Picture Puzzle - Front page article of the story

A gang Zetter’s jailbreak plan revealed!!

The lawyer purchased a prison officer. 

Zetter’s lawyer Mr. Thurber purchased a prison officer Wallace. Mr. Thurber gave £50,000 to Wallace to get his help for Zetter’s escape. Why did the plan find out? A young girl, Amy, who lived at same flat with Wallace heard their talk that they were going to meet at a churchyard to pass money next day. She went there and took the photo of them at that moment. But Wallace noticed her and he ran after her to take away the camera. She ran away and took the film out of camera. She ran into the shopping mall and passed it to a young man.

After all Wallace caught her and locked her in the bathroom of the flat. A young man, Pete, was surprised but he thought to solve the puzzle. He saw photos in the film, he chaced the some clues and he reached her flat at last. There Wallace waited him and threatened to give the film back. They fought. Wallace finally fired the gun so people called policeman. After all Wallace was arrested and Amy was rescued.

Posted for Misako

The Last Leaf and Other Stories - A criminal disguised as somebody else

The famous criminal is 30million yen criminal. An offender pretended a police officer. It happend 50 years ago. The car which carried money was stoped by a police officer who rode a white bike. The police officer said the driver ``This car was set up the bomb. Get off the car`` They were very surprised and got off the car, the police officer drove the car away. Soon they knew money was stolen. The criminal was prescription. Money has been disappearded now. Many people were suspected of the offender. But the offender have not arrested. No one Know who is the offender. If I can ask the offender, where is money?

Posted for Misuzu

The Phantom of the Opera - Yoko's alternative ending

Erik was dead. Raoul and Christine and Persian did not talk to anyone lifetime about that terrible night of the event. Raoul and Christine got married. Their cute child was born. Christine who has a wonderful voice never sang in the Opera House. She sang for only husband and a child with love. They lived happily ever after. The Persian told that Erik was dead to the King of Persia. The Persian did not return to the King. And he lived calmly throughout the life. In the Opera House in Paris, the people still talked about the ghost. A few of the singers and dancers said ‘we had seen a strange man who always wore a black cloak and wore a white mask over his face.’ Box Number 5 is still empty. Nobody sits down the Box Number 5. But when somebody put a program on a chair in the Box, there is always 20 francs on the chair after a performance.

Posted for Yoko

Northanger Abbey - famous writers from Japan

The popular Japanese writer is Keigo Higashino, Miyuki Miyabe, Jun Ikeido, etc. I like their novels. Their novels are very interesting and are easy to read. There is a writer called Haruki Murakami in Japan. Before, his novels “Norwegian wood” became the bestseller. And he won Franz Kafka Prize as an Asian for the first time. He became the most likely candidate for Nobel Prize in Literature every year. He is very famous and popular in Japan. He is known in abroad too. His enthusiastic fan is called Harukist. I have read only “Norwegian Wood” and “Kafka on the Shore”. However, I was not able to enjoy the novels that much. I was hard to finish reading it. Many people love his novels and read. And he is a man with talent as he became Nobel Prize in Literature Candidate every year. But I am no good at reading his novels. I don’t seem to have literal ability.

Posted for Reiko

The Phantom of the Opera - an alternative ending

Erik was dead. Raoul and Christine and Persian did not talk to anyone lifetime about that terrible night of the event. Raoul and Christine got married. Their cute child was born. Christine who has a wonderful voice never sang in the Opera House. She sang for only husband and a child with love. They lived happily ever after. The Persian told that Erik was dead to the King of Persia. The Persian did not return to the King. And He lived calmly throughout the life. In the Opera House in Paris, the people still talked about the ghost. A few of the singers and dancers said ‘we had seen a strange man who always wore a black cloak and wore a white mask over his face.’ Box Number 5 is still empty. Nobody sits down the Box Number 5. But when somebody put a program on a chair in the Box, there is always 20 francs on the chair after a performance.

