The “Rustling Sound” Incident at the Tokyo District Court (Part 2)
Introduction
This article is a continuation of The “Rustling Sound” Incident at the Tokyo District Court (Part 1).
About the Rustling Sound
First Oral Argument (Thursday, October 24, 2024)
As described in What Happened on the Day of the First Oral Argument at the Tokyo District Court, the rustling sound I heard that day was clearly abnormal. Yet, none of the three attorneys or the court clerk showed any reaction, and I myself did not speak up.
This was because I had a strong feeling that if I mentioned it, I’d just be told, “It happens all the time.”
Phone Call from the Court Clerk (Tuesday, October 29, 2024)
On this day, I received a call from the court clerk at the Tokyo District Court, informing me that a written submission from the plaintiff would be sent to me.
During the call, I asked about the sound I had heard in the courtroom.
The clerk explained that it was a noise caused by the air conditioning system, that it was well-known within the Tokyo District Court, and that it was not considered unusual.
Since I had already posted about the rustling sound on X on the day of the first oral argument, I briefly added this explanation in a reply to that post, just to be thorough.
During the phone call, I was told that “it’s not unusual,” and at that moment, I got the impression that the phrasing had simply been changed.
Since “It’s not unusual” can be interpreted as essentially meaning “It happens all the time,” I believe I recorded the words as they were.
Still, I couldn’t quite accept the explanation, so I posted again about the incident on X on November 9, 2024.
Second Oral Argument (Thursday, December 5, 2024)
After the hearing concluded, the court clerk approached me to explain the deadline and method for submitting the written argument I was preparing.
At that point, he brought up the sound and pointed to the ceiling, asking, “Was it this sound?”
Just then, a faint rustling sound—soft and intermittent, like a “patter”—was heard from above, and I said,
“That’s it.”
But I clarified:
“That’s not the same sound. The one I heard before the first oral argument was much louder—surprisingly so—and moved across the ceiling from end to end, twice.”
From his reaction, it seemed clear that he had not heard the original sound I was referring to; he didn’t seem to recognize it at all.
Incidentally, during the hearing that day, I also heard a faint, continuous “patter” sound, which I believe began sometime after the session had started.
This sound also gave me an artificial impression, but unlike the one I heard before the first oral argument—which moved back and forth across the courtroom ceiling—it seemed to be occurring within a limited area directly above my head.
Third Oral Argument (Thursday, January 9, 2025)
I arrived at the courtroom a bit early from the waiting room. Only the court clerk was there at the time. He invited me in, and I marked the attendance sheet as instructed.
I was then told to wait in the gallery. While waiting for the hearing to begin, I heard frequent and continuous sounds from the ceiling—like “popping” noises or dripping water.
I deliberately kept silent, but during the hearing, those sounds were no longer present.
After the trial concluded and the lawyers had left the courtroom, I moved closer to the front of the gallery. At that moment, I heard the same kind of sound I had heard before the hearing.
Pointing toward the ceiling, I told the clerk, “It’s not this sound.” He initially seemed confused, as if he didn’t know what I was talking about.
I pointed again and repeated, “It’s not this sound,” and this time he cupped his ear slightly and responded, “I see.”
I again explained the sound I had heard before the first oral argument—a loud noise that moved back and forth across the ceiling—but he said he hadn’t heard it.
I didn’t press the issue further, as it seemed pointless to argue. I simply gave a small laugh and said, “That’s strange,” and then thanked him before leaving the courtroom.
Afterword
I fully understand that what happens in courtrooms and waiting rooms—essentially enclosed spaces—may be difficult for readers to believe at face value.
Even so, I hope that, taking that limitation into account, you’ll consider what I am trying to convey through these reports.
In the next article, I plan to reflect further on this sound in connection with other related incidents.
I posted a follow-up on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
