Pathway to Japanese Literature

Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.

The Mystery of the Old CoinsAuthor: Nomura Kodō

Original Title	古銭の謎
Author	野村胡堂
Genre	Detective & Mystery
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In a bustling Ginza restaurant, an eccentric old man with a salt-and-pepper goatee causes a stir by attempting to pay his bill with ancient coins—Edo-period koban, Ming Dynasty relics, and other antiquated currency. Introducing himself as Minami Ichitarou, a self-proclaimed numismatist and detective, he captivates onlookers with his absurd theatrics and ill-fitting suit. Intrigued by his collection, a refined butler named Sakyō intervenes, inviting Minami to appraise mysterious coins at a sprawling mansion tied to a vanished millionaire. \nThe estate harbors secrets: its missing owner, Haruyama Noboru, left no heirs but two feuding relatives—a fiery young equestrian, Kōichirō, and Yōko, a luminous beauty—locked in a bitter inheritance dispute. Hidden passageways, cryptic keys, and a vault of vanished treasures hint at foul play. As Minami investigates, his bumbling facade cracks to reveal sharp deductive instincts, uncovering alliances and betrayals beneath the mansion’s opulent surface. \nWhispers of murder linger in shadowed corridors, while stolen glances between the young rivals suggest unexpected sparks. With antiquated coins as clues and a killer lurking among them, Minami’s true identity—and the shocking truth behind Haruyama’s disappearance—unravel in a labyrinth of greed and deception, where love and justice vie for triumph.