Pathway to Japanese Literature

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Bouquet’s InsectAuthor: Osaka Keikichi

Original Title	花束の虫
Author	大阪圭吉
Genre	Detective & Mystery
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In a secluded coastal villa, lawyer Taiji Otsuki investigates the shocking death of Naosuke Kishida—a wealthy patron of Tokyo’s avant-garde Agateza theater troupe—pushed from a cliff by a figure in pale blue. Witnesses, including Naosuke’s wife Hiroko, a former dancer, describe a small-statured assailant, yet no suspect matches the description. Otsuki uncovers baffling clues: chaotic footprints resembling dance steps, a crimson-lacquered sandal fragment, and shreds of a script titled Bouquet’s Insect, hinting at scandal. As he probes deeper, contradictions emerge—Hiroko’s testimony wavers, and a phonograph record shard suggests a staged struggle. With ties to Agateza’s playwright and whispers of past affairs, Otsuki navigates a web of deceit where performance and reality blur. The tranquil seaside setting masks lethal secrets, and every revelation twists closer to an unthinkable truth: the killer’s identity lies in plain sight, veiled by artistry and ambition.