Earlier a body was found. On the eighth floor of the central tower.
But that's... the location of a famous urban myth.
(woman sobbing)
If you write the name of the one you love on an eraser...
they won't even look at anyone else.
So they'll fall in love with you?
But if someone else uses it: It's ruined.
So who is this Haruki person?
- It's a secret. - A secret?
Anyone got an eraser?
May I? Keeps your hands off it!
- Huh? - What do you think you're doing?
That's her love charm. If others use it
- the effect won't work. - What bollocks.
- Give me that! - No! No, I won't!
I hate youuuu!
Why are you crying? Stop acting like a child!
As a cop, you obey your orders without question!
- What's going on here?
Assistant Commissioner!
Otonashi. Tannai.
I have something important to say.
Why couldn't the others stay?
Earlier a body was found.
In the National Diet Building.
In the Diet Building?
Hm.
On the eighth floor of the central tower.
But that's... the location of a famous urban myth.
Otonashi, don't talk about that in front of the Assistant Commissioner.
That's right, Tsukiko.
The hall on the eighth floor was once used
by the staff as a dance hall.
But, a couple who met there had a forbidden love
and the woman threw herself from the eighth floor.
It has been said that sometimes you can still hear her crying
and the hall has not been used since.
But we went through the records
and found no report of any suicide.
Perhaps they decided not to record someone jumping from a government building.
Well... they'd record it somewhere...
But the most important thing is
that there's a murder that involves an urban legend?
Hm. We have a suspect.
- Suspect? - She called me directly.
Saying she'd killed someone and that she confesses.
The killer had your direct number? Who was it?
Member of the government, Okusu Sakura.
That crazy one who wears a miniskirt?
- You're friends? - In a manner of speaking.
I saw last night's "Debate Until Dawn".
You say you support the rights of working mothers
but you're from a political family. What do you know of work?
I may not have any children myself but
I think I know as much about working life as you do.
But, I once worked at a cabaret club.
And even now, I'm proud of the work I did.
It's this experience that helps me understand the wishes of the ordinary people.
Do the wishes of the ordinary people
include seeing their politicians in miniskirts?
We represent the people!
And who decided I can't represent the people
while showing a bit of leg!
It was such a cute skirt, I watched the whole thing.
You idiot.
I'm totally behind Hana Oka's policies.
- Her earrings were nice, too. - Cut that out!
That said, is this woman really a murderer?
That's the problem. There was something odd about her statement.
The ghost in the white dress...
It was because of the ghost in the white dress...
A ghost? Is that what she said?
Well, this is why I need to rely on your expertise.
Assistant Commissioner, excuse me for asking...
but are you serious...
about this being part of an urban myth?
Only me and some staff know about the confession
And we're trying to stop the story leaking out.
If you two took the case, I could have control of the mission
and I need you to work in secret.
- A mission. - But you only have two days before we tell the press.
Forty-eight hours to find the truth.
Two days.
Otonashi, I'm putting you in charge. Tannai, I hope you'll co-operate.
She- she's in charge?
I can't! I mean, I won't!
A policeman does not question the orders of his superiors!
- Ah. - Just one thing...
- What's that? - If the eighth floor
really is haunted, then...
Then..?
I want you to promise it'll go public.
In an official statement from the police.
- That the crime was caused by an urban myth. - Ah...
If it's true, or rather... if it might be a bit true
We don't really need to make an announcement, do we?
No, you must.
Whether people believe or not, they have a right to know the evidence.
What are you morons saying?
Sorry about that.
Okay.
If you can get cast-iron evidence we'll publicize it.
I'll definitely find it!
The Diet Building's urban myth!
subs:ersby
raws:furransu
I haven't been here since I went on a school trip.
The National Diet Building is a special place.
There have been orders from up top to restrict access.
Ordinary police can't investigate.
Hm? What's that?
He's been hanging on to it for a long time.
It a piece of old ribbon.
The victim is Honma Masahiro, 42.
he's a political reporter.
The estimated time of death was between two and four o'clock today.
This place is usually off limits?
