The Hasekura Case, Volume 3

Hasekura Kihei’s case has reached public trial, but a confession and its retraction have left a bitter contest over evidence. At home, his wife faces the seizure of their house and the struggle to pay for his defense.

In court, expert examinations address the recovered skeleton and the remnants of a distinctive obi. A pastor must confront the conflict between spiritual confidence and compelled testimony. As the appeal drags on, missing letters, allegations of torture and repeated petitions become weapons in the prisoner’s increasingly desperate campaign.

First published in 1927, Kōga Saburō’s narrative examines the human cost of an investigation as well as its competing accounts. This final volume preserves the trial reports, correspondence, original chapter headings and complete ending, including the uncertainty that remains after proceedings come to an abrupt close.