After Darkness: Chapter 5: Tokyo, 1934 Summary & Analysis

Four years before Dr. Ibaraki arrives in Australia, his mother mentions their family friend Kayoko during dinner.  Dr. Ibaraki understands that she hopes for him, 26 years old at the time, to marry Kayoko. Two weeks later, Dr. Ibaraki and his mother visit Kayoko’s family, the Sasakis. As the two families have tea, Dr. Ibaraki at first feels uneasy in Kayoko’s presence, aware of the parents watching him. However, when Kayoko plays the koto, a traditional Japanese string instrument, for the group, she impresses Dr. Ibaraki with her talent and his unease disappears.

A few weeks after his interview, Major Kimura offers Dr. Ibaraki the research position. Dr. Ibaraki begins his work at the Epidemic Prevention Laboratory. On his first day, a professor named Shimada shows him around the facility. Dr. Ibaraki begins his work growing bacteria for developing vaccines. The work of handling these viruses is very dangerous, and Dr. Ibaraki must wear safety equipment. The work is also on a massive scale, and Dr. Ibaraki often has to work late hours. After about six months, Yamamoto, a new researcher straight out of university, joins the lab. He and Dr. Ibaraki become friends. Yamamoto takes over Dr. Ibaraki’s role of growing the bacteria, and Dr. Ibaraki is able to take on more senior responsibilities. He welcomes the extra free time as he begins to think about marriage, inspired by his visit to the Sasakis.