Shenmue/The Letter

Dobuita
Back in Dobuita, you've got to find someone to help translate the letter to your father. There's two people you can ask - either go to Tao-san, or look for Gao Wen on the streets of Dobuita.

Tao-san

While he can't read the letter himself, he is able to tell you that the paper is very special - used for ceremonial caligraphy and cooking. He tells you that his delivery boy Guang Ji is very good with Chinese kanji, so it's a good idea to track him down. He's at the vending machine beside Nagai Industries, unable to afford a drink. If you buy him one, he'll take a look at the letter, but he can't read it either - the kanji are "weird". His Japanese teacher is a "kanji expert" though, so you can ask her.

Gao Wen

Gao Wen is walking around Dobuita, but he can be difficult to find. He's often by the You GAME arcade, and he'll point you to his grandmother.

Back at the plot... She works in the Russiya China shop along this same street. She thanks you for helping her grandson Gao Wen, and tells you that he now aspires to be like Ryo. She takes one look at the letter and knows that the characters are reversed - luckily, there's a mirror right beside her, and she reads out the letter:

"Beware those who seek the mirror. If you need help, seek the aid of Master Chen."

The letter, signed by someone called Zhu Yuan Da, has writing on the back too - along with the phone number (0468) 61-5647 is a strange pair of sentences: ''Father's Heaven, Nine Dragons. Mother's Earth, Comrades.''

Time to call the number. There's a payphone in Dobuita at the Tobaccoo shop, beside the car park at the Arcade. Dial the number and you'll be asked to complete the password - answer "Nine Dragons" to "Father's Heaven", and "Comrades" to "Mother's Earth". The person on the other end of the phone will tell you you've reached "Warehouse #8" - which is surprising, since Ryo was expecting the Chen residence. The other end hangs up suddenly, leaving Ryo to wonder where this "Warehouse #8" might be located.

Asking around will get you two options - you can call number assistance at 104 (they're not much use, though), or check the phone directory to find out where the number is from the area code.

There's a phone directory at the tobacco shop, and a quick flick through tells Ryo that area code 61 is in Amihama - but where's that?

If you ask Tom, he'll tell you that Amihama is the harbor near Dobuita - you can get there by bus. Speak to Yuriko in the flower store opposite the car park and she'll direct you to the bus stop on the main road beyond the tobacco shop.

The bus comes at different times on weekends than on weekdays, but it shouldn't take too long before one comes along. You'll need ¥160 to board the bus, then you're on your way to the New Yokosuka Harbor.

&laquo; Charlie | Disc 2: Master Chen &raquo;