Manga |
Yatagarasu Village Murder Case (八咫烏村殺人事件 Yatagarasu Mura Satsujin Jiken) is the first story arc of The Case File of Kindaichi 30th Anniversary series and the forty-eighth main story arc of the entire story.
It follows Hajime, Miyuki, and Kenmochi's visit to Yatagarasu Village. A village in one of the most remote regions will sink into the lake formed by a dam two weeks later. There they will investigate an unresolved case that happened six years ago, but another murder case happened and imitated the myths of Yatagarasu.
Characters[]
Summary[]
Prologue, Request from Kenmochi's Friend, An Unresolved Case Six Years Ago[]
In the middle of the village, a samurai was betrayed by his retainer a long time ago. They tried to kill that samurai. He threatens his retainers, "whoever leaks the secrets, the curse of Yatagarasu will befall upon...." Before he finished, his retainers killed him. Then, they were shocked when they looked at his back. Unexpectedly, there are nine scars on his back, which resembles the myth of Yatagarasu, and suddenly, a murder of crows appeared above them.
Back to the present time, Hajime was late to go to school. Meanwhile, the teacher will do an exam and distribute the papers. Suddenly, Miyuki and Sota look at Hajime rides his bicycle as fast as possible to join the exam and nonchalantly climbs the flagpole to the classroom on the third floor. He did rise to the class and come from the window. Hajime greets, and his teacher expels him to the corridor, and he will join in the supplementary exam after school.
After their exam, Hajime and Miyuki go to TomxTom Burger to meet Kenmochi, who treats their burgers. Kenmochi invites them to join in his trip in the following consecutive holidays. Kenmochi invites Miyuki because she is Hajime's best pair, while Hajime imagines his wild thought with Miyuki in their trip.
Kenmochi will make that trip because his late friend from university, Ryunosuke Taki, sent him a letter to investigate an unresolved case six years ago that he did not solve until his death. That unresolved case gives Taki an anxious feeling and becomes the only regret he has in his entire career as a policeman in Wakayama Prefecture Police Department.
That unresolved case began when a young lawyer, Hitoshi Ogata, received a threatening letter. After he told the police about that letter, the police did a night watch escort him in an old inn at a deserted village where he stayed for a while. But, suddenly, he disappeared. The police found a blood trace in his room leading to the attic. The police did a complete investigation there, yet he founds nowhere. Later, the police stopped their research, and nobody knew his fate.
The threatening letter from six years ago.
Along with the letter to Kenmochi, Taki sends a photo of the threatening letter initially written in a Japanese letter. That threatening letter noted, "whoever leaks the secrets, the claw of Yatagarasu will befall upon you, brings a merciless death." Taki wanted Kenmochi and Hajime to investigate that case after knowing Hajime, a grandchild of the great detective, Kosuke Kindaichi.
A murder of crows appears in front of them.
A moment later, Hajime, Miyuki, and Kenmochi arrived at Kumano. This area has a depth relation with Japan's myths and notes in Japan's old chronicles like Nihon-shoki and Kojiki. After that, Shohei Sumi, an employee of Yatagarasu Inn, came to pick them up. Before they went, Sumi said that he had worked in Yatagarasu Inn since his 20th. On the way, Sumi also told them the news about their village abolition to attract many tourists, and since a month ago, they have become busier. Still, Kenmochi, Hajime, and Miyuki were their last visitors before abolition. Then, they arrived at the village entrance. There a murder of crows appeared in front of them. There a murder of crows is worshiped as God's bearer. However, in Japanese myths, Yatagarasu, known as crow-god, symbolizes guidance and the sun's incarnation. It says that Yatagarasu will tear off with its three feet and nine claws to whoever leaks the secrets.
Later they arrived at Yatagarasu Inn, where almost everybody lived in Yatagarasu Village going to meet them as the last visitors of the village. First, Sumi introduced a pretty shrine maiden of Yatagarasu Shrine, Aoi Sagisaka. The shrine maiden was a village's girl ages 18th to 22nd, and it's going for generations. Next, the previous shrine maiden, Chifumi Katori, introduced himself. She was come back to the village a half year ago to see the abolition and now working as a waitress at Yatagarasu Inn. After that, the only high schooler there, Yuto Mikamo, introduced himself and told Kindaichi and Miyuki that he had to ride a bicycle for an hour to go to school. After hearing that, his mother, Saki Mikamo, scolded him and introduced himself. She is a waitress at Yatagarasu Inn and feels sad after knowing the village will abolish soon. Later, some people arrived. He is Rokuro Kurobane. He and the others were late because they had something to do. Kurobane is a former village committee and helped a lot before the abolish. Then, his secretary, Tsumugi Ebato, and the Employee of Village Office, Genta Unoki, introduced themself. Unoki asked Kenmochi why the Inspector of Tokyo MPD was here. Nonchalantly, Kenmochi said that he went here to do an unofficial investigation. After that, the Village Head, Sadao Karasumori and the landlady of Yatagarasu Inn, Ine Hidaka greeting them too.
