| dbp:shortsummary
|
- 1800.0
- 3.15576E8
- 6.31152E8
- 4.73364E8
- Heizō tells a bedtime story to his daughter Ojun about a "theft-workings" thief. They build in fittings while working on a client's residence that enable them to return later and rob the owner. One of them, an old skilled carpenter, Wasuke of Dojo returned to Edo but wanted to retire from the business. He finds that his son, Isotaro, adopted out to a local couple is working the Kozuya paper store. Unfortunately he is being bullied by the current owner, who frames him for attempted theft, causing him to commit suicide. Isotaro's parents and Wasuke are devastated, and his old friend Hikojū tells Heizō that Wasuke may retaliate, so Heizō has Hikojū follow him. After Isotaro's parents also take their own lives, Wasuke leads a raid on the Kozuya paper store. When Hikojū realizes what's happening, he tells Heizō who must act, however he delays rushing to the store. As the thieves escape by boat, they are watched by Heizō and the Arson Thief Control squad. Wasuke tells them to dump the gold into the river destroying evidence of the theft, meanwhile he tears up contracts that he stole from the store. This year, four years later, Kozuya went bankrupt. (en)
- A client, Chugo, tells Omatsu, a prostitute at the Iroha Tea House, that he can no longer visit her. Before that scene of a massacre was found, suspected to have been carried out by Shugoro of Hakabi. Heizō wants city patrols strengthened, including Chugo Kimura, his record-keeper. Chugo meets Omatsu on patrol and spends all of his money on her, but a benefactor, master Kawagoe is now paying his account. Chugo is found out and reprimanded for dereliction of his duty. Meanwhile, Kawagoe, who is actually Shugoro of Hakabi, is planning his last job in Edo. While on a nighttime visit to Omatsu, Chugo sees some suspicious characters, and sends word back to Heizō. Heizō and the Arson Thief Control arrive and attack the men in the hideout, leaving Chugo to guard the exit. Kawagoe is wounded and escapes, aiming for Chugo, but is too badly wounded and dies. Heizō rewards Chugo who confesses that he was not on patrol, but Heizō forgives him. When Chugo goes to see Omatsu, the brothel owner recognizes him as the son of a former client, his father, whom he thought always lived honestly. (en)
- Heizō is bedridden with a bad cold, but when he recovers, his father's tobacco pipe is missing. After a thorough search, he suspects a thief may have entered his house. He goes out that night with Tetsu to the Kagaya boathouse on Okawa River. They take a boat along the river and stop to see fireworks. While smoking, Heizō recognizes his father's pipe in the boatman's hands. Heizō sends Kumehachi to investigate the boatman and Kumehachi recognizes him as an old friend and former thief, now using the name Tomogoro. As they talk, Tomogoro reveals that he broke into Heizō's house and stole the pipe as an act of defiance which would make Heizō lose face. With this information, Heizō hatches a plan to catch and embarrass Tomogoro by getting him to break in again to return the pipe and steal something else. Later, Heizō hires a boat from Tomogoro again, but then reveals his own identity. The plan works and Tomogoro has a newfound respect for the chief of Arson Thief Control. (en)
- Chugo accompanies Heizō to visit his father's grave outside Edo but Heizō but wants some time alone. While walking, Heizō saves a young couple from a group of bandits. The local magistrate Jinzo Numata, arrives and takes the young couple into custody, servants who robbed the sake brewery owner Ichigoro Masuya. Then a talkative old man, Zenpachi, follows Heizō, telling him that Ichigoro is a mean and cruel man who mistreats his servants. Hiding his identity, Heizō says he is a ronin and Zenpachi asks him to join him in a robbery of Ichigoro Masuya. Heizō agrees and on the appointed night, Zenpachi breaks into the money storeroom and they steal a box of ryo. Zenpachi also suggests they free the two young servants which pleases Heizō. They all manage to escape with the assistance of the other servants. Later Zenpachi, who has recurring stomach pains, offers Heizō his book of secret thief tactics, built up over years of robberies. Just then, magistrate Jinzo Numata enters and accuses them of the robbery, but Chugo tells the officials who Heizō is, much to Zenpachi’s surprise and horror. Later Zenpachi offers to be taken into custody, but Heizō dismisses him, warning him to stay clear of Edo. (en)
- 6.31584E8
- Koyanagi of Arson Thief Control is still on duty when his wife, Omitsu is giving birth to their child. The child is stillborn, and she dies before her husband arrives home. Following the incident, Heizō is concerned that Koyanagi has become reckless, wanting to join his dead wife and child. On the anniversary of their deaths, Koyanagi stops Otaka, a woman with a baby, from jumping off a bridge. He takes her to Hikojū's inn. There, Koyanagi learns that Otaka is the wife of Matahachi, a thief he arrested and whom Otaka thought was a craftsman. Privately, Koyanagi hatches an audacious plan in which he offers Matahachi a chance to see his wife if he reveals the location of his murderous accomplice. While walking to the inn, Matahachi escapes and Koyanagi is arrested. Six months later, Matahachi returns and delivers his accomplice, clearing Koyanagi. (en)
- While Heizō is away, his wife Hisae receives a letter from Kondo Kanshiro, requesting a meeting. He was a past neighbour and lover who turned to prostitutes and crime. While she's gone, an old woman tells the household that Hisae was attacked and wounded, and in the confusion she kidnaps Ojun. The entire household and Arson Thief Control go to find Ojun and eventually locate Kondo and his men in a farmhouse. Omasa first deftly retrieves Ojun, then the Arson Thief Control squad surround the farmhouse and capture Kondo and his men. Later, Kondo tries to shame Heizō by saying that he was Hisae's first man, but Heizō just laughs, saying that he is the one who is fortunate to be with Hisae for life. During the whole operation Tatsuzo proves useless and is severely reprimanded by Heizō. (en)
|
