"Tobira-ha Tozasareta-mama" (The Door Is Still Closed) by ISHIMOCHI Asami

This is a mystery. The criminal is obvious to readers from the beginning, though the characters in this story cannot know it except for the criminal, because the door is locked and nobody can enter the room. However, the detective prevailed the murder and...

UEDA Satsuki, FUSHIMI Ryousuke, ANDO Syougo, NIIYAMA Kazuhiro, USUI Reiko, ISHIMARU Kouhei... they were members of a light music club in a university. They and Reiko's sister Yuka used to be spend together.

Syougo's brother run a luxury pension at Seijyo, Tokyo, but he became sick and he asked Syogo to open the window and clean occasionally. Syougo thought to invite them and let them help clean - that's why they come together from all over the Japan after the graduate from the university.

And during that time Ryousuke planed to kill Kazuhiro, and did it...

(Finished reading on May 13, 2008)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* ISHIMOCHI Asami : 石持浅海
* Tobira-ha Tozasareta-mama : 扉は閉ざされたまま

"Hitobashira-ha Miira-to Deau" (A Sacrifice Meets Mummy) by ISHIMOCHI Asami

This is successive short mysteries. Lily Meis (I cannot decide the spelling...) is a overseas student who came from Portland, US. She lives with a family whose daughter, ICHIKI Keiko, goes to the same university with her. Her father has been seated for Hokkaido, a north prefecture in Japan, and her mother is a homemaker. Moreover, her cousin, TOUGOU Naomi, sometimes comes to their house to spend with them, and his occupation is a 'Hitobashira' or a sacrifice...

* Hitobashira-ha Miira-to Deau ("A sacrifice meets mummy")
When a big structure - a bridge, a building, and so on - is being constructed in Japan, a person called 'Hitobashira' will stay in a small underground room during the construction to take care of the Land God...

* Kuroko-ha Gijyou-kara Kieru ("A kuroko disappeared from the assembly hall")
Behind all Kabuki-player and representatives in Japan there is a "Kuroko" who helps the master's work...

* Ohaguro-ha Dokushin-ni Niawanai ("Black teeth are not suit for a single")
All married Japanese women make their teeth black in Japan...

* Yakudoshi-ha Kega-ni Tyuui ("Be careful when you are in an evil year")
In Japan there is an evil-vacation for a year to stay soundly...

* Taka-ha Oozora-ni Mau ("A hawk fly in the sky")
In Japan falconers help police...

* Myouga-ha Kokoro-ni Kiku Kusuri ("Myouga, an eatable plant works for heart")
In Japan people who want to forget something eat Myouga, an eatable plant...

* Sankinkoutai-ha Tiji-no Tsutome ("Change the living place between the local and Tokyo every month is a job for a governor in Japan")
In Japan all local governor live in the governing place and in Tokyo every one month...


Very nice stories! Mysterious country - Japan!!! Almost all the contents are not correct at present, but they were old Japanese customs, and we Japanese can enjoy these stories very much! ^^ You can learn strange ancient Japanese customs with this book, but never believe the contents are real now ^^;;;

(Finished reading on May 5, 2008)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* ISHIMOCHI Asami : 石持浅海
* Hitobashira-ha Miira-to Deau : 人柱はミイラと出会う
* Kuroko-ha Gijyou-kara Kieru : 黒衣は議場から消える
* Ohaguro-ha Dokushin-ni Niawanai : お歯黒は独身に似合わない
* Yakudoshi-ha Kega-ni Tyuui : 厄年は怪我に注意
* Taka-ha Oozora-ni Mau : 鷹は大空に舞う
* Myouga-ha Kokoro-ni Kiku Kusuri : ミョウガは心に効くクスリ
* Sankinkoutai-ha Tiji-no Tsutome : 参勤交代は知事の務め

"Mizu-no Meikyuu" (An Aqua Maze) by ISHIMOCHI Asami

A long mystery written by Mr. Ishimochi.

