Holmes of Kyoto (京都寺町三条のホームズ)

It's March.

It'll soon be a full year since I first came to Kura.

We've been invited by Rikyu-kun's father who lives in Tokyo,

Kirishima Sakyo-san,

to visit the estate of Rikyu-kun's grandfather

in one of Kyoto's leading high-end residential districts, Takagamine.

Sakyo-san and Yoshie-san are divorced,

and I've heard he was a bad husband,

but he actually seems very funny and personable.

Hey, Kiyotaka-kun, Aoi-san.

Thank you for coming today.

It's nothing.

What is Rikyu-kun's grandfather like?

I don't see him often myself, but the Saito family is pretty loaded...

Their mansion's full of expensive-looking art pieces and everything.

And Sakyo-san and all his brothers have been called there?

Dad's invitation said,

"For those with no faith in their own eyes, bring an appraiser with you."

Rikyu spoke highly of him, so I decided to ask Kiyotaka-kun first.

Sorry, Kiyo-nii.

Don't mention it.

It's a request as an appraiser, after all.

I couldn't ask for more.

I see...

Of course, Aoi-san didn't need to come, too.

You could've left her watching the store.

Well, it does sort of feel like a family thing...

Looking at beautiful things will help you hone your eye.

I'm sure it will be a good learning experience for you, Aoi-san.

Beautiful things?

What is it?

O-Oh, nothing!

I'll do my best!

"Conditions of an Heir"

Episode 12

This way, please.

Tsukasa, Kazuhiko.

It's been a while, eh?

Hey, Big Bro.

It has been a while.

I heard they were brothers,

but the three of them don't look anything alike...

They really don't, do they?

Holmes-san!

We can't exactly hide it.

They all have different mothers.

I see.

I suspect that has something to do with the gathering here today...

Well, if it isn't Kiyotaka!

Keiko-san! It's been so long.

You're back in Japan?

Yes, and I'm so happy to see you!

Aoi-san, this is Fujiwara Keiko-san.

She's the curator of an art museum in New York.

Curator?

It's a bit like a museum's manager.

I see. So she's the appraiser you brought, Kazuhiko?

What about you, Tsukasa?

They're running a little late.

But I asked a connoisseur who's any appraiser's equal.

A connoisseur who's any appraiser's equal?

I wonder who that could be...

Oh?

Look at this!

What is it?

The hanging wisteria crest!

I believe it's seen often in Fujiwara and Saito families.

Impressive as ever. My family crest is the same one!

Dad.

Sakyo, Tsukasa, Kazuhiko, and Rikyu.

Thank you all for coming.

It's nice to meet you all as well.

I am the head of House Saito, Saito Ukon.

You appraisers...

Miss, what are you here for?

Oh? Um...

I'm the one who invited her, Dad.

The only people I want to see right now are my sons and appraisers.

I'm sorry, miss.

I don't believe you have a place here.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

I'm Yagashira Kiyotaka.

Oh, you must be Seiji-san's...

This is Mashiro Aoi-san, a member of my staff.

She's an apprentice appraiser, like me.

I remember!

She's the one who won the appraising game at Yanagihara-sensei's party.

I took part in that, too!

Ukon-san, Aoi-san has a very good eye.

It would be inaccurate to say that she has no place here.

Holmes-san...

Well then, Aoi-san...

Let us test you.

Excuse me.

These are...

Raku tea bowls... Amazing.

You know there are many makers of Raku tea bowls, I'm sure.

Yes.

Then tell me who made each of these tea bowls.

Some of them may have even been made by those outside of the House of Raku.

That's fine.

If it's Raku ware, I can handle it.

Okay, I'm going to get started.

I think these two are the ninth heir to the House of Raku, Ryonyu.

This one is the fourth heir, Ichinyu.

This is the fourteenth heir, Kakunyu.

This one is the fifteenth heir, Kichizaemon.

And this last one...

This is by the man still known as the art's greatest master, the third heir, Donyu.

Hmm, no...

I'm sorry, let me take that back.

Is it... Hon'ami Koetsu?

U-Um... Was I wrong?

I'm sorry. I'll get ready to go...

Magnificent!

Aoi-san, forgive my earlier rudeness.

I'm very sorry.

You truly are remarkable!

O-Oh, no...

Holmes-san taught me all that,

and I almost got the last one wrong...

Not so fast, Aoi-san.

It's said that the third heir, Donyu, worked closely with Koetsu

and was greatly influenced by him.

The fact that you mistook it for Donyu's work

and then immediately realized it was Koetsu's

speaks incredibly well of you.

Really?

Goodness, she's a formidable one.

She might be your rival soon enough, Keiko-san.

Anyway, I'd like to treat you as a proper appraiser.

Why don't you pair up with Rikyu?

With me?

Pair up?

Tsukasa, your partner doesn't seem to be here yet...

Pardon my tardy arrival.

Tsukasa-san invited me.

My name is Tanaka Hiroshi.

Tanaka?

You're late, Tanaka. What were you doing?

Well, you had such a fun little diversion goin' on in here,

I thought might watch from outside.

Seems the little lady here's got quite an eye.

Well, we're short on time, so I'll get to it.

I brought you all here for one reason:

to determine a successor for the House of Saito.

My wife passed when she was young,

so in order to keep the warrior House of Saito from dying out,

I had the three of you with different mothers

and let them raise you.

But you all have your merits and demerits,

so I don't know how best to pick an appropriate successor.

That's why, rather than choosing based on appropriateness for House Saito,

I've decided to choose the heir who best understands House Saito.

There are many treasures in this mansion.

The one able to determine the greatest to House Saito will be made my successor.

As for you appraisers, don't tell them any more than they need to know.

It's up to my sons to find their own answers.

Those are my conditions.

I want to hear your answers by 7:00 this evening.

Now, begin!

That afternoon, we went around appraising the treasures of House Saito.

In the traditional room on the first floor,

I saw a powerful ink painting of pines on a sliding screen.

Holmes-san seemed interested in it, but it was apparently unsigned.

There were amazing folding screens and vases, too.

We then passed by a grand mirror on the staircase landing

on our way to the second floor hall

where we saw what had to be the most expensive things in the house:

a Qing Dynasty cloisonné vase,

a Bizen Osafune Chikakage sword,

and a Joseon white porcelain vase

that Ensho took immediate interest in.

These objects far surpassed anything else in the mansion.

I'm sure everyone thinks something in that hall is the Saito family's greatest treasure...

This is really tough.

It's Aoi-san, isn't it?

You must be tired.

Can I sit next to you?

Help yourself.

Your eye for appraisal really took me by surprise.

It's amazing to have that at such a young age.

Oh, no. It's only because Holmes-san has been teaching me...

Oh? Kiyotaka has, huh?

Um, are the two of you close?

We've known each other for several years.

We first met when Seiji-san came to New York,

and we immediately hit it off.

He even came to spend the night with me!

S-Spend the night?

Yes. That silly Kiyotaka...

The entire time he was at my apartment, we barely slept at all.

S-Sorry, I'd better get back to Rikyu-kun!

Why did she say that to me?

Does she want me to stay away from Holmes-san?

I get it...