作品Free Graded Reading
ネオン横丁殺人事件The Murder on Neon Alley
Neon Yokochou Satsujin Jiken
by 海野 十三 · Uno Kouzou
JLPT N1Short StoryQuiz ready
A brutal murder in a neon-lit alley—can the detective crack the case?
What you'll learn
What you'll learnOn a freezing night, amateur detective Hōsuke Hanmura, slightly drunk, walks through Shinjuku and hears a gunshot. He investigates and finds a murder in a café. The police arrive, and Hanmura presents clues including a lighter and a pistol. Suspects include the mistress Omine, the waitress Yukari, and a neon sign maker named Ippei. The police question them, and a mysterious figure is seen fleeing.
Language difficultyAdvanced · 75/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 暦 (こよみ) | calendar |
|---|---|
| 黒点 (こくてん) | sunspot |
| 寒暖計 (かんだんけい) | thermometer |
| 嚔 (くしゃみ) | sneeze |
| 猟奇 (りょうき) | morbid curiosity |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～でもあろうか N1Perhaps (it is) because of; a speculative expression meaning 'maybe it's because'.太陽の黒点のせいでもあろうか、寒暖計の水銀柱はグンと下の方へ縮んでしまい
- ～たてつづけに N3In succession; one after another.公平にたてつづけの嚔を発し
- ～ことにする N4Decide to do something.両側の窓下と戸口を一々丁寧に見てゆくことにした。
- ～とする N4Assume; regard as; suppose.そうだとすると、追跡は全く不可能になる。
- ～がち N3Tend to; prone to.どうやら彼はいい気持でいるらしい。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Edogawa RampoThe author of this story, known as the father of Japanese detective fiction. His pen name is a Japanese reading of Edgar Allan Poe. This story features his amateur detective Hōsuke Hanmura.
- Shinjuku Neon DistrictThe story is set in Shinjuku, a major commercial and entertainment district in Tokyo. The 'Neon Alley' described reflects the vibrant nightlife of the area in the early 20th century.
- Locked Room MysteryThis is a classic trope in detective fiction. The victim is found in a room that appears to be locked from the inside, and the detective must figure out how the murderer escaped.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat was the weather like at the beginning of the story?
- Warm and rainy
- Cold and freezing
- Hot and humid
- Mild and pleasant
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to descriptive language that sets the mood, such as 'freezing night' and 'neon signs like icicles'.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese１近頃での一番さむい夜だった。暦のうちでは、まだ秋のなかに数えられる日だったけれど、太陽の黒点のせいでもあろうか、寒暖計の水銀柱はグンと下の方へ縮んでしまい、その夜更け、戸外に或いは立ち番をし、或いは黙々として歩行し、或いは軒下に睡りかけていた連中の誰も彼もは、公平にたてつづけの嚔を発し、「ウウウン、今夜は莫迦に冷えやがる」といったような意味の独言を吐いたのだった。猟奇趣味が高じて道楽に素人探偵をやっているという変り種の青年理学士、帆村荘六君も、丁度この戸外組の一人だった。彼は今、午前三時半における新宿のブロードウェイの入口にさしかかったところである。大東京の心臓がここに埋まっていると謂われる繁栄の新宿街も、この時間には、まるで湖の底に沈んだ廃都のような感があった。グロテスクな装飾をもった背の高い建物は、煤色の夜霧のなかに、ブルブル震えながら立ち並んでいた。
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