The Personal File of Mr. Murao

The story unfolds in postwar Kyoto, in the genre of a social detective novel. The main heroine, Arisima Emilía, has Japanese, Russian, and German roots and is trying to find her place in a society where strangers aren’t trusted. Working as an editor, she meets the well-known writer Murāo Kenjiirō, who asks her to help find a woman connected to a crime he committed in the past. What seems like a simple task turns into a serious investigation.

The events develop through a chain of accidental encounters and old letters that gradually form a single picture. The atmosphere of the 1950s is conveyed with attention to details: city views, automobiles, and everyday life match the historical context. Along the way, the characters face linguistic tasks that add a touch of intrigue. Fans of twentieth-century Japanese literature will enjoy seeing the characteristic features of this period—depth, attention to detail, and hidden meanings revealed only by careful reading.

This engaging story will appeal to those who like works such as “The Murder of the Mysterious Thieves” (the title in some editions varies), “Jane Austen Investigates Murder,” and “My Grandfather Is a Private Detective.”