Posted for Reiko

The Last Leaf and Other Stories - Great Detective Ben Price's Diary

Yesterday I found Jimmy Valentine at last. It is surprising he became the owner of a little shoe shop. He had stolen big money just after released from prison. I asked a lot of people about Jimmy in this town. They didn’t know him. But they talked much about Ralph D. Spencer. He was Jimmy. I knew he was going to marry Annabel, the banker’s daughter. I thought I didn’t make him do that and I would arrest him.

  Today I followed and watched him from early morning. Jimmy was with Annabel’s family. An unexpected accident happened. At the bank a little Annabel’s sister was closed into the big safe, a new strong-room. It was just built yesterday. It had a very thick door and a complicated combination lock. The banker proud of it but he didn’t know the secret numbers to open it.  They cried and were in panic situations.

  Jimmy did.  He broke the safe, cut the door and the lock with his special tools. If he didn’t broke the safe the girl would die. If he didn’t do that he could marry Annabel. He stole big money. It’s true. He saved a little girl at the cost to lose his new life.  It’s true too.

Posted for Misako

Picture Puzzle - Gangsters in Japan

My town is very peaceful. I`ve never locked the door of my house in day time. When I was young, I lived near Nagaya city. There were rice fields. It looks like peaceful, but that town was more dangerous than my town. I lived girls dormitory, there was a gangster`s boss`s house near the dormitory. It looks like common Japanese house, but Young gangsters came his house night time. His car changed every month, that was always imported car.

One day there were many police officers near my dormitory. We didn`t know what happened. That night, we watched TV news, we knew the reason. A murder run away near my town. He killed a man by a gun and robbed his car. We locked every doors and windows, checked again and again. We never walked outside night time till he was arrested. Two or three days after, the murder was arrested, we got ordinary life.

Posted for Misuzu

Northanger Abbey - A letter to a dear friend

My dear Eleanor

I am very happy to read your letter. I want to see your young, very handsome and very rich man. Where were you meet a valuable man? I wish you every happiness! And I'm relieved to hear your Father's agree. I'm in love with Henry. I want to marry Henry. I want to meet him soon. And it's nice sound "Let's be married on the same day" I'm looking forward to our marriage. Where does we get married in the summer? Where do you want to get married? I can not sleep well tonight in excitement. And I will wait Henry's letter. I talk my parents immediately. I think they are as happy as me.

Your dearest friend,

Catherine Morland

Posted for Yoko

The Phantom of the Opera - A letter from the Phantom

I loved flowers, trees, birds, and all beautiful things in the world.But I couldn`t see them under the sun. People was afraid me, pointed me, and said.``He is a monster``I hated all of people. But Christine was different. She wasn`t afraid me. I wanted to stay with her. When taught her songs, I was very happy. I wanted to walk with her under the sun if I can. But I couldn`t, so I never leave her. I decided to live under the Opera House with her. Her voice was too beautiful. She is a singer. She is a great singer. I wanted to popularize her voice. That was a mistake. I love her. I love her.

Posted for Misuzu

The Last Leaf and Other Stories - Detective's diary

I looked a happening in my presence. May, the sister`s older child, had closed the door of the strong-room. Then she had turned all the knobs. But the other child, Agatha, was inside the strong-room. Agatha is Annabel` sister. Nobody has chosen the numbers for the lock！Jimmy Valentine is now Ralph. D. Spencer. and he is going to marry the banker`s daughter, Annabel. Every family doesn`t know he was safe-cracker. Ralph looked a happening with Annabel`s family. and Ralph became Jimmy Valentine. Jimmy used special tools and cutting into the steel door. after that Jimmy pulled the big handle and the door opened. The child was safe, she was not hurt. Jimmy said to me "Arrest me" But I looked at Annabel and her family.They were all crying quietly. Jimmy helped Agatha and family. Family thanked for Jimmy. Family was confused the happening. So I decided not to arrest he.

Posted for Yoko

Northanger Abbey - A letter to a loved one

My dear Eleanor,

Thank you for your letter. I’m so happy to hear that your father agreed our marriage. I’ve been afraid that your father might not permit us. I love Henry and I’ve wanted his father to permit our marriage. 

