By: Anya L, Mytae W, Patrick V, and Seth L

The crime/mystery/problem in the book, The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn, a precious ruby was stolen from Lord Hakuseki, a samurai daimyo. Seikei, the main character, saw what he thought was a ghost. The ghost was holding something that was glowing red, and looked suspiciously like a ruby. The next morning, the lord found out his ruby was missing and called Judge Ooka. They found it in the room of a girl and her father‘s room. They are accused of theft. Seikei knew that the girl did not steal the ruby because he was talking to her in his room when it was stolen. He stands up for the girl and her father. Judge Ooka asked him to help him look for the thief of the ruby. They find a tunnel underneath the Inn.

The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn is a detective novel. The detective in this novel is Judge Ooka. Judge Ooka is trying to find out “who stole Lord Hakuseki’s ruby?”

The uncertainty in the novel is that Judge Ooka and Seikei are trying to find out who stole the jewel. Judge Ooka and Seikei are trying to find out how he stole it, and why he stole it. They are also trying to find the real jewel because they already found a glass replica.

One of the clues is the face of the beggar. The beggar had a scar across his eye. It is a clue because it can lead to who stole the jewel. Another clue is the jikininki holding a bright, glowing red thing. Another clue in the novel is the tunnel. Tommomi went through the tunnel and had dirt all over his kimono.

Michiko’s father, Michiko, innkeeper, and Tommomi are all of the suspects in the novel. Michiko and her farther were accused of stealing the jewel when it was a fake. The innkeeper was accused of making the tunnel and transporting the jewel. Tommomi was accused of stealing the jewel (which he did).

The crime/mystery/problem is solved at the end of the novel when Tommomi is in a kabuki show. As he is in it, he shows lord Hakuseki’s jewel and the daimyo is extremely angry. While Lord Hakseki is extremely mad, he runs up to the stage and pulls out his sword yelling “Thief!” as the play goes on, Tommomi slashes the Daimyo on the face loads of times. In the end, the Lord gets his jewel back and Tommomi gets his head cut off (or decapitated).