作品Free Graded Reading
石塀幽霊The Ghost of the Stone Wall
Ishibei Yūrei
by 大阪 圭吉 · Ōsaka Keikichi
A ghost appears on a stone wall, and a detective must uncover the truth behind the haunting.
About this story
About this storyA young man becomes intrigued by a mysterious old mansion and its inhabitants, leading to unsettling discoveries.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in JapaneseSource
SourceThis text comes from Aozora Bunko (青空文庫), the volunteer-run library of Japanese writing that is out of copyright. See this work on Aozora Bunko
Base edition (底本): 「とむらい機関車」創元推理文庫、東京創元社
2001（平成13）年10月26日初版
Typed in by 土屋隆. Proofread by 大阪のたねまろ.
Yomimaru has not changed the spelling or the wording.
The furigana are Yomimaru's.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator introduces the Akinori estate and its mysterious family. Yoshida Yutaro, a student, witnesses a murder outside the gate, and two men in white yukata flee. He and the postman find a dying woman.
The police arrive. Officer Hachisuka investigates and finds footprints from wooden clogs in the garden. The victim is identified as the housekeeper Sōmeko. The Akinori family is questioned: the old master is bedridden, and his twin sons are the prime suspects.
Hachisuka, left to guard the footprints, begins to doubt the official theory. He notices the advertisement flyer placed after the murder and realizes the footprints might be a frame-up. He questions the maid about mail delivery. He tries to stop the arrest but fails when fingerprint evidence comes in.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 甍 | roof tiles |
|---|---|
| 双生児 | twins |
| 兇器 | murder weapon |
| チンドン屋 | advertising band with a drum |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てしまう N4Expresses completion of an action, often with regret or unexpectedness.
そのまま見えなくなってしまった。
- ～のだ (explanation) N4Used to provide explanation or emphasis. Often contracted to んだ.
雄太郎君がこのアパートへ越して来てからもう殆んど半歳になるのだが
- ～というのは～だ N3Used to define or explain something.
秋森家というのは、吉田雄太郎君のいるＮ町のアパートのすぐ西隣にある相当に宏い南向きの屋敷である
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 山の手Refers to the uptown or residential high ground areas of Tokyo, often associated with wealth and quiet neighborhoods. In this story, it sets the scene for the Akinori estate.
- 交番A small neighborhood police box common in Japan, staffed by officers who handle local incidents and provide directions.
- チンドン屋Street performers who play music and wear advertising banners to promote businesses. They are a nostalgic sight, but in the story, one becomes a key witness.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat did Yoshida Yutaro see when he went to mail a letter?
- He saw two men in white yukata running from the scene.
- He saw the victim being stabbed.
- He saw a chindonya passing by.
- He saw the postman collapse.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the detailed descriptions of the setting and the characters' movements, as they contain crucial clues.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
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