A Curse That Spans Centuries
Deep in the mountains lies a village with a dark secret buried in its past. Centuries ago, eight samurai fleeing defeat took refuge here, bringing gold and treasures with them. The villagers, consumed by greed, murdered all eight warriors and buried them in a single grave. But the samurai's curse would not rest—their vengeful spirits have haunted the village ever since, and the place came to be known as Yatsuhaka-mura: the Village of Eight Graves.
The curse manifests in cycles of violence. In 1922, a young man named Yozo Tajimi went mad and murdered thirty-two villagers in a single night of horror, swinging his sword and rifle like an avenging demon. The massacre ended only when Yozo threw himself down a waterfall. The village tried to forget, but the past refuses to stay buried.
In the present day, Tatsuya, a young man living in Tokyo, receives a mysterious letter summoning him to the village. He is the grandson of the murderer Yozo Tajimi, and he has been named heir to the Tajimi fortune. Despite warnings to stay away, Tatsuya travels to this cursed place—and shortly after his arrival, a new series of brutal murders begins. Each death seems to mirror the ancient curse, as if the eight samurai are claiming their revenge once more.
Kosuke Kindaichi is called to investigate this nightmare. He must navigate the village's web of suspicion, greed, and ancient grudges, sorting through multiple suspects who all have reasons to want the Tajimi heir dead. Is this the work of a human killer exploiting the legend, or has the curse truly awakened? As the body count rises and paranoia grips the village, Kindaichi races to solve the mystery before the cycle of violence consumes everyone.
The young protagonist and grandson of the mass murderer Yozo Tajimi. An innocent caught in a web of family curses and village hatred. His arrival triggers the new wave of murders, making him both suspect and potential victim.
The disheveled detective must unravel a mystery that spans centuries. His investigation takes him deep into village politics, old grudges, and the question of whether curses can truly kill—or if human evil is sufficient.
A beautiful young woman of the village who befriends Tatsuya and tries to help him navigate the dangerous social landscape. Her kindness stands in stark contrast to the villagers' hostility.
The elderly matriarch of the Tajimi family who summoned Tatsuya to the village. Her motivations for naming an unknown grandson as heir are mysterious, and she knows more about the family secrets than she reveals.
Haruyo and Akiko, two of Koume's granddaughters who stand to lose their inheritance if Tatsuya is accepted as heir. Their desperation and possible motives make them suspects in the murders.
A young doctor in the village and one of the few educated residents. His rational mind clashes with the superstitious villagers, but even he cannot fully explain the pattern of deaths.
Cultural Context: The Village of Eight Graves explores post-war Japan's struggle with guilt, inheritance, and the weight of the past. The isolated village represents communities cut off from modernization, where old hatreds and superstitions still hold power. The curse motif reflects Japanese beliefs in tatari (divine retribution) and onryo (vengeful spirits), while the family inheritance plot examines the tensions between blood ties and chosen identity. This novel was adapted into multiple films and remains one of Yokomizo's most popular works, with the 1977 film version becoming a cult classic of Japanese horror cinema.