The Tokyo Zodiac Murders Read Online Free Page B

The Tokyo Zodiac Murders
Book: The Tokyo Zodiac Murders Read Online Free
Author: Soji Shimada
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not easy to determine the country’s northern and southern borders. From my point of view, it would be appropriate for the north-eastern border to be either the Chishima Islands or the Kurils, which are located next to the Kamchatka Peninsula. The southern border would have to be Iwo Jima, which is located south of the Ogasawara Islands. Although Hateruma Island, one of the Sakishima Islands of Okinawa, is located at a lower latitude, Iwo Jima is to be preferred because it has the shape of an arrowhead.
    The physical geography of the Japanese Empire has a characteristic beauty. That convinces me that the country’s ruling planet is Venus, which falls under the sign of Libra. We would never find such geographical beauty in any other part of the world. The Japanese archipelago reminds me of a well-proportioned female figure. Then there is the Fuji volcanic zone resembling an arrow held against a bowstring. Iwo Jima, as I have said, looks like an arrowhead. Some day, Japanese people will realize how that island has contributed to our country’s history. The arrow was shot once. It passed Australia and Cape Horn, and hit Brazil, where the largest population of Japanese immigrants in the world resides.
    I can pinpoint the exact north-easternmost spot in the Japanese archipelago. Most parts of the Kurils should be regarded as part of Japan. Many claim that the islands of Paramushir and Onekotan belong to Japan, but I think they should be excluded. They are so large and close to the Kamchatka Peninsula, they rightfully belong to the continent. The centre of the Kurils is where Rasshua and Ketoi are located, but I believe that Japan can go further and include Kharimkotan and other southern Kuril islands in its territory.
    Those tiny islands, scattered in the far north and the far south, sandwich the main islands of Japan, making it look like a giant bow hung from the continent with tassels. The easternmost tip of Kharimkotan Island is at longitude 154° 36’ E, and its northernmost tip is at latitude 49° 11’ N.
    Next, the central point of the north-east–south-west axis. The westernmost tip of Japan is Yonaguni Island, which is located at longitude 123° E. The southernmost tip of the Empire, I repeat, should be Iwo Jima. The southernmost tip of Hateruma Island, located south-east of Yonaguni, is at latitude 24° 3’ N whereas the southernmost tip of Iwo Jima is at latitude 24° 43’ N. However, the central point between Kharimkotan Island and Yonaguni is at longitude 138° 48’ N. This line is the central axis of the Japanese Empire, which starts from the edge of the Izu Peninsula and goes all the way up to the Niigata Plain, where the land extends north. A part of Mount Fuji is also on this line. Therefore, this line must have played an important role in the history of the Japanese Empire, and I foresee that it will continue to do so.
    The line of longitude at 138° 48’ E is full of meaning. Mount Yahiko is located at the northern end of this line. That is where Yahiko Shrine is located. It is the key to the myth. There must be a saint stone. Mount Yahiko is the navel of Japan, the exact centre of the country. No one should ignore this holy place; the future of Japan depends on it. It is the one place I would like to visit before I die. I must, and I will! If I fail to do so becauseof my death, I want my children to visit there on my behalf. Mount Yahiko has mystical power.
    Four, 6 and 3 are the numbers on the line dissecting the middle of Japan. These three numbers add up to 13, which is the devil’s favourite number. Azoth will be placed in the centre of 13…

SCENE 1
Footprints in the Snow
    “What the hell is all this?” Kiyoshi exclaimed. He closed the book, threw it to me, and lay down on the couch.
    “Did you read the whole thing?” I asked.
    “Well, Heikichi Umezawa’s story, at least.”
    “And what did you think?” I asked.
    Kiyoshi, who had been in the doldrums recently, said nothing. After a long

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