The Japanese Version Hints

 

In an effort to recoup some of his losses related to this project, Byron helped create a Japanese language version of The Secret: A Treasure Hunt. To help readers overcome language barriers, Byron, through a translator, explained some of the nuances of each poem, highlighting some of the possible pitfalls a non-English speaker might encounter. For those who speak English, they amount to hints translated from English to Japanese and back again. I was skeptical of these at first, but after learning about how they were produced and successfully applying them several times to my interpretations, I’ve come to trust and rely on these hints. 

They were created via a phone conversation between Byron and a Japanese translator. The hints are the translator's account of these conversations and speculation as to the true meaning of the clues. Because these hints are purported to come directly from Byron, the author, I have high confidence in them. See 12treasures.com for a full translation of these hints. There is a caveat, though. Byron makes it clear that some of these hints could be misleading. The translator put it this way: “Of course these are not hints that can easily lead to answers. Sometimes these provided hints might taint your imagination and make the endeavor even harder.” 

Where M and B are set in stone

The hint for this line indicates that these letters, M and B, stand for two “famous composers.” This too is consistent with Mozart and Beethoven.

 

And to Congress, R is known

The generally accepted interpretation is that "R" is a reference to Roosevelt University, which is two blocks south of Chicago Orchestra Hall. The University is on the corner of Michigan Avenue and what was Congress Parkway (the name changed to Ida B. Wells Drive). From there we travel east to Congress Plaza. According to the Japanese Version Hints, “Congress” refers to the “US Congress” and a “proper noun” as well. Congress Parkway is a proper noun and is named after the US Congress, or maybe “Congress” refers to the US Congress in some other way.

On the far side of the Plaza, on the corner of East Congress Plaza Drive and (what was) East Congress Parkway, we find the Bowman statue, which is pictured in Image 5. From the Bowman we travel east through the main entrance of Grant Park. 

L sits and left

Beyond his shoulder

Is the Fair Folks'

Treasure holder

After entering the park we head north to the sitting statue of Abraham Lincoln. The Japanese Version Hints indicate that both R and L refer to important politicians. That fits with Roosevelt and Lincoln. Up to this point in our analysis, most everyone, including myself, agree with the interpretations I’ve described. However, that changes now.

The end of ten by thirteen

Is your clue

Most folks believe, as did the young men who found the casque, that “ten by thirteen” refers, at least in part, to rows of trees. I do not.

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