Yes, apart from once a year when it's used for official events
no one is allowed to enter.
The criminal is someone who knows this building well.
Maybe it could be a politician?
With all this secrecy, I'd say that's a safe bet.
This is a difficult case.
Which is obviously why they asked me to take it.
I want details of everyone leaving and entering the building today.
- Every last person. - Sir!
Katsuura. Take that end.
Ah. Sure.
All together.
Huh?
(waltz)
What's up with him?
What are you doing?
Hey! What's happened?
Oi! Can you hear me? Are you okay?
Snap out of it! Get a grip!
Ah, you'll be working under Gohara for this case.
Sir?
Okay.
What does this mean?
Everything I've worked for... over.
Is the team being disbanded?
What? Seriously?
- Let's go, Tannai-san. - Yes.
Tannai-san, what's going on.
Don't ask me any questions.
- Tannai-san. - Yes.
Tannai-san...
Officer Otonashi of the investigation team.
Officer Tannai of the investigation team.
Tannai-san, please.
I'll use these to make a barrier.
So you'll be perfectly safe in this room.
You can talk about anything.
You believe my story?
That's why I'm here.
Tannai-san, please put these in the four corners.
- Where? - Up there.
And the sand too, please.
- Minister Okusu, if you please... - No need to be so formal.
Well, then... Sakura-san.
- Ah. Other way round. - Hm?
- They should face the other way. - Oh, right.
Please tell me everything you remember from that time.
I'd finished at a committee, and it was about two o'clock.
I felt a tap on the shoulder
and I turned around.
The woman in white was on the ceiling?
Yes, and I could hear a waltz
I started to feel dizzy.
Waltz.
Like they'd use at a dance hall.
I must have used the stairs
although I don't remember a thing
and then I was on the eighth floor
with a dead man right in front of me.
Assistant Commissioner? It's Okusu. I think I just killed someone.
That's all I remember.
We found no fingerprints on the murder weapon.
Were you wearing gloves?
Do you remember wiping the weapon clean?
I don't know.
Where did the weapon come from?
- I don't know. - Hm, it doesn't make sense.
Before you arrived at work
you must have been carrying the knife
- so that- - It's not strange.
It might have been the work of the spirit.
Did you know Honma-san?
No... I didn't.
The problem is the woman in the white dress.
Why did she choose you two to be the victim and the criminal?
I can't believe you're walking around government in that short skirt.
They say investigating is mostly leg-work.
- Not that kind of leg-work. - So this is Sakura-san's office.
I told you I couldn't stand it.
I'm sick of being that crazy woman's secretary.
Now she's gone off somewhere. She won't answer her calls.
I'll talk to you later.
How can I help?
I'm Officer Otonashi from the police. This is my assistant, Tannai-san.
Assistant?.. Officer Tannai.
Ah, this is Sakura-san's autobiography.
She looks great.
When I worked as a hostess I decided to run for government.
I studied for a degree at evening classes
And I became a member of parliament for Tsuchiura in the Ibakari Prefecture.
Amazing.
May I take one?
Please. Why are the police here?
I heard a rumour about a murder on the eighth floor.
Is it true?
It can't be - Okusu-san is the victim?
No, nothing like that.
We're just taking witness statements.
Is that right. Well, Okusu-san is out at the moment.
And you are?
Her personal assistant, Nomoto.
Nomoto-san, can I ask you...
about the ghostly women in white on the eighth floor.
- Hey. - I think everyone who visits the Diet
hears about that. Absurd.
Just a ghost story.
- Minister Hana Oka! - I'm Otonashi of the Investigation Team.
First a politician in a mini-skirt, and now the police.
Sorry. I'm Tannai of the Investigation Team.
- Pleased to meet you, Officer Tannai. - Pleased to meet you, too.
I hear there are reporting restrictions. Is that true?
Something about a murder on the eighth floor?
- We are asking people to- - Minister, do you know about
the ghost on the eighth floor?
Well... I've heard of it.
Of course you've heard of it! It's a famous story, right?
Certainly, I've heard that stories that anyone who went there
would be affected by the curse the next day.
