Chapter 122

The Collapse of Tokyo (2)

When I was young, there was an earthquake in San Francisco.

It was truly horrific.

That single blow cost San Francisco its position as California’s top city, handing it over to Los Angeles—no further explanation needed.

Fear.

Terror.

Disorder.

Chaos.

Until things were brought somewhat under control, there had never been a time as desperate, nor a time when the future felt so uncertain day by day.

And now, a quake far more intense than that was striking here.

A dreadful tremor where one second felt like a full minute.

The ground heaved more violently than any ship at sea.

Dust scattered from nearby buildings, and flimsy wooden houses collapsed with thunderous crashes.

“Kyaaaaaaah!!”

Screams echoed from afar, but against this overwhelming roar of earth and sky, the human voice was nothing more than a faint whisper brushing the ears.

Before this immense destruction, everyone was left speechless.

“Hah… haa… Is it over?”

“Is everyone okay? No one hurt?”

The moment the shaking stopped, I jumped out of the car and scanned the streets.

A fierce wind lashed against my face, but worrying about something like wind was a luxury we didn’t have.

“My God…”

What should have been a peaceful Saturday—

Smoke and screams were rising all over Tokyo.

After the terrible tremor, as if waiting for this moment, flames erupted from all directions, threatening to swallow the entire city.

“Damn it.”

“I-Is this really an earthquake?”

“Turn the car around. We’re going to the embassy.”

“What about the contract?!”

“Is that really what matters right now?! At this rate, we’ll all die! Earthquakes don’t just hit once and end! Driver, step on it!”

“Yes, sir!”

At that moment, the world shook once more.

Not as violently as before, but just as terrifying.

“What are you doing?! Move! The shaking stopped—go now!”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

Cars were scattered across the roads, but somehow we managed to drive back toward the embassy.

Ours was the only vehicle still moving.

Drivers and passengers alike had abandoned their cars, standing frozen as they watched this city of glory—built over half a century since the Meiji Restoration—collapse under what seemed like divine punishment.

“The wind…”

“Sir?”

“The wind is unusually strong today.”

“There was a forecast saying a typhoon was approaching.”

“Do you think they can put out all those fires?”

“I’m sure the fire department will… handle it.”

“You saw those buildings collapse earlier, right? Fire is one thing—but what about the people trapped underneath?”

Most of Tokyo’s buildings were wooden structures.

It was around lunchtime, so cooking fires had been burning all over the city.

And now, with the typhoon approaching, powerful winds were raging without pause.

Every sign pointed to the worst possible outcome.

RUMBLE—!!

“Ugh—Aaaah!!”

“Get to the middle of the road! If buildings collapse, we’re dead too!”

“Yes, sir!”

Tremors.

More tremors.

The earthquake continued, almost once every minute.

By the time we barely made it to the embassy, my fears had already become reality.

“Tokyo! Tokyo is burning!”

“Th-this is insane…”

A massive inferno engulfed Tokyo.

***

“You’re safe! I was worried!”

After roughly shoving the pale-faced Edsel into the embassy, Hajji and I immediately met Ambassador Cyrus E. Woods, who had replaced Warren.

“How are preparations for relief coming along?”

“We’ve armed all the embassy guards. First, we need to secure our citizens in Tokyo.”

“Understood. Hajji, join them.”

“And you, sir?”

“I… need to meet some important people.”

“That’s probably the best course of action.”

Another aftershock hit, briefly cutting off our conversation. Pretending not to notice our trembling hands, we lit cigarettes.

“This is the worst possible timing. Truly.”

“You don’t think the Japanese government can overcome this disaster?”

“This isn’t something any country could handle easily, let alone Japan. The prime minister died just a week ago. And now the capital—the very core of the nation—is in this state. What can they possibly do?”

Think.

I had to think.

The most urgent matter was the rescue of American citizens. That was my duty—my responsibility. I could not neglect it.

“The embassy guards are too few in number. We’ll need assistance from the police… or the Japanese military.”

“Agreed.”

“I have some connections within the military. It would be best if I meet them.”

“Then I’ll speak with the government officials.”

“Hajji, head out immediately. The embassy alone won’t be enough to shelter everyone—use my house as well.”

“Understood.”

“Ah—then use my house too! Here, take the key.”

We quickly divided our responsibilities. Just as I was about to head out to find my contacts in the Japanese military, a car rushed up to the embassy.

“Is everyone safe?!”

“No one here is injured. It’s a relief that you’re safe as well.”

“Thank goodness. The event is no longer important—for now, please stay somewhere secure.”

Terauchi’s face showed clear signs of shock. Faced with an unprecedented disaster, it was only natural.

“I know you’re busy, but may I have a word?”

“Yes, you need not worry about the safety of American citizens. The Minister of the Army has already ordered troops to be deployed immediately to handle the situation.”

“It’s a slightly different issue.”

There was no way an earthquake of this magnitude wasn’t the Great Kantō Earthquake.

I had thought it would happen in ’25—but it was ’23. Damn it.