An mobile phone was delivered to the curator of Haneda aquarium, which is run by Tokyo and local companies. Then someone began to attack the displayed creatures not completely but carefully avoiding the deaths. After the matter an e-mail which suggests the criminality was sent. The aquarium was open, and there were many people there. So the curator decided to delay the report to police to avoid the confusion. But a staff died... His death is a suicide? or an accident? or a murder? And what is the aim of the criminal(s)???

The dream of Mr. Katayama, who died three years ago of this matter, is very nice!

(Finished reading on Apr. 29, 2008)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* ISHIMOCHI Asami : 石持浅海
* Mizu-no Meikyuu : 水の迷宮

"R-no Tsuku Tsuki-niha Ki-wo Tsukeyou" (Be Careful on the Months Containing R) by ISHIMOCHI Asami

Let's talk over nice alcohols and delicious dishes! During the conversations he will solve small mysteries!

NAGAE Takaaki, KUMAI Nagisa, and YUASA Natsumi are drinking friends since they were students at a university. After start working various guests (one at a time) are welcome to the party to refresh the mood. They eat, drink and talk a lot, and Mr. Nagae, who was called a man who sold his soul to devil to get his brain, solve many small mysteries during the party...


* R-no Tsuku Tsuki-niha Ki-wo Tsukeyou [Be Careful on the Months Containing R]
single malt from Islay island in Scotland & raw oyster with KASHIWAGI Hitoe

* Yume-no Kakera Men-no Kakera [A Fragment of Dream, A Fragment of Noodle]
beer & chicken noodle with TSUKAMOTO

* Yakedo-wo Shinaiyouni [Be Careful not to be Scald]
Oregon wine & cheese fondue with SUDA Asuka

* Nonbiri-to Jikan-wo Kakete [Slowly Taking a Long Time]
Awamori, a Japanese sake in Okinawa, & boiled square pork with AKAO

* Karada-ni Yokutemo Hodohodoni [Do Moderately Even If It Is Good for Health]
Japanese sake at Shizuoka & ginkgo nuts with SHIOTA Ritsuko

* Akuma-no Kisu [Devil's Kiss]
brandy & pancake made from buckwheat flour with FUYUKI Kenta

* Kemuri-ha Bijin-no Hou-he [Smoke Will Flow to the Beauty]
Champagne piper-heidsieck & smoked salmon with FUYUKI Kenta


Honestly speaking, I have little interest in foods and drinks, but this book is very nice and I enjoyed very exciting mysteries!

(Finished reading on Apr. 27, 2008)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* ISHIMOCHI Asami : 石持浅海
* R-no Tsuku Tsuki-niha Ki-wo Tsukeyou : Ｒのつく月には気をつけよう
* Yume-no Kakera Men-no Kakera : 夢のかけら　麺のかけら
* Yakedo-wo Shinaiyouni : 火傷をしないように
* Nonbiri-to Jikan-wo Kakete : のんびりと時間をかけて
* Karada-ni Yokutemo Hodohodoni : 身体によくても、ほどほどに
* Akuma-no Kisu : 悪魔のキス
* Kemuri-ha Bijin-no Hou-he : 煙は美人の方へ

"Tsuki-no Tobira" (The door of the Moon) by ISHIMOCHI Asami

Ishimochi Asami is a Japanese writer. He seems to be writing mysteries mainly, and this book is also a mystery whose title means "The Door of the Moon". This is the first his writing I have read so far.

Two men and a woman got on the flight No.8 of Ryukyu Airline which departs from Okinawa to Haneda at 8 p.m. on July 16th, (maybe)2000. They hijacked the plane just before the take off by holding three babies in hostages. Their requirement is just taking their leader to the airport... not necessary to release him. And they explained their plan to the passengers, and left them relatively freely.

Before long in front of their watch, a passenger died in a lavatory. Did she kill herself? or someone killed her? The hijackers asked a passenger to solve the mystery...

Very interesting story! The character of Mr. Zamami, named by the hijackers after the shirt he wore, is very nice! I would like to continue reading his books.

(Finished reading on Apr. 16, 2008)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* ISHIMOCHI Asami : 石持浅海
* Tsuki-no Tobira : 月の扉