天狗岩の殺人魔The Tengu Rock Murderer

What you'll learn

Yuukichi bursts in with news about a serial killer, but his uncle scolds him. Kyoutarou visits and discusses his research. Later, Kyoutarou rushes in claiming he saw a murder in a chestnut grove.

The group goes to the crime scene and finds a body under a large pine tree. Yuukichi finds a notebook with cryptic entries like 'carving Mister Tengu' and 'carving the eastern grave'. The man dies, and police arrive.

The next morning, Yuukichi goes to the police and then meets a suspicious man who claims to be a friend of Kyoutarou's. Yuukichi investigates and learns that the man is a moneylender. He becomes suspicious of Kyoutarou's involvement.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～てしまう N4Indicates completion of an action, often with a sense of regret or finality.
  殺して了った。
• ～かもしれない N4Expresses possibility; 'might be'.
  殺人鬼かもしれない。
• ～たところ N3Just after doing something; 'when (something happened)'.
  京太郎が立去るところだ。
• ～という N4Quoting or defining; 'called', 'that'.
  殺人鬼権六という男だ。
• ～させる N4Causative form; 'make/let someone do'.
  源助に金をやって天狗岩の根元を削らせた。
• ～たる N1Formal attributive form of である; 'as (a person of status)'.
  医者たる者、そんな事で立派な医者に成れると思うか。

Cultural notes

• 天狗岩 (Tengu Rock)In Japanese folklore, tengu are mythical creatures often associated with mountains and forests. A 'tengu rock' is a rock formation that resembles a tengu. Here, it is a key location in the story.
• 南伊豆 (Minami Izu)A scenic peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture known for its beautiful coastlines and hot springs. It was a popular resort area for wealthy people from Tokyo and Osaka in the early 20th century.
• 探偵癖 (Detective Habit)This refers to the protagonist's tendency to investigate matters like a detective. Such a character trait is common in Japanese mystery novels, especially those influenced by Western detective fiction.

Try a comprehension question

Read a sample in Japanese

Topics

Short Storymysterycrimesensationalismsuspensefulaozora bunko