Episode 1 (4/18/02)
One rainy night, the body of a woman who had thrown herself into the river is discovered, along with a bar of gold hidden inside a candle. Omitsu becomes suspect when she shows up at the river to say a prayer for the dead woman Investigations reveal that the woman was the wife of Omitsu's lover.
Episode 2 (4/25/02)
There have been a series of robberies carried out by two masked men. According to Kumazo, two samurai have been holding meetings in an upstairs room at his bathhouse since the previous spring. Okichi, one of his employees, receives a mysterious bundle from one of the men...
Episode 3 (5/2/02)
Jubei asks Hanshichi to marry his daughter Okono. Unfortunately, Okono is rumored to be cursed since every man she sets her heart on marrying ends up dying under strange circumstances. When Tokujiro, her father's employee, dies mysteriously, his brother accuses Okono of murdering him.
Episode 4 (5/9/02)
Onao vanishes on her way home from Okume's after her music lesson. Okume goes to Hanshichi for help. When Hanshichi visits Onao's home, he sees her brother stealthily leave the house. He is off to rendezvous with the daughter of his father's business rival.
Episode 5 (5/16/02)
Oteru, one of Okume's students, is arrested for murdering her father-in-law. Neighbors had found her clutching a knife near his body. Hanshichi notices that, although there are signs of a struggle, Oteru has not a drop of blood on her. Investigations reveal a suspicious lover.
Episode 6 (5/23/02)
Hanshichi shares a shelter from the rain with a pretty female ascetic. After she leaves, Shota comes along to tell him about an apparent accidental drowning of the Iseya clerk. Investigators find that the Iseya heir has been giving a lot of money to a popular female ascetic...
Episode 7 (5/30/02)
Someone has been randomly killing passersby with a spear in the dark of night. Hanshichi dresses up as a decoy, but his assistants foul up and the killer gets away. Toshinosuke tries to best Hanshichi in finding the killer.
Episode 8 (6/6/02)
Kyubei is found dead. Family members witness his wife Osetsu running away waving a knife, and jumping into the river. The general opinion is that Osetsu had gone berserk, but Hanshichi notices some inconsistencies.
Episode 9 (6/13/02)
Hanshichi becomes acquainted with Daizaburo, the only son of the Sugino family. Daizaburo lost his mother when he was just a child. When Daizaburo disappears one day Hanshichi quietly begins investigating.
Episode 10 (6/20/02)
Shogoro is found drowned. That morning, he had arranged to meet with two friends in order to go to Kawasaki Daishi temple together. For some reason, they couldn't seem to find each other and his two friends kept coming back in turn to ask his wife, Onatsu, if she'd seen either of the other two.
Episode 11 (6/27/02)
Zenbei sells his noh mask for 25 ryo to a noh actor, who leaves a 5 ryo deposit. Soon, however, a samurai warrior comes to offer him 150 ryo for the same mask. When Zenbei explains that the mask is already spoken for, he tries to commit harakiri.
Episode 12 (7/4/02)
(Part 1 of 2) Childless for years, Jirobei and Ofuji decided to adopt Oyasu. But not long after, they were blessed with two girls of their own. Since they had no further need of Oyasu, she was sent away. Hearbroken, Oyasu drowned herself in a well. Years later, the family now seems to be haunted by her ghost.
Episode 13 (7/11/02)
(Conclusion) Ofuji and Kinbei have committed suicide together. Witnesses claim to have seen them meeting in the storeroom. Jirobei sees the supposedly dead Ofuji standing in the garden and calling to him.
Episode 14 (7/18/02)
Gobei boasts about an unusual votive picture tablet he has which was dedicated by a known criminal. Gobei could well be put to death if his possession of that tablet is known to the authorities. Mannosuke tries to blackmail him.
Episode 15 (7/25/02)
Rumor has it that an apparition has been threatening passersby. The owner of a training hall is found dead in the area where the apparition is said to appear. He had left the hall saying he would get to the bottom of the rumors.
Episode 16 (8/1/02)
Chojiro is found murdered. He had been complaining to his friends about Oyo, who was always coming on to him. Motokichi arrests her for the murder, but Hanshichi has his doubts, and begins investigating.
Episode 17 (8/8/02)
Okoma, a prostitute, is killed. The most obvious suspects are ruled out, one by one. Ando, who had old ties with Okoma, sends Hanshichi to investigate. Okoma had once helped Ando capture a kidnapper.
Episode 18 (8/15/02) - Final Episode.
Shotaro followed in his father's footsteps and became a policeman, but he is neither brave nor strong. He manages to score points when he captures Kinzo, a master criminal, who warns him of retaliation. One day Kinzo escapes from prison...
