Death and Cherry Blossoms (June 2002)
Sent to deliver marriage contracts to a nobleman’s villa outside the capital, young Akitada hopes for a pleasant outing among cherry blossoms, but finds a murdered bride, unrequited love, and shocking family secrets. The O-Bon Cat (February 2003)
On the eve of the festival that welcomes back the spirits of the dead, Akitada encounters a lost deaf-mute boy who reminds him of his little son who has died recently. The child briefly fills an emotional void for him but is taken away, leaving behind only the clue of a feral cat and an abandoned lakeside villa. Obsessed with the double loss, Akitada pursues the trail, and uncovers a tragic story of murder and abandonment.
The Kamo Horse (October 2003)
Broke and in disgrace, Akitada ponders the inequities of fortune when Wataru, a handsome and wealthy young nobleman not only weds the most beautiful lady at court, but also wins the great Kamo race on the emperor's own horse. But the much beloved Lady Kesa is found murdered in her husband's bed and the "lucky" Wataru is the only suspect. Akitada uncovers a tragic web of court intrigue, broken promises, greed, and obsessive love.
The Tanabata Magpie (September 2005)
A junior clerk in the Ministry of Justice is arrested for the murder of a wealthy man, whose daughter he has been courting. The case looks black against him. Akitada, who does not like the clerk, procrastinates, but the young man's suicide fills him with self-reproach and sends him belatedly on a complicated search for the real killer.
Moon Cakes (January/February 2007)
When a hermit carrying an imperial heir’s compromising letter disappears in a famous temple, Akitada not only solves this case but also the apparent suicide of a monk and the strange behavior of the temple cat. The Incense Murders (September 2009)
In this story, a young Akitada is forced by his mother to visit a detested cousin where he uncovers an ingenious plot but ends up being charged with murder.
The Water Sprite (September 2011)
A maid has disappeared, and her parents want blood money from her employer. Akitada, much against his will, has been ordered to investigate rumors that a water sprite residing in a nearby pond is to blame. Fox Magic (September 2011)
Sugawara Akitada, junior clerk in the Ministry of Justice, attempts in vain to convince his boss that a murder has occurred when the minister's neighbor claims a shape-shifting fox has attacked him.
Main Characters
(Japanese family names precede first names. Only nobles have two names.)
SUGAWARA AKITADA
Nobleman, a minor government official
books: all
AKIKO
The older of, Akitada’s sisters, married to Toshikage
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
GENBA
Akitada’s retainer, former wrestler
books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE, 03 BLACK ARROW, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD, 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR, 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
HANAE & YUKI
Tora’s wife and baby son
books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS
HIRATA
Professor of law and Akitda’s surrogate father
books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE
HITOMARO
Akitada’s lieutenant
books: 03 BLACK ARROW
KOBE
Captain of the Heian Kyo Metropolitan Police
books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE, 05 THE HELL SCREEN, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD, 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR, 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS, 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
LADY SUGAWARA
The widowed Sugawara matriarch
books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES
SADENARI
Akitada’s clerk
books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
SEIMEI
Family retainer of the Sugawaras and Akitada's trusted companion
books: all
TAMAKO
Professor Hirata’s daughter and later Akitada’s bride
books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE, 03 BLACK ARROW, 04 ISLAND OF EXILES, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD, 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR, 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS, 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
TORA
Akitada’s retainer, former soldier, deserter
books: all
YASUKO
Akitada ‘s little daughter
books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
YORINAGA (YORI)
Akitada’s infant son
books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD
YOSHIKO
The younger of Akitada s sisters
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
Other Characters
ABBOT GENSHIN
Head of the Eastern Mountain Temple
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
location:
ABBOT SHOKAN
abbot of the Seikan-ji temple
books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS
location: Arson Case, HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)
AKOGI
a young trainee in the Hananoya
books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
location: EGUCHI
AUNTIE
The manageress of the Willow wine house
books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE
location:
AYAKO
Higekuro’s older daughter, also a teacher of martial arts
books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL
location:
BOSHU
Sunada’s agent
books: 03 BLACK ARROW
location:
CAPTAIN YUKINARI
Commandant of the provincial garrison
books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL
location:
CHIKAMURA
An elderly man whose house has been taken by thugs
books: 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD
location:
CHOBEI, KAORU
Two sergeants of constables
books: 03 BLACK ARROW
location:
DANJURO
An actor with Uemon’s troupe
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
location:
DR INABE (ALSO, A CAT)
a physician
books: 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR
location: OTSU
DR. MASAYOSHI
Coroner
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
location:
DR. OGATA
physician and medical officer for the prisoners
books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES
location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)
EIKAN AND ANCHO
Two monks
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
location:
FUHITO
Lord Kiyowara’s major-domo
books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS
location: Murder Case, HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)
FUJIWARA
Professor of history at the Imperial University
books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE
location:
FUJIWARA KANEIE
the Minister of Justice
books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS
location: HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)
FUJIWARA KOSEHIRA
Nobleman in the capital; Akitada's best friend
books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD
location:
FUJIWARA MOTOSUKE
Governor of Kazusa province; cousin of Kosehira
books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL
location:
FUJIWARA SADANORI
a powerful nobleman and relative of the chancellor
books: 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR
location: HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)
FUJIWARA TAKEKO
the lady of the River Mansion
books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
location: EGUCHI
FUKUDA AND HARIMA
two poor, elderly people
books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
location: EGUCHI
GENZO AND MINORU
scribes for Yutaka
books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES
location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)
GOLD
An acrobat
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
location:
GOTO
A fishmonger
books: 03 BLACK ARROW
location:
HAMAYA
Head clerk of the provincial administration
books: 03 BLACK ARROW
location:
HANAE
a pretty dancer from the amusement quarter
books: 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR
location: HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)
HARADA
The drunken bookkeeper of Yasaburo
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
location:
HARU
Proprietor of the Bamboo Grove restaurant
books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES
location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)