And You got engaged! Congratulations! Who is your fiancée? What is he like、very handsome, very rich and? Where does he live? When and where did you meet him? Now I have many questions to ask you! When we meet next time you have to tell me everything about your fiancée. We’re all for it that you and we are going to be married on the same day. Maybe we will have a most wonderful wedding ceremony. I am so excited now. You and I are going to be sisters. I hope we are always good friends forever!

Catherine

Posted for Misako

Picture Puzzle - Front page news

The sense of justice of Amy

Amy and Pete without the acquaintance solved a certain case. On Tuesday, Amy saw the big man, name’s Wallace talking to a man in the churchyard. Amy knew the other man. His name is Thurber, lawyer. Thurber is Zetter’s lawyer. Zetter is in prison. Wallace works at that prison. Amy heard Wallace talking to Thurber. Wallace said “Bring the money here at nine o’clock on Friday morning. After that, I’ll help Zetter.” And Amy went to the churchyard with camera on the day and took a picture of the two men. But Wallace saw Amy. Amy ran away to the shopping mall. Amy saw a young man, Pete in the mall. And Amy gave Pete the film out of the camera. Amy started running again. Wallace found out Amy. Amy was caught and was put in a bathroom. Pete who solved the puzzle fought with Wallace and saved Amy. Wallace and Thurber were caught.

Posted for Reiko

Northanger Abbey - A famous Japanese writer

Seichou Matsumoto is a famous mystery author. He was established ``social mystery``. He didn`t much write about character`s emotion. But he described about character`s family, company, society. I can imagine character`s life. He described ``why did she commit the crime?`` Sometimes that reason was sad or foolish. I like his 1950`s novels.The women didn't have social privilege in 1950`s. But they were very tough.They thought and thought, committed the crime. After, they covered the crime, they lived usual life every day. He described those women very charming. His novels are dramatized for TV and cinema. I like ``Suna no utsuwa`` very much. It was dramatized 4 or 5 times. But my best dram is first dramatized cinema. My best scene of that cinema is father and son walked winter beach. That is sad and beautiful.

Posted for Misuzu

Picture Puzzle - Well Done!!

Young girl solved a mystery!! She is Amy Bates. It was Friday in a large shopping mall. Amy ran throught the crowd of people in the mall. She ran towards the boy, Pete. Amy pushed a film cassette into his hand. and she ran away. A minute later a big man was looking for her. Photo was a picture of two men. One of them was a big man, Wallace. One of them was Zetter`s lawyer, Ronald Thurber. He was giving to Wallace a thick brown envelope. Zetter was a bad person in prison. It was well-known in this town.

It is Amy`s story 「On Tuesday I saw Wallace talking to Ronald Thurber in churchyard. Wallace works at that prison. She heard "Bring the money here at nine o`clock on Friday morning. After that, I`ll help Zetter" I took a picture of the two men this time. But Wallace saw me. and I ran away .」

In the end, the police officers found £50000 in Wallace`s flat.

Posted for Yoko

The Last Leaf and Other Stories - Thoughts of a detective

Jimmy is Burglar. Before nine months, I had arrested Jimmy. But Jimmy was working again. I knew all about Jimmy. I decided to catch Jimmy next time. And I found Jimmy, the owner of the shoe store, Mr. Spencer, in Elmore. People liked Mr. Spencer and they respected him. It was unexpected for me. And Mr. Spencer was going to marry the banker’s daughter. That was very interesting for me. Because I thought Jimmy steals money from the bank. I had seen the banker’s family enter the bank with Jimmy. I was waiting to catch Jimmy. The trouble happened. The child was shut in the strong-room. Jimmy had cracked the strong-room’s door with Jimmy’s special tools. Mr. Spencer became Jimmy, the safe-cracker. Jimmy knew that he might be arrested by helping the child. And Jimmy decided to part from beloved Annabel. But he helped the child. Jimmy was a good burglar. I decided not to arrest Jimmy this time.

