Rashomon Gate: A Mystery of Ancient Japan

by I.J. Parker

Book Overview

In Heian Kyo, the capital city of 11th century Japan, Akitada Sugawara serves as a minor official in the Ministry of Justice. Though born into a noble family, his family's estate is sadly diminished, forcing Akitada to toil fruitlessly at an unsuccessful career. So when an old friend, Professor Hirata, calls upon Akitada for help, he welcomes the opportunity to escape from his dull assignments. One of the professor's colleagues is being blackmailed,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312287984
• ISBN13: 9780312287986
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

The Dead Wait At Rashomon...

When it comes to Japanese detective stories tailored for Western readers, Laura Joh Rowland leaps to mind. Here stories of Sano Ichiro, set during the 17th Century Shogunate have become a staple of what is admittedly, a niche genre. Now a new writer, I. J. Parker has appeared (her short story, "Akitada's First Case," was published in 1999. and promptly won a Shamus award). Parker's stories feature Sagawara Akitada, a low ranking noble in the service the Emperor in Heian Kyo (Kyoto). The time is 600 years earlier than Rowland's books, and the culture immensely different. Japan was still heavily influenced by all things Chinese, and still forming its own social and political architectures.As Parker ably demonstrates in Akitada's first adventure, there was nothing primitive about the Heian period, regardless of its antiquity. Akitada, whose career in the Japanese bureaucracy has come to a standstill, accepts a request from an old mentor to come to the University as an instructor while investigating an attempt at blackmail. Akitada and his servant, Tora, find themselves enmeshed in a web of plots including the murder (or transcendence) of a prince of the realm, the strangling of a joy house musician, and a series of deaths at the University itself.Both Akitada and Tora have their own romantic interests, which are fleshed out by Parker's careful sense of detail and character development. There are countless things that can be gotten wrong in historical fiction of this sort, but Parker manages to avoid all but trivial errors. Partially because she does not delve into the politics of the times the way Rowland does. Akitada is not a 'player' in the same class as Sano Ichiro. His frustrated ambition keeps him on the outer edges of polite society.This is an excellent first novel. Indeed, the only clue that it is a first novel is that the publicity says it is a first novel. The writing lacks the uneasiness that often mars early efforts. There is every reason to look forward to the next volume in what is giving all the signs of a successful series.

A Very Pleasant Surprise...

This novel is a refreshing departure from the typical mystery/whodunit. The author gives us insight to Japanese society as it must have been in ancient times, but more than that, gives us a terrific read!You may not have the pleasure, as my Book club members and I did, to meet the author in person, but this book is time well spent. We're looking forward to reading the rest of the series.Meeting the author, impressed all of us, with her scholarly research to ensure historical accuracy in addition to the excellent narrative. The characters are richly developed; the scenery beautifully described; the story unfolds delightfully unpredictably!In addition to the mystery, it's also a love story, with tenderness and depth. Ms. Parker tells from a male narrator's perspective, and captures that voice accurately.Tired of the current offerings? Try this engaging story!

Mystery, exotica and a taste of old Japan

Clearly the author has borrowed from the ever-popular Judge Dee series about a detective in Tang Dynasty China. But so what? If you liked Judge Dee, you should also like this similar incarnation in old Japan. And if you have never read the Judge Dee books, the novel stands on its own as a well-paced and well-plotted mystery, with romance, exotica, and a wide range of well-drawn characters.It's a fast and enjoyable read. Chapters are short, so I found I kept reading "just one more" before calling it a night. The result was I read the whole novel in about three evenings. Perhaps the beginning is a bit slow as the stage is set, but once the action picks up it never lets up. There are enough twists, turns and surprises to keep anyone happy. There are also passages of genuine emotion in the latter part of the novel. So be prepared to really feel for and like some of the charcters.The end of the novel clearly points to more novels to come. I look forward to following Akitada and friends as he makes his career as a crime solver in old Japan. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the author did write a series. As I find myself re-reading the Judge Dee books from time to time, I hope I can look forward to reading and re-reading this series as well. A truly enjoyable mystery from an imaginative and gifted author!

strong eleventh century Japanese mystery

In eleventh century Heian Kyo, Japan, Sugawara Akitada knows that he has attained his career ceiling in the Ministry of Justice as a minor bureaucrat. Clerking is simply boring, but that is what Akitada does now and he realizes will continue to do until he is retired. Having no permanent woman in his life except his disappointed mother, Akitada's only passion is solving crimes, a task that he actually has had success at solving.Akitada's former law professor at the Imperial University asks his one time student to investigate an apparent blackmailing scheme that needs thwarting before it becomes public knowledge and damages the schools' reputation. Seeing a chance to escape the doldrums of his work, Akitada accepts the assignment. Pretending to be a newly appointed teaching assistant, Akitada begins his investigation into who his blackmailing a professor. However, a seemingly separate second case surfaces that places Akitada in danger from wrong doers with high level connections. On the other hand the obstinate Akitada finds romance too.The key to enjoying this strong eleventh century Japanese mystery is the names that though add realism to the locale take a bit of adjusting by westerners so as to not lose track of who does what to whom. The story line is brimming with imagery that enables the audience to feel like a visitor to what was once Kyoto. Akitada is a fascinating character disenchanted with his present life with no hope for the future yet gives everything to solving his cases. I.J. Parker writes an appealing tale that showcases her talent to paint quite a picture for historical mystery fans to enjoy.Harriet Klausner