After meeting everyone left in the village, Kindaichi sure that the mysterious disappearing case six years ago cast a dark shadow lurking in there and that shadow ready rush them with a bloody tragedy.
First Case, The Yatagarasu Pilgrimage[]
Yatagarasu Shrine
After the villagers' introduction, the landlady of Yatagarasu Inn, Ine Hidaka, asked Chifumi to take Hajime, Miyuki, and Kenmochi's belongings inside and asked Sumi to take them to Yatagarasu Shrine before coming into the inn as their tradition. On the way to Shrine, Hajime wondered why there were so many crows in this village. Then, they have arrived at Yatagarasu Inn. Sumi informed them that the Shrine was built about four hundred years ago in the Sengoku era, but the Shrine crumbled several times because of a typhoon or a fire, and the current building was rebuilding fifty years ago. Once a month, they have performed the Yatagarasu Pilgrimage, another tradition in the village when at 7 pm, the maiden Shrine would do a cleansing inside the Shrine. Two eldest villagers would lock every door, and at late night another villager would open every door and the seal, then did a Shinto ritual prayer. Since four hundred years ago, they have made this pilgrimage, and today will be the last pilgrimage. After explaining this history, Sumi asked everyone to come into the Shrine.
The Shrine is divided into five chambers and connected with a connecting door. Those chambers are named the first chamber, the second chamber, the third chamber, the fourth chamber, and the fifth chamber. Below those connecting doors has a different height that almost makes Hajime fall. The fifth chamber is also known as the Yatagarasu's house and is the only one with no lock. The maiden Shrine will put a talisman over the edges of the door to seal it. Inside the fifth chamber, they saw the altar for Yatagarasu-sama. In the Sengoku era, the unknown military commander built it as his shelter, and locking every door became the tradition.
Miyuki wearing Yatagarasu Yukata
After their visit from Yatagarasu Village, Hajime, Miyuki, and Kenmochi take a bath. They are wearing a unique yukata with crows motives. Hajime tries to tease Miyuki but gets slapped instead. The village head, Sadao Karasumori, greets them once again and is ready to hold a banquet at the hall. The waitress, Saki Mikamo, carries the village signature dish, a whole-roasted chicken with three legs and resembles the Yatagarasu. Rokuro Kurobane adds that if we eat God's bearer, we could grant mysterious energy from it. Then, the maiden Shrine was ready to cut those chickens for them. Miyuki is surprised when she looks at Sagisaka wearing a black-colored maiden's outfit. Sagisaka tells them that the black outfit is the official outfit for the maiden Shrine at Yatagarasu Village.
Signature dish, whole-roasted chicken with three legs
Signature dish, a leftover from Yatagarasu-sama
This time, Hajime was surprised when he looked at the fish dish. That dish only had the fish head. Ine Hidaka says that these dishes represent the people eating a leftover from Yatagarasu-sama. On another side, his grandchild, Chifumi Katori, scolds her for saying unpleasant things like that. Even those dishes represented the legend in their village. Then Chifumi describes the legend at their village as coming from an incident in the Sengoku era. The military commander is hiding and prospering the village. The villagers betray him and aiming his hidden treasure. Then those villagers were got the judgment from Yatagarasu-sama. The legend said, "whoever leaks the secrets, the claw of Yatagarasu will befall upon you, brings a merciless death." Genta Unoki added those sinner bodies having the sky burial and the birds eating their bodies, leaving their heads aside. Their heads resemble the pilloried criminal exposed to public view standing in a line at the river bed. In other means, these head fish dishes resemble the criminal's head at the river bed. Nonchalantly, Yuto Mikamo eats these dishes. Yuto said his mother worked hard for their last banquet, and they are losing Yatagarasu Inn despite building a hundred years ago with a massive black pillar. That black pillar looks like a wall and is rarely seen in big cities like Tokyo.
A moment later, Tsumugi Ebato told Kurobane and Karasumori about the garbage retrieval. She said the contractor would take the garbage the day after tomorrow. The old paper and bottle glass retrieved before should assemble at a shed outside the village. Karasumori responds that jobs will be tough because only a few villagers are left. Yuto suggests their visitors to helping them. Kenmochi agrees. Kenmochi tells Hajime that jobs would be their chance to collect information from the villagers.