Posted for Reiko

The Phantom of the Opera - A father's letter

Christine

I will die soon. I don’t want to die but I know death is approaching. I have to say to you the important things. You have a gift for music. Your voice move people. We travelled through all the countries of Europe. Everywhere the audiences were pleased enthusiastically for your songs. You will be a wonderful singer. You will be a famous singer. That’s no doubt sure.

Until now I was always with you but from now you would be alone. You need a new teacher of music. Don’t worry about that. I will send a wonderful teacher to you, I will send you the Angel of Music. Instead me he will teach you much. He will make you better. Trust him and a brilliant future will be waiting ahead.

Please remember my soul will be always with you.

Love.

Posted for Misako

The Long Tunnel - A holiday with friends

When I was highschool student, my friend asked some of friends to working in Tugaike. My friend's relative ran a guest-house in Tugaike. Tugaike was famous ski earea. They wanted to working students during winter holiday. I imagined we could enjoy in winter after working. My friends thought so. We had pleasure to go there.

But we guessed wrong. We had been swamped with all day long. We were very tired. After working we could not out freely. We were under age. Resort area had many temptations. My friend's relative had a sense of responsibility to us. So during working in Tugaike we could not enjoy. Of course no skiing. But it was important experience for us. "Life isn't as easy as you think"

Posted for Misuzu

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - A letter to your teacher

To Mrs. Douglas

I’m sorry to run away from home without saying. My father locked me in a cabin. But I escaped from the cabin. And I went Jackson’s island on canoe. I met Jim there. I was frightened. Please don’t scold Jim. Jim wanted to be free. Our adventure started from there.

We found a strong raft. And we intended to go to the Free State on the raft. The great Mississippi River was taking us away from St Petersburg. We prepared meals and had a long talk. We were very happy.

Various things happened. Two white men running away to us. They were the Confidence Tricksters. In a small town they pretended to be another person, and cheated the money out of the girls. But I took the money and hided it. So the money was safe. The white man sold Jim. But I could meet Jim again. Surprisingly, I met Tom Sawyer there. The adventures were splendid for me.

Huckleberry Finn

Posted for Yoko

Jane Eyre - A female writer from the Meiji era

Ichiyo Higuchi is a first female author in Meiji era in Japan. Her portrait is printed on 5000 yen bill.

She was born in March in 1872 in Tokyo Uchisaiwaicho—now Chiyoda-ku. She had two sisters and two brothers, and she was the second daughter. When she was a girl her father was rich. She loved reading. When she was seven she finished reading old long stories. Her father educated her to school and other private cram school. But her mother thought girls did not need education. She stopped school.

In 1888 the eldest brother died, next year her father died. She became a head of householder. Her father left a big debt, her family lived poverty. She did some jobs, cram school assistant, needle works, small shop master and so on.

Around in 1890 she tried to be a novelist. To earn a living as a novelist she apprenticed to Tosui Nakarai famous novelist.

In 1895 she published “Takekurabe”. It received high praise. She continued to publish “Nigorie” “Juusanya”. She became a popular writer. She suffered from tuberculosis. She died in November in 1896. She was 24.

Posted for Misako

The Three Musketeers - The true hero

I think D’Artagnan is the hero of the story. In 1625, a young man called D’Artagnan comes to Paris.

D’Artagnan wants to be special soldiers, a King’s musketeer. D’Artagnan is brave and handsome and a man of many loves. I think he is charming.

D’Artagnan is in love with Constance and he loves Milady too in this story. Milady’s maid, Kitty like D’Artagnan . And by a request of Constance, D’Artagnan has to go to England for the Queen’s diamonds. D’Artagnan solves various troubles with his friends, three of the King’s musketeers, Athos, Aramis and Porthos. And D’Artagnan is recognized by Cardinal Richelieu.

Finally D’Artagnan is able to become a lieutenant in the King’s musketeers. D’Artagnan from country fight by a sword bravely and he is in full activity. And D’Artagnan became a lieutenant in the King’s musketeers. I think this story is D’Artagnan’s success story, and D’Artagnan and his friend’s great friendship story.

Posted for Reiko