Japan is a country where they take their cultural pursuits seriously. So when your friend Kenichi Doi calls and tells you that a valuable tea ceremony bowl has been stolen from the Ura Senke School of Tea, you know something unusual is going on. It’s only when Kenichi’s brother Takashi tells you how valuable the bowl might be on the black market that you begin to suspect more than a minor theft.

"The tea bowl is a National Treasure," Kenichi’s brother Takashi informs you. "It is so important to the preservation of ancient Japanese culture that it can never be taken out of the country." "How much is the bowl worth?" you want to know. "Hundreds of thousands in U.S. money. Maybe even more on the black market," says Takashi. "How long has it been missing?" you ask. Takashi looks at his watch. "Fifty minutes. I have searched the garden, the hut, and the waiting alcove thoroughly. The bowl is not anywhere."

If you tell Takashi that it’s always important to deal with the police on a case like this, turn to page 9. If you want more information about the four guests and the tea ceremony Takashi planned to perform, turn to page 11.