And this earthquake wasn’t the end of the tragedy.

It was only the beginning.

Part of me wanted to avoid it altogether—but even standing in the middle of this disaster, I apparently wasn’t heartless enough to ignore what was about to come.

“On the way back, I saw buildings collapsed everywhere, fires breaking out in all directions. It was a horrifying sight.”

“The Empire has endured earthquakes many times and overcome them each time. This will be no different. Please trust us.”

No. I can’t.

“Of course, I trust you. But the situation among Japan’s politicians is quite chaotic right now, isn’t it?”

“…That is true.”

“Someone will have to take responsibility. I worry that this situation might spiral in an unfortunate direction.”

Terauchi paused, then seemed to immediately grasp my implication.

“Are you perhaps concerned about the Koreans? That this chaos and anger might be directed at them?”

“A significant number of those currently in Tokyo are people I’ve already marked for recruitment—people I intend to bring to America and make use of. And if relations between Japanese and Koreans deteriorate, it would put me in a very uncomfortable position as well.”

A way to stop the Kantō Massacre?

If I knew that, I’d be a god.

Still, I had to play every card available.

“I have no intention of interfering in your country’s internal affairs, but from my perspective, this earthquake could become a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Army.”

“An opportunity?”

“Yes. An opportunity. In times of urgent disaster, the people inevitably come to see the true capabilities of those who govern them. It is the greatest test.”

It had always been that way.

It was true during the San Francisco earthquake, and in my previous life as well—whenever large-scale disasters occurred, the government’s actions were always put under scrutiny.

“If people who have lost their homes, their property, and their families are not sufficiently aided by the government, they will lose faith in it. And if the proud Army steps in to restore order, who do you think they will trust?”

“I have received valuable insight. Thank you for your counsel.”

That was probably as far as I could go. Pushing further would be dangerous.

Please—just let this get through those Army heads.

“I will dispatch several companies from the Imperial Guard Division. You may use them to assist in securing the American residents in Tokyo.”

“Thank you! Truly, thank you!”

“It is only natural, for the friendship between our nations. I shall take my leave now.”

“Yes. I wish you fortune in battle.”

Soon after, additional Japanese troops joined us. Hajji and I immediately began moving through Tokyo, checking on the survival of American citizens and guiding them to temporary shelters.

A hellish September had begun.

***

As expected, all of Japan fell into panic.

The massive inferno threatening to consume Tokyo showed no sign of weakening even after a full day, and simply setting up tents across every open space to house refugees was already pushing Japan’s administrative capacity to its limits.

With radio still not widely available, the media was half-paralyzed, and all kinds of rumors spread unchecked.

“I heard Koreans are committing massacres!”

“They say communists and Koreans are setting fires!”

“They say the entire government was swept away by the earthquake!”

“They say the eastern part of Tokyo was swallowed by the sea!”

Absurdly enough, the ones fueling this chaos were the Japanese government themselves.

More precisely, faced with an unprecedented disaster, the leadership could not reach consensus, while the lower-level officials ran amok independently.

“If Koreans engage in suspicious activities, the government will immediately step in and punish them severely! Citizens must refrain from acting on their own and trust the police and military!”

At the same time this announcement was issued, a secret directive was also sent out:

“Find and report incidents of crimes committed by Koreans.”

The government struggled to suppress vigilante groups, but local police officers were opening armories for them, and soldiers were killing people arbitrarily.

A complete loss of control.

The high-ranking officials, for all their arrogance, had begun to sense it.

“So, General Kin said that?”

“Yes, sir.”

With the new cabinet formed on September 2, Yamanashi Hanzō stepped down as Minister of the Army.

However, respect for elders had been a tradition in Japan since the Meiji Restoration.

Though he had been pushed out, Yamanashi still wielded immense influence within the military.

“Tanaka (Tanaka Giichi) must be full of himself after reclaiming the position of Minister of the Army. But do you think he can hold that seat for long?”

“I believe Your Excellency is the one who should lead the Imperial Army.”

“I am well aware of your patriotism.”

Yamanashi understood well enough why General Kin had said what he did.

In his position, he could not ignore Koreans being slaughtered before his eyes—yet neither could he act openly.

“What is the situation in the military? Are the soldiers under control?”

“It is difficult. The ground keeps shaking, and everyone is on edge.”

“Of course. Naturally.”

This was an opportunity.

A perfect chance to remove those troublesome figures and make it clear to the Empire’s subjects that only the Army could protect them.

“Listen carefully.”

“Yes, sir.”

“From now on, observe closely whether the police are engaging in any misconduct.”

“The police, sir?”

“Yes. Those fools will not hesitate to commit disgraceful acts. If we can establish grounds that the police are spreading rumors and disturbing public order instead of protecting the people, we can remove them at once.”

After a brief pause, he continued.

“And arrange another meeting with General Kin.”

He would never refuse.

In fact, hadn’t he been the one to suggest it in the first place?

“Now is the time we need his reputation. Tell him—does he not wish to become a hero to the Koreans?”