
Come along.
But I...
If you would rather be attacked by stray dogs, then we won't stop you.
N-No, I can get home on my own. I—
Huh? Home?
Uh, where is my home, anyway?
More importantly, where am I?
I-I don't know.
Huh? What's happened to me?
You don't know?
When I woke up, I was just lying here.
Should we take her to the hospital?
No, there's no problem here.
Then, perhaps the police?
No. Would you like to come with us?
With you?
A carriage... I'm seriously riding in a carriage right now.
What is your name, young lady?
My name is... Huh? What is my name?
Oh, pardon my rudeness. My name is Mori Rintaro.
I serve as an army surgeon.
A-Army surgeon?
Syunso, you should introduce yourself as well.
I'm Hishida. Hishida Syunso.
Hishida Syunso-san.
It's very nice to meet you.
Syunso is an art student.
He is the darling of the Japanese art world.
What is your name, young lady?
Oh, right, my name is...
Mei.
Huh?
Mei. Ayazuki Mei.
A-Ayazuki Mei.
At least you remember your own name.
What was that voice just now?
Where am I?
Behold. We will be arriving shortly.
What is this?
The festivities this evening are being hosted by Inoue Kaoru,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
because the Crown Prince of Russia, Nicholas II, is visiting Japan.
T-The crown prince of Russia?
Umm... Where are we?
The Rokumeikan.
The Rokumeikan?
I've heard of it before.
But wait... Does the Rokumeikan still exist?
Look, the crown prince is over there.
The politicians are swarming around him.
Ougai-san, are you sure about this?
About what, Syunso?
Bringing a lady that is dressed so strangely to a party at the Rokumeikan?
S-Strangely?
What is with that girl?
She's wearing such vulgar attire.
She's utterly shameful, exposing her legs like that.
It'll be fine.
Now, Little Squirrel, enjoy yourself to the fullest.
Little Squirrel?
Little Squirrel.
Okay...
Why is he calling me that?
And he expects me to enjoy myself to the fullest?
How, though?
Th-That's the smell of roast beef!
Oh? So you like roast beef, Little Squirrel?
You should eat as much as you'd like, then.
You are welcome to eat whatever—
Ougai-san.
She's over there.
Pardon me.
Roast beef, roast beef.
Pardon me.
I'm so sorry!
I-I don't know who has touched this dish, and now it's touching me!
Honestly, Kyoka-chan, your germophobia is such a pain.
Kawakami...
And I told you not to call me Kyoka-chan!
Well, then, Izumi Kyoka-sensei, when is it going to be ready?
Your next play, that is.
Shut up!
A rabbit?
Hey, you! Don't get so close to me, would you?
I really hate it when someone I don't know gets close to me.
Pay him no mind.
Kyoka-chan is an extreme germophobe.
Stop calling me Kyoka-chan!
But this is my first time meeting such an assertive woman.
You went through all this just because you wanted to dance with me, didn't you?
Hang on...
The nerve of this girl!
I am supposed to dance the next song with Otojiro-sama!
You have to wait your turn.
We're all in line, you know.
Why don't you go back to the end of the line?
What's with her disgraceful clothing?
No, you've got it all wrong.
I was just following the scent of the roast beef.
And there was a rabbit on his shoulder...
A rabbit?
Where is this rabbit?
It's right there, on his shoulder.
Kyoka-chan certainly does like rabbits.
Don't call me that!
But he wouldn't bring a rabbit ornament here.
No, it's not an ornament. It's more fluffy-like.
Fluffy
Are you sure you didn't just see a ghost or something?
A ghost?
Did you mention ghosts just now?
Thank you for such an enjoyable moment, madame.
I hope you continue to have a pleasant evening.
Apologies for the delay. I am Lafcadio Hearn,
a teacher of English literature at Tokyo Imperial University.
And this is my Japanese name.
Tokyo Imperial University Instructor Japanese Folklore Researcher
Koizumi Yakumo
Koizumi Yakumo?
Like the man who wrote the tales of Hoichi the Earless?
My, so you have heard of me?
That pleases me immensely.
Well... I believe the name of the novelist who put together
that collection ghost stories was Koizumi Yakumo, but...
Huh? Did you say that's you? Wha?
A researcher of Japanese folklore, eh?
I am Kawakami Otojiro. Nice to meet you.
I am familiar with you.
You are the up-and-coming stage actor.
By the way, Miss...
May I have the pleasure of dancing with you, mademoiselle?
Hold on, umm...
Now then, please do continue with the topic you were discussing earlier.
Umm, umm, umm, umm, umm...
That man!
Oh, miss!
Hey, you!
Well, hello there, young lady. So this is where you've been?
I've been looking for you for quite some time.
Since there is a party here this evening,
I thought you might be wandering around here somewhere.
I'm glad you seem to be enjoying yourself.
Enjoying myself?
Will you have some?
Of course!
Nevermind about that, what happened to me when you did that trick?
I went into the box...
I went in, and when I woke up, I was in an unfamiliar park.
I can't remember all kinds of things, like where my own home is.
It's not surprising that you're confused.
Honestly, even I was surprised.
I call myself an extraordinary magician,
but even I didn't think I could actually make a person disappear.
Disappear?
Though it might be more accurate to say that I transported you.
Transported me?
Yes, from present day Tokyo to Meiji era Tokyo.
Meiji era Tokyo?
In other words, you traveled back in time.
And the reason your memory is so fuzzy is because of an accident that occurs when you travel through time.
Time travel...
Oh my, how terrible! The power went out.
A fox?
The piano is playing by itself!
M-My cane!
A ghost? No, it's just a mischievous fox.
Oh, come on. It's just a fox.
What a waste of my time.
Thank goodness, he's going to catch it.
Supernatural fox.
No!
Are you a Tamayori?
Eh?
You can see the ghosts.
Tamayori?
Huh?
Answer me, girl. Who are you?
It's all right, Little Squirrel.
Could you please refrain from such violence, Inspector Fujita
of the Metropolitan Police Department Supernatural Division?
What are you trying to pull, Army Surgeon First Class?
Or should I say, Mori Ougai-dono.
Mori Ougai?
I have a few questions for the girl.
Please do not glower so severely at my precious fiancée.
F-Fiancée?
You belong to me.
Isn't that right?
Meiji Tokyo Renka
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How magnificent!
I've never seen such a beautiful creature before.
May I pet you?
P-Pervert!