“The truth is often hidden in the most ordinary places.”
Chapter 1: The Discovery
Inspector Imanishi, a seasoned Tokyo detective, is called to investigate a gruesome murder at Kamata Station. A man is found bludgeoned to death, his face unrecognizable. The only clue is a scrap of paper with the word “Kameda” written on it. Imanishi begins his methodical investigation, interviewing witnesses and examining the crime scene.
Chapter 2: The Nameless Victim
The victim remains unidentified, complicating the case. Imanishi traces the man’s last movements, learning he traveled from northern Japan. A witness recalls hearing the victim speak in a rural dialect. Imanishi suspects the murder may be linked to the victim’s past, but with no clear leads, the case stalls.
Chapter 3: The Kameda Connection
Imanishi focuses on the word “Kameda,” theorizing it could be a person or place. He discovers a small village called Kameda in the Tohoku region. Traveling there, he learns of a tragic incident years earlier involving a group of men—one of whom may be the victim.
Chapter 4: The Past Resurfaces
In Kameda, Imanishi uncovers a dark history: a group of laborers were involved in a fatal accident, and one man disappeared afterward. The victim matches the description of the missing laborer. Imanishi suspects the murder was revenge, but the trail leads to dead ends.
Chapter 5: The Tokyo Underworld
Returning to Tokyo, Imanishi digs into the victim’s possible connections to organized crime. He interviews a yakuza informant who hints at a cover-up. Meanwhile, another murder occurs—a man linked to the Kameda incident is found dead. The inspector realizes the killer is eliminating witnesses.
Chapter 6: The Artist’s Clue
A breakthrough comes when Imanishi meets a struggling artist who recalls painting a portrait of the victim years ago. The artist provides a name: Sekigawa. Imanishi tracks down Sekigawa’s former associates, uncovering a web of deceit and betrayal tied to the Kameda tragedy.
Chapter 7: The Final Confrontation
Imanishi identifies the killer as a man seeking vengeance for the Kameda incident. In a tense confrontation, the inspector pieces together the motive: the victim had betrayed his fellow laborers for personal gain. The killer, now a respected businessman, is arrested, closing the case.
Key Ideas
- Justice and revenge blur in a meticulously plotted crime.
- Post-war Japan’s social tensions drive the narrative.
- Class divides and corruption underpin the mystery.
- Methodical police work contrasts with emotional motives.
- Past sins resurface with deadly consequences.
Who should read this book?
- Fans of slow-burn, character-driven mysteries.
- Readers interested in post-war Japanese society.
- Those who appreciate psychological depth in crime fiction.