The National Diet Building in Chiyoda Ward was brightly lit and crowded with people.
After the crisis of the Asakusa Incident was resolved, the Cabinet and other important figures, who had been ready to flee at any moment from Tokyo's outskirts, also relocated to Chiyoda.
At this turning point in the era and the nation's destiny, these old men had no choice but to steel themselves and work through the night, dealing with the series of messes left behind.
"All the open fires in Taito Ward have been extinguished."
"Besides Asakusa, Sumida Ward and Koto Ward also suffered varying degrees of damage. Thanks to the timely evacuation, there were no civilian casualties."
"We've issued an all-clear notice, but after something this major, people are panicking. Today and tomorrow are both workdays. Should we declare them holidays to reduce the risks?"
Administrative officers and secretaries rushed back and forth, compiling reports on the various developments.
Yet the senior figures attending the meeting were all yawning and looking listless, perhaps because they had stayed up all night.
Just then, a secretary in a black suit hurried in from outside and whispered a few words into the Prime Minister's ear.
The Prime Minister, who had still been dozing, immediately perked up and nodded excitedly.
"Handle these minor matters yourselves for now."
He rose first and headed outside, followed by a throng of Cabinet ministers and legislators.
The lower-ranking officials present all glanced over.
What major development could have made the handful of men atop Japan's political pyramid take things so seriously?
The Prime Minister led more than a dozen of the most powerful figures into a small conference room beside the National Diet Building.
Inside stood a large, stout monk, two men dressed as Shinto priests, and a group of scholars and experts.