Prologue: Holmes and the Zen Priest Hakuin

“Do you have any antiques hidden away at home? We buy and appraise.”

If you walk down the bustling shopping arcade of Kyoto’s Teramachi-Sanjo district, you’ll find a small antique store nestled within the rows of buildings. The sign outside displays a single word, seemingly the store’s name: Kura, meaning “storehouse.”

My first impression of this place was,huh, antique stores are usually called ‘Such and Such Gallery,’ or ‘House of Antiques,’ or ‘Vintage Treasures,’ or something. A one-word name like ‘Kura’ is pretty minimalistic. And inside, it seemed more like an old-fashioned cafe than an antique store. The architecture was a blend of Japanese and Western concepts, reminiscent of the Meiji and Taisho eras. There was a small cafe area next to the entrance, and the items for sale were lined up further inside. I also saw an elderly man and woman having coffee and chatting away merrily. Really, if it weren’t for the sign, I would’ve assumed it was a cafe.

As I was stealthily peeking inside the store, I realized that passersby were giving me curious glances.

After a pause, I hurried to straighten my posture and look unassuming. People might find it weird that a high school girl would be loitering in front of an antique store. They might think, “That girl wants to go in, but she can’t.” And, wel