Preface
This is an article introducing the novel "Kurorojou" (Black Prison Castle), published in June 2021 by Honobu Yonezawa, one of my favorite mystery writers.
I'd wanted to read it for a while, but I kept putting off buying it because it's set in the Sengoku period, a time I'm not very familiar with.
I recently had the opportunity to purchase another book from an online shopping site, and I added this item to my order to reach the minimum purchase amount for free shipping.
Upon reading it, I found that while there were some parts that were difficult to grasp at first, the more I read, the more captivated I became.
Even for someone like me who isn't very familiar with historical reading, I think this is a fascinating work that completely captivates you.
Introduction (no spoilers)
Set during the Sengoku period, the story follows Araki Murashige, a samurai besieged in Arioka Castle (in present-day Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture, near Osaka Prefecture), and is told in six chapters, from the prologue to the epilogue.
Murashige, despite being a vassal of Nobunaga, has rebelled and is holed up in his castle, waiting for reinforcements from the Mori clan.
Each chapter is self-contained, but the situation progresses as the chapters advance, and in the fourth chapter, before the final chapter, the overall meaning of the events that have occurred so far is revealed.
Arioka Castle is well-defended and well-supplied, so even though it is under siege, it is not in any immediate danger.
However, within the castle, even a minor incident could easily create an atmosphere where surrendering would be the better option, and there is an invisible tension at play.
Murashige always carries out his duties with utmost vigilance, ensuring that any potential problems are extinguished before they arise, and this is depicted in detail throughout the story.
In this game, various incidents occur within the castle.
The incident is accompanied by some kind of inexplicable mystery, and if we cannot solve it, it will hinder our ability to continue the siege.
In a typical mystery, the reason for solving the mystery is almost automatically established: "Someone has died → We must find the culprit."
However, since this work is set in the Sengoku period, death itself is not uncommon.
Furthermore, Murashige, the lord of the castle, has the power to quell the incident and bring it to an end, even if the truth remains unknown.
Therefore, the reason why the mystery must be solved is described in considerable detail.
This depiction allows us to naturally understand Murashige's way of thinking and the philosophy of the time, giving it a sense of realism.
When the incident occurs, Murashige eventually goes to consult with Kuroda Kanbei, who is imprisoned in Arioka Castle.
Kuroda Kanbei is a military strategist for the Oda clan, but in the opening chapter, when he visits Murashige to persuade him, he is imprisoned for a certain reason.
Although Kanbei has been imprisoned in a dungeon for a long time and is emaciated and worn out, his sharp intellect remains undiminished.
Murashige, who keeps Kanbei alive despite his pleas to be killed, takes an authoritarian stance, demanding that Kanbei solve the mystery rather than seeking advice.
However, despite being a prisoner, Kanbei speaks in a mocking manner and only gives one or two hints.
Ultimately, Murashige often arrives at the truth on her own based on the clues, but the conversations between the two, which are not a simple relationship, are also a highlight.
Review (no spoilers)
It was very insightful and interesting.
The book meticulously depicts the lives and thoughts of people living in that era, making you wonder if it's a historical novel at first, but then you realize, "No, this is definitely a mystery."
Formally speaking, I think it's a mystery that falls under the category of an armchair detective story.
Kanbei plays the detective, while Murashige plays the Watson-like character who brings the case to the detective.
In mystery novels, once an incident occurs, you can usually imagine what kind of mystery needs to be solved.
However, in the second chapter, "The Flower Shadow's Achievement," I was surprised to learn that this was the reason why it became a mystery.
The story is set in the Sengoku period, and I felt that the setting was effectively utilized.
The incident itself is compelling, but the story of waiting for reinforcements while holed up in a castle also offers plenty of appeal as a military chronicle.
The suspense surrounding the castle lord—whether reinforcements would arrive, what steps should be taken, and whether there were traitors within—was fascinating and created a great sense of tension.
Since it's a historical work, I wasn't very familiar with it personally, but as I read on, I found it just as interesting as the medieval war chronicles that I love, and I feel like I've discovered a new kind of enjoyment.
Judging from the bibliography at the end of the book, it seems that a considerable amount of historical research has been done.
I felt confident that this was what the Sengoku period was really like, and that I could take it at face value.
Yonezawa's work, "The Broken Dragon Bone," was a work of fiction set in a world where magic exists, but it was characterized by descriptions that made the atmosphere and sense of life around medieval England feel palpable.
His descriptions of Nepal, the setting of his novel "The King and the Circus," were equally compelling.
Like those other works, this film conveyed a realistic atmosphere of the Sengoku period.
No one actually experienced the Sengoku period, but this portrayal is so convincing that it makes you feel like it's what it was really like.
Afterword
Although it's a paperback of just under 450 pages, it was a very satisfying read.
While the catharsis of solving the case is a given, this work felt like it was using that as a springboard to depict something much bigger.
I also think it had the effect of correcting my preconceived notions about historical subjects (especially Japanese ones).
I've been away from reading (excluding manga) for a while now, but reading this reminded me that novels have their own unique charm.
I hope that in the future, I can at least keep up with new works by my favorite authors, even if I'm way behind the times.
I would especially recommend this book to people who like mysteries and historical fiction.
The works I introduced are here.
Rakuten Market: 黒牢城（楽天ブックス）