Every time I watch an episode of Kyoto Teramachi Sanjou no Holmes I get about three ideas for places I want to visit the next time I’m in Kyoto (which is a list that never seems to get any shorter to begin with). This time around the setting is Shinko-kan, the tearoom at the renowned ryokan Yoshida-sanso. I knew of Yoshida-sanso by reputation only, as it’s the sort of place someone in my circle could never remotely afford to stay at – a former Imperial residence, it’s known as one of the most beautiful traditional inns in all of Japan. But Shinko-kan looks astonishing, and even I can afford a ¥900 cup of coffee as a splurge once in a while.
While the other two elements of this series – travelogue and romance – were the bread, the meat on this sandwich was definitely the mystery. This was the most mystery-driven of any ep so far, and certainly the most serious (attempted murder). Kiyotaka is invited to a reading at the aforementioned Shinko-kan by a mystery writer named Aigasa Karisu, real name Rika – or rather, her younger sister. And the minute the younger sister starts reading, it’s pretty clear what’s really going on here.
For a mystery writer in Japan, “Aigasa Karisu” is pretty obviously a nom de plume for starters. The methodology is straight up Agatha Christie, too – get everyone together and try and provoke someone into showing their true colors. It’s interesting that Holmes agrees to take the case only on the condition that “once he solves it” (confidence this nasty Kyoto boy does not lack), the news will be spread that these “master detective” rumors are a lie. Fat chance, given what a small and tight circle Kiyotaka’s family moves in – but it’s clear that the whole Holmes thing is a burden Kiyotaka would rather not have to deal with.
The mystery – a staged suicide attempt, stolen ideas, ghostwriting and romantic betrayal (perceived) checks a lot of boxes, and it’s brought off pretty convincingly. If a show like “Holmes” is going to go full-bore on a mystery like this week’s ep does, it can’t be too silly or fanciful, and the premise here is pretty solid. But it strikes me that Kiyotaka is swimming in some pretty deep water here. With attempted murder and a lot of money involved – not to mention professional reputations – things could get very serious very quickly. For all his brilliance I think Holmes is in over his head, even if he does solve the mystery. That gun Rika pulled at the end could just as easily have been real as fake. An amateur detective is not a professional, no matter how smart he is.
As for the other slab of bread, all this has been taking place on Valentine’s Day. It also happens to be Kiyotaka’s birthday, though he’s the one that gives Aoi a present, a pair of appraising gloves (quite a compliment, really). Little by little the barriers between them are coming down, symbolized by the black coffee – this time around, Aoi is anxious to show Kiyotaka that the reason she recoiled from his hand was not that she was repulsed at the idea of his touching her (quite the opposite, in fact). Aoi is either 18 or about to be (she’s been at Kura for a year) and about to start college – these two are running out of reasons why they can’t do what both of them obviously want to, which is be in a relationship. The question for me is not “if”, but “when” – and whether that when will make it into the anime.
