Was Kenichi fond of her after all? Were the affections he showed her on their honeymoon genuine? She believed so, but then why, right after their wedding, had he disappeared without a trace?
p. 76
Well, that is a distressing thing to come across at the end of the very first chapter. Poor Teiko Itane, just briefly married and never to see her husband again. Why? This is the compelling question to which she seeks an answer throughout the novel.
Her brother-in-law, Sotaro, assures her that Kenichi is still alive. Her husband’s successor, Yoshio Honda, assists her in the search. But, both of them are only so helpful, and it is up to Teiko to find the answer herself.
The setting of this mystery is in the late 1950’s, when the people of Japan are still reeling from the effects of World War II. Especially the women. They had lost wealth, and status, and struggled to survive. Many of them became “pan-pan girls,” women who served the American GIs, in order to live.
When Teiko hears an employee of one of her husband’s best clients speak American with slang added in, she realizes that this woman must have been a consort at one time. And so, the reader is faced with a mystery, as well as parts of Japanese culture and history.
I found Point Zero a fascinating book, beautifully written. It is what I have learned Seicho Matsumoto’s work to be.
Dolce Bellezza 
It seems to be a relatively frequent occurence even in present-day Japan – this sudden disappearance of people who don’t want to be found (obviously, that might not be the case in this story). I wonder if it’s the excessive pressure of their society or the shame of failure or perhaps a way to gain freedom.
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I had no idea this was a problem in Japan, how heartbreaking! It is applicable to this novel, as one of the characters lives with great shame, and doesn’t want to be found. I’m glad you’ve made me more aware of this issue, Marina.
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I enjoyed Tokyo express by this writer I have another in my shelves but not this one Inspector something an old soho crime novel
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I haven’t read Tokyo Express, but I did enjoy Inspector Imanishi Investigates, which was sent to me by Dorian of Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau. It’s so interesting to read multiple books written by the same author, as there are always some I enjoy more than others. This was good, but not my favorite.
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