After the banquet, Yuto guides the visitors to their rooms. Everyone left in his village is now staying in Yatagarasu Inn. Some rooms were closed, making Hajime get a room in the attic for himself and quite far from Miyuki and Kenmochi's room. Hajime feels his room is quite charming, and Yuto said it is the most popular room in this inn because of its history. According to the legend, this room was used by a famous military commander in the Sengoku era who ran away to Yatagarasu village. Hearing that legend, Kenmochin asked Yuto about the mysterious disappearance six years ago. Yuto did not remember that case. He was an elementary school student at a time. He just remembered the mysterious disappearance that happened and every villager's uproar on it. The victim disappeared even some police officer guarded him. Then probably he was captivated in some underground tunnel. But if the legend of Yatagarasu-sama is real things, the victim can be dredged from the window. Hajime freaked out and asked Kenmochi to change his room. Kenmochi refused and asked Yuto to lead them to their room. Before leaving Hajime, Yuto tells tonight they will make the last Yatagarasu Pilgrimage before the abolition, and everyone have to gather in the hall when the time comes. Everyone leaves Hajime alone and freaking out hearing the crows outside his room.
Meanwhile, Ebato is waiting for someone who has something to discuss with her in some place. Ebato is guessing their visitor's intention and hopes they do not do something reckless. She will be in trouble if someone knows *those things*, although it will soon sink along with the village. Behind her, someone was ready to beat her out.
The Yatagarasu Pilgrimage, begin
Back to Hajime's room, Yuto awakens him to prepare for the Yatagarasu Pilgrimage. Everyone has to join this ritual, or some misfortune will befall them. In front of Yatagarasu Shrine, everyone is ready to make the pilgrimage. Sumi gives Hajime a Taiko, a small hand-drum. Everyone has to play the drum when they come inside the shrine in a line. On another side, two elders, the Village Head and the landlady of Yatagarasu Inn, and the Shrine Maiden were ready to perform the ritual. They are wearing black-colored outfits. Everyone gathered, except Kurobane's secretary, Ebato, even his secretary scolded him to do the pilgrimage's not late. But, the time has come. They have to perform right now and leave Ebato. Karasumori asks everyone to line up and warns visitors to watch their steps. There is a ladder below the door of the second chamber. They have to stroll and watch the person before them while playing the drum. Hajime sees the padlock at the Shrine's entrance and Ine Hidaka ready to open the first chamber. Everyone is prepared to come inside the Shrine one by one. The first one at that line is the Shrine Maiden, Sagisaka. Behind her is Hidaka, Karasumori, Kurobane, Sumi, Saki Mikamo, Yuto, Kenmochi, Unoki, Hajime, Miyuki, and Chifumi at the back part. While they begin the pilgrimage, Hajime asks Unoki about the elder who holds the Shrine's key. Unoki tells the first and the third chamber's keys were held by Ine Hidaka, while Karasumori held the second and the fourth chamber's keys. The fifth chamber hasn't any lock. The Shrine maiden used the talisman to seal that chamber. That specific ritual comes from the village's legend that the treasure of the fallen warrior bury under the altar of the fifth chamber, even nobody knows it's a real deal or not. The warrior builds that strict five-chamber to hide his treasure and puts nothing inside the fifth chamber except a small altar. It's time for Unoki to come inside the Shrine. He tells Hajime everyone will wait in front of the door before the front person of the line passes to the second chamber and warns not to mistake their order because that is essential. After that, it's Hajime turns to come inside the Shrine. Hajime is astonished because it is too dark inside the Shrine.
The Shrine Maiden enters the second chamber
The Village head is ready to open the second chamber, and the Shrine maiden passing through the door, step down at the ladder below. Hajime realizes the Shrine Maiden, the only one carrying the lantern while she rings the bell and everyone else plays their drums. Ine Hidaka is ready to open the third chamber. When they are stepping at the ladder, Saki Mikamo is missing his step. His son, Yuto, warns his mother to be more careful. After that, Sumi drops his car key. Kurobane suggests he search for his key later. Now, Karasumori is ready to open the fourth chamber. Miyuki feels uneasy and asks Hajime how many doors are left. When they pass the ladder, Hajime wrenches his leg and guesses that it's the curse of Yatagarasu-sama. Miyuki feels more uneasy.
The Shrine Maiden prepared to split the talisman
Now, they are ready to open the fifth chamber where the altar of Yatagarasu-sama is. Sagisaka opens his blade and is prepared to split the talisman. They come inside the fifth chamber. When everyone comes, Hajime realizes the black bundle at the altar. Karasumori asks Hidaka what that bundle is, but she said it wasn't there when they sealed the chamber at 7 pm, then asked Sagisaka to open it. Karasumori feels furious about it.
