Pathway to Japanese Literature

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The Hasekura IncidentAuthor: Kōga Saburō

Original Title	支倉事件
Author	甲賀三郎
Genre	Historical Fiction
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	Amidst a cluttered veranda bathed in soft sunlight, former detective Shoji Rikitarao unearths a decade-old mystery tied to cursed letters from Hasekura Kihei—a missionary with a shadowy past of theft, arson, and relentless defiance. Once a formidable adversary Shoji imprisoned, Hasekura resurfaces through taunting missives, daring authorities to capture him again. Detectives Ishiro and Watanabe plunge into a maddening chase, staking out his home and chasing false leads, only to be outwitted at every turn. Hasekura’s audacity peaks as he boldly visits police stations, mocks investigators, and vanishes like smoke, leaving behind traces of insurance fraud and a trail of fires. As Shoji revisits the case’s haunting details—gruesome exhumations, courtroom theatrics, and Hasekura’s unnerving intellect—the line between hunter and prey blurs. With each taunt, the stakes heighten: Can pride-driven detectives corner a man who treats justice as a game, or will his sinister legacy endure? The answer lies buried in secrets only the cursed letters might reveal.