But the curse of the eighth floor
has also been used to explain people's defeats at elections.
Could it be that you've seen something?
No. But if it is real, it's a sad story.
All those years of not being able to rest in peace.
Definitely a tragic tale of love.
Minister Hana Oka
do you really believe such a silly story?
Of course.
But I admit I find living people more scary.
Especially politicians.
Minister, you words carry much weight.
If you want, please speak to Secretary Ikezoe. He's like a walking encyclopedia for this area.
I see.
So there are people who think they've been victims of the curse of the eighth floor.
It's just a rumour.
- By the way, is the other rumour true? - Other rumour?
For the Diet Building to various places
is a network of tunnels
connected directly to the Prime Minister's office.
That other rumour.
Well, during the war.
They dug a tunnel to a bomb shelter.
Really? That's true?!
But it's all been filled in now.
But are you two really investigating
if this is the work of an old curse?
- Yes! - Well, not really.
I thought as much.
Police wouldn't believe in old myths and legends.
Of course. She's the exception.
Well, I hope I've helped.
Thank you very much.
- Well, shall we go? - Where?
To talk to the other victims of the curse.
No, I'm fine- (whistle)
Hold it right there! You pests!
- What pests? - Us?
You got Katsuura involved in all this.
Katsuura?
Because he follows you all the time he's taking time off.
It must be because he's working so hard.
Has something happened to Katsuura?
- What the..? - Ah, Tsukiko-san!
Could you put this picture straight for me?
- It's driving me mad. - What happened to you?
I don't know. I was at the scene of the crime
and when I was about lift the body, I seized up.
Scene of the crime? You mean the hall on the eighth floor?
Yes. I heard a waltz and
then my back locked.
Waltz? You were hit by the curse?
Katsuura's a victim of the curse!
Don't say that. You're scaring me.
Take this charm.
And this biography of Sakura Okusu. It's pretty interesting.
Thanks.
By the way, was there anything interesting at the crime scene?
- There was a ribbon. - Ribbon?
The victim was clutching it in his hand.
It seemed quite old. Like from the post-war period.
Post-war?
That's right. That's when the hall was being used.
The time of the tragic couple.
Finally, it'll be announced.
- What announcement? - Look out for the ceilings.
It seems the ghost in the white dress can crawl across them.
- See ya! - Are you trying to scare me?
It's completely unnecessary.
You can't identify everyone who entered and left the building.
With around 700 members and then journalists and staff
thousands of people come and go. No exact records are kept.
And surveillance cameras?
- There aren't any. - What?!
Because there are so many guards present
they don't have any cameras in that area.
So that's how it is, huh?
- How do we proceed now? - You're asking me how to proceed?
Get a statement from all the staff!
Why am I stuck with Tannai's team?
- I feel like I'm missing out. - Tannai-san!
Tannai-san is nothing to do with this investigation.
- Let's go, Watanabe.
Please do.
I feel so tired these days.
- Tannai-san, may I have a word? - Sure.
Are you working on the same case as us?
Sorry, but I can't talk about that.
Why is it you and Otonashi?
Is it because we're friends that I was taken off your team?
That's not why, Shibayama.
Good. Since you think that way
I feel like I can tell you what we've found
in our investigation.
We discovered that shortly before the incident, the victim and suspect
were seen in a corridor having a quarrel.
Give me a break!
Who are you to stick your nose in?!
She seemed to be very aggressive
and threatening.
Sakura Okusu?
And there's this.
Details about the victim, Honma.
Shibayama. Thanks.
Your secretary, Nomoto-san, was looking for you.
He can't be trusted. He was assigned randomly.
And we've never got along.
Your attitude and your miniskirt?
- Yep. - I was reading
Your book "Yankee girl in a miniskirt goes to government!"
You've had an amazing life!
I found out I was adopted in high school.
I fell out with my parents and things started going downhill.
But you tried hard
and paid your way through night school with money from my work in bars.
I wanted to meet my biological parents who had left me.
But I could never trace them.
So you became a politician?
Because the coverage of political debates is shown all over the country.
