The chapter opens with a description of the town of Tosuku, in northeastern Japan. It is described as a place where people from all over the world come to eat, drink, and have fun. The town's inhabitants are called "horites," or spirits, and they are believed to be descended from the gods. The narrator tells us that the town is a symbol of the unity of humankind, and that the people who live there are the same people as those who live in the West. The townspeople are also called "demons," or "guests." The narrator compares the town to an inn, where people come for food and drink. He says that the inn's guests are the "four heavenly kings," or gods. He tells the townspeople that he cannot defeat them, but that they can defeat him in a year's time.