Meanwhile, Sumi questioned how the talisman sealed that bundle where the four-chamber was locked and the fifth chamber. When Sakisaka opened that bundle, she screamed, and everyone was shocked when they knew inside it was the head of Kurobane's secretary, Tsumugi Ebato. His head is there like the offering to Yatagarasu. Kurobane guessed that his secretary was eaten by Yatagarasu, leaving his head. Kenmochi asks Hajime's opinion about how the murderer put his head inside the fifth chamber. Hajime is sure that this is the unusual locked room murder, the unprecedented fivefold locked murder.
They are back at Yatagarasu Inn. Kenmochi called the Prefecture Police, but they couldn't go to the village because of the landslide, and nobody cannot come to the crime scene without his permission. Kenmochi told everyone that they had come to Yatagarasu Village to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Lawyer Ogata in Yatagarasu Inn six years ago and guessed it had a connection with the current murder. He's confident with his investigation because he has help from Kindaichi, the grandson of the famous Detective, Kosuke Kindaichi. Moreover, Ine rejects the death of Ebato done by a human. She believes Ebato gets the wrath of Yatagarasu-sama, then gets eaten and leaves his head. She considers the fivefold locked room the same as the legend of the villagers who betrayed the samurai. Yatagarasu put their heads at the altar of the fifth chamber folding in the black cloth with a crow design. She thinks there is another victim after this.
Kindaichi, Miyuki, and Kenmochi returned to Kindaichi's room to discuss the murder. They remember the condition of the shrine. The four chambers are locked, while the talisman closes the fifth chamber. The latticed window of the shrine is quite worn-out, but they will do the proper investigation the next day. Then, they will meet the head villager, Karasumori, asking for the key he had. They never made the duplicate key, and it's hard to make the duplication. Kindaichi asks Karasumori about the disappearance of Ogata. Why did the lawyer cames to the village? Karasumori describes the lawyer like the one who leads the opposite side of the establishment of the dam. The lawyer claims three villagers get a lot of money from the general contractor to support the build of the dam, but he never said who they are. After making such a claim, he gets an intimidating letter and disappears. The opposite side lost its leader, and the village abolition later.
Karasumori asks Hajime and Miyuki to help them collect garbage. The garbage contains a massive glass bottles, and they have to order them at one place before the contractor takes them. Kenmochi persuades them to do so. Hajime and Miyuki agree, and they will be waiting in front of the entrance of Yatagarasu Inn tomorrow evening.
Second Case and The Garbage Retrieval[]
Yatagarasu's bearer appears to kill Unoki
Meanwhile, Unoki goes to his old home because he received an intimidating letter from someone who called themselves Yatagarasu's bearer. The sender wrote that they knew the truth of the mysterious disappearance six years ago, suspected Unoki had killed Tsumugi Ebato, and wanted to deal with him. Inside his old house, Unoki meets someone wearing a black hood. That person reveals his face, shoots Unoki in his eye, kills him in agony, and decapitates his head. That person claims that it is the wrath of Yatagarasu-sama to atone them as the traitor.
Back to Hajime, Miyuki, and Kenmochi. They are going to Yatagarasu Shrine to further investigate with Saki Mikamo and his son, Yuto.
Third Case and The Bloody Tearoom[]
The Malicious Group[]
Conclusion[]
Hajime reveals the killer to be the waitress, Chifumi Katori. After Hajime reveals Chifumi's alibi trick, he opens a trapdoor on the floor and reveals the mummified corpse of Hitoshi Ogata.
Epilogue[]
Volumes and Chapters[]
- Kindaichi Case Files 30th Anniversary Volume 1
- (1). The Myth's Land
- (2). The Village's Legend
- (3). The Yatagarasu Pilgrimage
- (4). The Wrath of Yatagarasu
- (5). Inspection and Discussion
- (6). The Blank of Thirty Minutes
- (7). The Impossible Crime
- Kindaichi Case Files 30th Anniversary Volume 2
- (8). The Crow's Feather
- (9). The Reverse Thinking
- (10). On The Site Inspection
- (11). The Mystery of The Fivefold Locked Room
- (12). Yatagarasu's Chances
- (13). The Key to The Locked Room
- (14). The Unfeeling Oracle
Trivia[]
- This is the first story arc of young Kindaichi in Seinen demographic magazine, Evening Magazine.
- In the first chapter, Ogata's first name in hiragana said Hitoshi but some chapters later it said Kazushi.