In The Toyotomi Blades (1997), the second book in the series, Ken Tanaka's amateur sleuthing takes him from Los Angeles to Japan, shifting the series into a "fish-out-of-water" mystery.

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Plot Synopsis

 

The story begins with a high drama theft from a skyscraper. Then the story moves to Ken Tanaka, who is invited to Japan to appear on TV to talk about the mystery recounted in Death in Little Tokyo. He is approached by an elderly Japanese man who wants Ken to find a set of legendary swords that supposedly belonged to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the 16th-century unifier of Japan.

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1. The Trip to Japan

 

The client believes the swords were stolen and taken to Japan. Since Ken is of Japanese descent but has never actually visited his ancestral homeland, he sees this as an opportunity to both solve a mystery and explore his heritage. He travels to Japan with his girlfriend, Mariko.

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2. Cultural Clashes

 

Upon arrival, Ken quickly realizes that "looking Japanese" doesn't help him blend in. His lack of fluency in the language and his "American" mannerisms make him an outsider. He is constantly corrected on social etiquette, which adds a layer of humor to the narrative.

 

3. The Murder and the Yakuza

 

The search for the blades takes a dark turn when Ken's primary contact in Japan is found murdered. As he investigates the death, he discovers that the "Toyotomi Blades" aren't just historical artifacts—they are powerful symbols of legitimacy.

Ken finds himself caught between:

• A Right-Wing Nationalist Group: Who want the blades to spark a return to traditional Imperial values.

• The Yakuza: Who see the swords as a high-value commodity to be sold on the black market.

• The Japanese Police: Who view Ken as a meddling, incompetent foreigner.

 

4. The Resolution

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Ken must navigate the dense urban landscape of Tokyo and the rural temples of Kyoto to track down the blades. He eventually uses his knowledge of mystery tropes and his unique perspective as an "outsider-insider" to outmaneuver the professional criminals. The climax involves a tense confrontation where the history of the swords is finally revealed, and Ken learns that some secrets are better left buried.

 

Key Themes

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• Identity: The book explores the concept of the "Nikkei" (Japanese diaspora) and the feeling of being "too Japanese for America, but too American for Japan."

• Historical Legacy: Furutani bridges the gap between his contemporary mysteries and his samurai fiction by focusing on the lingering power of 16th-century history in the modern world.