Oh, about the incident on the eighth floor.
We have some evidence connecting it to the ghost.
It seems to have been produced soon after the war
Sakura-san?
Where... did you find this?
Honma-san was holding it when he died.
Sakura-san.
Do you recognise this ribbon?
(knock)
What is it?
Before the incident you were seen arguing with Honma.
You said you didn't know him...
- but that was a lie. - Tannai-san.
Using the ghost story to hide your guilt, was that the plan?
What are you saying, Tannai-san?
Honma was a gambler who ran up debts.
Needing money, he dug into your past.
- Isn't that right? - Tannai-san!
Using the ghost story as an alibi? I hate people who lie!
- Well..? - Come here, please.
- Hey, get off me!
- What are you doing? - Get off!
I'm doing my job by the book. And I haven't seen much from the Assistant Commissioner.
- Shh! - Why? What for?
People can hear.
Keep your voice down.
Only twenty-four hours.
Let's go somewhere where we can't be overheard.
Fine by me. Let's go.
I guess we can't be overheard, but I wasn't expecting this...
Why did she bring me up here?
Sorry to keep you-
Why are you being so formal?
- Let's get this over with. - Why are you whispering?
I'm not whispering.
- You want to talk about something? - What?
Don't "what" me. Aren't you a bit close?
- I'm home. - Ah! Excuse me!
Sorry for interrupting?
You're not interrupting. I'm the one who should apologise.
- I can leave if it's important. - Well, it's confidential, but
- I guess it's okay, Miyako. - Of course.
Feel free to stay.
- In that case, I'll make some tea. - I'm fine thanks.
I wonder if they had met before.
- Who met who? - The people from the eighth floor.
Of course they did! What kind of drivel is this?
Ah, excuse me.
I'm not really angry.
- This is just how I discuss work. - Don't worry.
If you want to know my theory about Sakura-san...
She must have a motive. Perhaps she's hiding something.
- But... - No buts.
Either someone made Sakura look like the killer. This is a possibility.
But it could be that Sakura is the killer. That's the only other option.
But you don't know for sure.
But it must be right.
If there's the faintest of faint chances that
the evidence points to the myth, we'll have to say
"This time the murderer... was a ghost."
I can't let something so dumb go out as an official statement.
Sorry. I didn't mean to sound angry.
- It's just shop talk.
- Please. Enjoy your tea.
When did you put that there?
Huh? What's this?
(waltz) Ah? Again?
Waltz? You were hit by the curse?
(crying woman)
Huh?
Ah! Must be careful!
I can't hear it! I can't hear it! I can't hear any music!
(waltz)
Huh?
Why?
I refuse to recognise such a thing.
- What's that? - Good morning!
Katsuura! What are you doing here?
I'm here to lend you a hand.
Eh?
Take a look at this picture.
- Isn't that Minister Oka? - Do you mind if I..?
I did a search on many politicians yesterday
and this is what I found.
That ribbon!
It's the same one that Honma-san was holding!
That's not all.
What's wrong?
Also here
No doubt about it. The same one.
Why would these two woman have the same ribbon?
Perhaps Minister Oka is also a suspect?
Let's go, Tannai-san.
Good luck!
I'm busy from ten o'clock this morning so please be brief.
In that case I'll get to the point. Do you recognise this?
This was made in a Kimono shop just after the war
so it's pretty rare.
Ministers have many costumes given to them.
They can't be expected to remember a single ribbon.
By the way, at the time Honma-san was murdered
the day before yesterday between two and four
where were you?
At one o'clock I went to the Prime Minister's office.
From two until three she gave a harp recital for visiting dignitaries.
I was there, too.
After that, we had a meal with the guests.
So on the day of the murder
you spent the whole afternoon at the Prime Minister's office?
Until the evening.
- Can you prove that? - I don't understand you at all.
The Prime Minister's office. You can't just walk in and out, you have to go through security.
Minister Oka's alibi seems solid.
Maybe the ribbon thing is just a coincidence.
No, her alibi hasn't been checked yet.
Takeshi, dear. I mean: Assistant Commissioner.
