What JLPT level is 街の探偵?

街の探偵 is suitable for JLPT N1 level readers (estimated JLPT N1).

How long does 街の探偵 take to read?

街の探偵 takes about 30 minutes (around 2362 words) to read at a learner's pace.

作品さくひんFree Graded Reading

街の探偵The Town Detective

Machi no Tantei

by 海野十三 · Unno Jūza

JLPT N1Short StoryQuiz ready

A detective story set in town, full of mystery and suspense.

About this story

A detective and his friend investigate a rhythmic clicking sound from the ceiling, suspecting a hidden gas device.

Read a sample in Japanese

キップの装置『さっきから気をつけていると、コトンコトンと、微かなリズミカルな音がしているね』と、彼は指を天井の方に立てて云うのであった。『ああ、僕にも聞えるよ。鼠が居るのじゃないか』と、僕はこたえた。『ねずみ？　鼠が音楽家でもあればねえ』と、彼はニヤリと笑って、『――あれは天井裏に、瓦斯を発生する装置が置いてあるんだよ』『え、瓦斯を発生するって、一体なんの瓦斯だい』『多分キップの装置だろうね。亜鉛を硝子瓶に入れて置いて、その上に稀硫酸を入れるのさ。うまいこと水素瓦斯が出てきてはやみ、やんではまた出てくるんだよ』『おい帆村。早く云ってくれ。なぜ水素瓦斯の発生装置が天井裏に置いてあるんだ』と、僕は帆村探偵の腕をつかんでゆすぶった。その途端に、電話のベルがけたたましく鳴りだした。僕ははっとした。そして電話機のところへ駈けよろうとしたが、そのとき帆村が、『おい待て、電話機に手をかけるな』

Read the full text with furigana + instant lookups in Yomimaru →

Source

This 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): 「「シュピオ」傑作選　幻の探偵雑誌3」ミステリー文学資料館・編、光文社文庫、光文社
2000（平成12）年5月20日初版1刷発行

Typed in by 網迫、土屋隆. Proofread by 門田裕志.

Yomimaru has not changed the spelling or the wording.

The furigana are Yomimaru's.

What you'll learn

The narrator and detective Homura hear a rhythmic sound from the ceiling, which Homura identifies as a Kipp's apparatus generating hydrogen. He suddenly smashes a window and forces the narrator to flee outside, seconds before their office explodes. Homura explains it was a bomb triggered by a phone call.

Seven researchers are found dead from phosgene gas poisoning in a laboratory. One survives and provides a timeline. Homura investigates and discovers that the heavy phosgene gas flowed from a shed on the roof through an air vent into the warm laboratory, aided by the temperature difference.

Language difficultyAdvanced · 75/100

Key vocabulary

キップの装置 (キップのそうち)	Kipp's apparatus (a device for generating hydrogen gas)
ホスゲン	phosgene (a toxic gas)
稀硫酸 (きりゅうさん)	dilute sulfuric acid
瀉血 (しゃけつ)	bloodletting, phlebotomy
無我夢中 (むがむちゅう)	desperately, frantically

Grammar points you'll meet

～じゃないか N4Adds emphasis or assumes the listener agrees, often used for rhetorical questions or confirming something.
『鼠が居るのじゃないか』
～んだからね N2Used to state a reason or excuse, often with a tone of justification.
『敵は君がいることを、電話でたしかめようとしていたんだからね』
～ようにしないと N3Indicates necessity: 'if you don't do ~, then...'
『すぐさま逃げだすようにしないと、君の生命は危いぜ』
～かね N2Used to ask a question in a rather abrupt or masculine way, often implying the speaker is thinking aloud.
『あの爆発は、どんな仕掛だったのかね』
～てみろ N4Imperative form of ～てみる; 'try doing ~' (rude/casual command).
『君が電話へ出てみろ』

Cultural notes

Kipp's ApparatusA classic laboratory device for generating hydrogen gas by reacting zinc with dilute sulfuric acid. It was commonly used in early 20th century chemistry.
Phosgene Gas in WWIIPhosgene was a deadly chemical weapon used in World War I. Its presence in a laboratory story reflects the pre-WWII era when chemical warfare research was ongoing.
Japanese Detective FictionThis story is from the 'Modan gaar' (Modern Girl) era of Japanese literature, featuring a detective duo reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes and Watson.