Pathway to Japanese Literature
Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.
← Back
Two-Sen Copper CoinAuthor: Edogawa Ranpo
| Original Title | 二銭銅貨 |
|---|---|
| Author | 江戸川 乱歩 |
| Genre | Detective & Mystery |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a cramped Tokyo tenement, two destitute friends languish in poverty, their minds consumed by envy for a notorious "Gentleman Thief" who vanished after stealing 50,000 yen from a factory payroll. When a mysterious two-sen coin splits open to reveal a cryptic message, Matsumura—a man teetering between desperation and brilliance—becomes obsessed with cracking its code. His feverish deductions lead him through tobacco shop gossip, braille ciphers, and clandestine print shops, convinced he’s unraveled the thief’s genius. The promise of a life-changing reward fuels his manic quest, culminating in a predawn disguise and a furtive retrieval of what he believes is the stolen fortune. Yet reality mocks ambition: the treasure proves hollow, a cruel joke exposing the fragility of hope. As Matsumura’s triumph crumbles into silence, the narrator’s guilt unveils a deeper game—one where intellect and illusion collide, leaving both men adrift in a world where even thieves outwit dreams. |
← Return to List← Return to TOP