The secret tunnel between the Prime Minister's office and the Diet Building
You've heard about this?
Well, yes.
In 1960, when the US-Japan treaty was signed
the were huge demonstrations and the Prime Minister tried to escape
by using these tunnels.
But didn't you say they'd been filled in?
Well, that's what the rumours said
but it seems that parts of the tunnel remained.
- Really? - But where they go...
- I really have no idea. - Please let me investigate.
If the Diet Building and the PM's office
are connected by a tunnel
that'd be about 400 metres in a straight line
then you can do a round trip in ten minutes.
Without leaving any record of having left the Office
Minister Oka's alibi is not confirmed.
Hm, perhaps it's a little weakened.
Good old Takeshi, dear.
Don't call him that. He's the Assistant Commissioner.
- That stinks. - It really does.
- Smells acidic.
Wow... this is great.
Where is this place? The stench is overwhelming.
What's this?!
Suspicious.
- There's a door here. - There is.
Should you touch it? It's all sealed up.
Aaggh!
(sound of wind)
Tannai-san, this must be the tunnel.
Wow. This place is amazing.
- I have a weird feeling about this. - Hm? Like what?
Is that a uniform?
Is it armour?
Now I think about it, this area did belong to the old Nabeshima clan.
Home to the devil cat, Bakeneko.
(cat meows)
What's that?
Why has it suddenly gone cold?
Let's keep going.
To be honest, I didn't really want to come here.
But if it means uncovering an urban myth, I guess I have to.
I already hate this place.
The blood of the people who created modern Japan
flowed through here.
There's also a ghost in the Prime Minister's Office.
One Prime Minister is amongst the people who've witnessed it.
They say it's a soldier from the February 26th Incident.
You can hear his footsteps marching before he appears.
(footsteps)
Like that...
An real urban myth... it's here!
What's this?
A foot!
- Otonashi. Hold this, please. - Yes.
Huh? What's that over there?
Aaagh! Aagh! Ooh, my god!!
It's okay.
Nomoto-san.
He can't be trusted. He was assigned randomly.
And we've never got along.
What the? Where am I?
Where were you hiding?
I'm tired. Maybe I should resign.
Prime Minister! How can you be so weak at a time like this?
The PM? So this is the real thing.
I've got to the Prime Minister's Office!
Hm? This is...
Why are we dressed like this?
To gain favour with the spirits living here.
Is this fancy dress?
- What's going on. - Assistant Commissioner.
This is a mark of respect for the spirits.
Ah... so you were able to find prove that the spirits exist?
Sakura-san. I believe what you told me
the legend about the ghosts putting a curse on this hall
we looked into it.
The victim was holding on to this old ribbon
and I thought this was proof the spirits were involved.
But I was wrong.
Thirty years ago, a woman cried for her lost love
and this was an important link.
Officer, we're terribly busy, so...
Minister Oka. Thirty years ago, you lost a loved one in an accident.
What does that have to do with anything?
Well... quite a lot.
Isn't that so, Ikezoe-san?
Pardon me while I explain.
The Oka dynasty produces generations of politicians,
the best of the best,
but one day
you met a poor man and fell in love.
So you decide to marry against your family's wishes.
You were already pregnant
with that man's child
but he died suddenly.
In shock, you were taken to hospital
where you gave birth prematurely.
And remained there, barely conscious.
When you regained your senses
the child had already been put up for adoption
and the whereabouts were unknown.
This is what's best for the child.
I given the child a ribbon, just like the one you own.
It was a girl.
Sakura-san, don't you have a ribbon like this?
Could it be?
Sakura-san is your daughter.
Honma was a gambler and deep in debt.
When he discovered this, he thought it'd make him rich.
A minister who was changing parental support
but had given up a child of her own?
Sounds like a chance for blackmail.
Sakura-san, on that day the person who tapped your shoulder
wasn't the ghost, but rather Honma-san.
Minister. Do you want to meet your real parents?
Huh?
There's a woman with the same ribbon as you: your mother.
I don't want to know.
Huh? Perhaps you already know
the identity of your real mother.
