Ep. 10 Wrongly Accused
The End
Ep. 10 “Wrongly Accused”
Read the English script
Ep. 10 “Wrongly Accused” — English script
Page 1
One “chikan” and done.
Note: In Japanese, “chikan” (置換) means “find and replace” — but it sounds exactly like “chikan” (痴漢), a groper on a train. That pun drives this whole episode.
Ch-chikan!? I never touched anyone!!
“Chikan” as in REPLACE!!
It's Ctrl+H.
...Excuse me. I've brought the circular board.
Page 2
I'm Nashida, Sakagami neighborhood chairman.
Note: A kairanban (“circular board”) is a clipboard of notices passed hand to hand from house to house by the neighborhood association. Many towns still use it.
The federation decided to take the circulars digital.
The city said support starts next fiscal year...
So they sent you to the basement. Welcome to the end of the runaround.
Going digital... the main building will notice...!
Page 3
Every month, I spend three nights writing it.
Is trash day “Thursday”... or “Thirstday”?
My wife used to type it up on her word processor.
On December 1st, I want to send out the year-end crime-watch notice.
...Is this written in code?
Page 4
Sakagami, Nashigasaka City.
This circular is dated September.
Oh, haven't read it. I'll pass it on.
Nobody reads it.
Beware of fire.
Note: “Hi no yōjin” (beware of fire) is the traditional call of neighborhood night patrols in winter.
Mr. Nashidaaa!
Th-this hill...
Page 5
Every month the federation sends us the same draft.
And each chairman copies it out by hand.
The next day.
...They're all exactly the same.
Only the town name and the chairman's name change.
Make one sheet, swap the names... 120 sheets in a flash!!
That's the “chikan” I meant.
Page 6
The chairmen are all in their 80s. I'll make their circulars!!
¥3,000 a month each!! Times 120 is ¥360,000!!
I'm in. 100 yen per association.
Wait, civil servants can't charge money...
It's local DX! 120 groups!
120 groups... main building...
Page 7
Ctrl+H opens this little window.
“Replace All” changes every one at once.
Use a marker you'd never use anywhere else, like [CHAIR NAME].
And before Replace All, check the match count.
Too long!! “A” is fine!!
It's six. I'm heading home.
Page 8
The chairman's name is... A!!
Later.
Shota said to use [CHAIR NAME]...
Akamine, if a hospital calls “Mr. A!”...
does the ATM answer!? No, it doesn't!!
Only the A they called turns around!! Replace works the same!!
...Does it?
Page 9
See!! “A” is plenty!!
Big letters! Easy to read!
The circular went round the whole town in one day.
We did it...!
Page 10
My wife's circulars were neat and straight like this.
...¥3,000, please.
I'll bring it up at the federation.
Here it comes... 120!!
Page 11
Us too!
Please do ours too!
120...!!
Free crime news and horoscopes!!
Next year, prices go up!!
...Isn't there an “A” written somewhere else too?
Note: The flyer reads: “Year-End Crime Watch — Groping incident on a train near the station; Suspect A (male, 40s) arrested. / Beware of phone scams at ATMs. / Horoscope: blood type A — good luck meeting people. / Sakagami Neighborhood Assn., Chairman A.”
That's the police's A!! Totally different from my A!!
Page 12
Check the match count. It's six, so bye.
Nov. 30.
We send it tomorrow morning, after I check it.
4 matches!? The more the merrier!!
Finish before Akamine gets in, and the credit's all mine.
6 a.m.
Send to all 120!!
Page 13
...Suspect Nashida?
Note: After “Replace All,” every A became a chairman's name: “Suspect Nashida (male, 40s) arrested,” “phone scams at Nashida-TMs,” “blood type Nashida”...
December 1st, morning.
82... now in his 40s!?
Our chairman got YOUNGER!?
Page 14
Chairman, you're in your forties!?
...it's the sus-pect.
...I'm 82.
Page 15
My grandkid set off a safety alarm at me.
I passed on the circular, and the neighbors locked their door.
Am I... a suspect?
Wait... how many of you are there...?
A hundred and twenty.
Page 16
Even if it's false, spreading stuff that ruins someone's name can be defamation!!
Note: Under Japanese law, defamation can apply even when the statement is true — and certainly when it's false.
Replace All doesn't check whether it's a whole word.
ATM's A, blood type A, the police's A... all of them.
There's one chairman field, but didn't it say 4 matches?
......It did.
Page 17
...I, too, chair a neighborhood association. Midorigaoka.
Note: His phone shows his own association's circular: “Midorigaoka Neighborhood Assn. — Suspect Gotokuji (male, 40s) arrested.”
It even got my age right.
Th-the Chief's REALLY in his forties...!!
Page 18
Our staff wrongly sent out your names.
We are deeply sorry.
Mr. Genda.
Refund every last yen.
120 apology circulars. Each one by hand.
No Replace.
Apologize honestly. In your own words.
120 BY HAAAND!!
Page 19
H-how do you even write the kanji for “chikan”...
Note: The kanji for “replace” are hard, so he writes “chikan” in plain kana — which reads just as easily as “groping.” His apology says: “This chikan was all my doing. —Genda.”
So it wasn't the chairman. ...Who's Genda?
A few days later.
Dusk.
Chairman, we'll come along tonight.
The circular went round in one day again this month.
...Beware of fire.
Page 20
Mr. Tetsu Genda? We'd like a word about this “chikan” business.
Not THAT chikan! The REPLACE kind!!
...Replace?
This is a work of fiction. Nashigasaka City is invented, and nothing here reflects the real operation of any person, organization or public office. It is not an official publication of any government body.
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