Then let's do this story now: the meeting of long-lost mother and child.
I'll be in the hall on the eighth floor at three. I've also called your mother.
There'll be no one there to interrupt us.
Give me a break!
Who are you to stick your nose in?!
But it the end, you did come here.
And you discovered the body of Honma-san.
Assistant Commissioner? It's Osuku.
I've just killed a man.
You really thought you knew who did it:
The person who killed Honma-san was your real mother
which is why you gave yourself up to the police.
You couldn't think of a real motive
so you blamed it all on the legend of the spirit in white.
But you were wrong.
Earlier we found the tunnel
from the PM's office to the Diet Building.
At the exit, I saw there was a surveillance camera
We checked the footage and saw
Ikezoe-san leaving the building.
You're not the person I'm expecting.
And when those two people meet, what will you do?
This ribbon was found in Minister Oka's office.
This is evidence that the minister abandoned her only child, right?
I could sell this for a high price on the market.
- Give it back! - Get off me!
This is too important to leave to you...
Give it back!
I'd have given it to you for money...
Give it to me!
Wife... child... money
Can this really be true?
Earlier I found the body of Nomoto-san.
My secretary?
This was your handiwork too, wasn't it?
Nomoto-san found out everything and threatened to go to the police.
- We can't keep this secret. - Please don't!
- This'll finish off Minister Oka too!
Stop! Stop that!
I hid the body in the tunnel.
What are you saying?
I beg your forgiveness.
It's all my fault.
I was the one who separated them thirty years ago!
I'm sorry.
But there's one thing I don't understand.
Why make the confession? To protect a mother who'd left you?
When I turned twenty
My foster parents told me the name of my real mother.
I hated her.
Right up until the end of that televised debate.
- Thank you. - Thanks for your hard work.
The newbie politician is a feisty one.
What did you have to do to get chosen by the party.
Women have it easy, they can just turn on the charm.
Don't worry about people like that,
Minister...
When I was young, I'd let myself get upset by those types.
You remind me of my younger self.
Let's be best of enemies.
Surprisingly, those feelings I had until then just disappeared.
- I'm sorry- - Please don't, minister.
Apologising doesn't suit you.
But I'm not a minister any more.
Ikezoe's sins are my sins, too.
I will resign.
I hope one day you return to government.
So that we can fight each other as politicians.
Why don't I take over from here.
Of course.
You already knew, didn't you? What really happened.
Well... it's difficult to do police work in the Diet Building
A legitimate investigation would never get far, in my opinion.
So I thought Otonashi's style might get things moving.
I won't forgive you. For putting the blame onto a legend.
Don't say such lies again.
I mean it. One hundred percent.
Sorry.
It's a shame, but it seems you won't be getting that announcement you wanted.
One day soon, I'll prove one exists!
You don't need to salute.
Come one. Let's go.
Assistant Commissioner, does this mean I'm no longer Otonashi's assistant?
That's right.
The secretary of Minister Oka has been arrested.
No motive has been given.
Funny that it should end like this.
The story's a lot smaller than you'd expect.
Do you think he's covering for someone else?
- Eh? - I heard that too.
That this conspiracy involves the government somehow.
You know, this is just gossip but
- I heard that the real killer is an alien. - Eh?
Tannai's team... bunch of idiots, right?
- Let's go, Watanabe. - Sir!
But if the safety of all society is in danger...
Don't give me that crap!
But it's true that the government are hiding something about this case.
The government?
Now I get it. This is how urban legends are born.
Now we're back together, are we able to do our jobs?
Of course. We're not just here because we're friends.
Tannai-san...
- Come here. - Yes!
Are you feeling okay?
Yes, and I've stopped hearing those waltzes.
- But. - But?
- Now it's Enka music. - Enka?
Ah! I can hear it again!
Katsuura, it seems you got a bit obsessed with the ghost while in hospital.
But what should I do, Tsukiko-san?
Well, it doesn't seem to be an evil spirit. Perhaps you'll get used to it.
Enka and ghosts.
Ah, I have to be somewhere!
But wait!