Holmes of Kyoto
“More Like Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty from Walmart”
Now, Japan has a massive thing for detectives. With one of the longest-running series of all time being all about a man trapped inside a child's body, going on a crime-solving spree for more than 1100 episodes at this point, it's only natural that we see a bunch of other creators trying to follow suit despite not being able to mimic that level of success.
Keeping that in mind, the obsession with Sherlock Holmes is understandable as well, and that dedication has brought forth some great titles, with more than just a few that leave the viewers scratching their heads for weeks to come. The critically acclaimed 'Moriarty of the Patriot' stole the show with the best-looking ‘Holmes and Moriarty’ that anyone had ever seen. But 2018 brought forth a different sort of Holmes that no one saw coming even from a mile away.
Sadly, this one isn't as memorable, with his show being nearly nonexistent in the anime or manga fandom. Holmes of Kyoto started airing in the summer of 2018, and revisiting it more than five years later, I can see how it wasn't able to make an impact. Let's see the things the show gets right, the things it gets wrong, and whether it's a title that deserves your time and attention! This is the Holmes of Kyoto!
Off to a Great Start!
Most, if not all, mystery/thriller genre-blending anime titles that feature a genius detective or wannabe detective start with the first episode featuring a gruesome murder or an outrageous theft, marking the bankruptcy of a prestigious company. Of course, it's a totally different case if you're looking at the likes of Hyouka or SKET Dance on that part. But when it comes to Holmes of Kyoto, just like its rather unique detective setting, we start with the jealousy that rots away the heart that, to everyone's surprise, also beats inside these characters.
One day, Aoi Mashiro decides to tell off her ex-boyfriend six months after splitting apart. Having relocated after that incident, it’s only natural that she must travel to make that happen. So, to get that train ticket, she takes two hanging antique scrolls from her grandpa's attic to the heart of Kyoto's Teramachi Sanjou shopping district. Yeah, we’re all thinking the same thing. You aren’t doing Gen-Z any good, Aoi! Anyway, upon arriving there, she searches for a store that would buy the scrolls at a great price.
Inside an antique shop, she meets Kiyotaka Yagashira, the owner's grandson and a victim of a similar breakup story. This guy also happens to be the Holmes of Kyoto because the kanji in his name spells Holmes for some reason. I highly doubt that’s because you’re called Holmes, but okay.
He gets to know Aoi's story and sympathizes with her, offering her the opportunity to work at the shop to raise funds for her revenge. I don't see what this 'Holmes' saw in Aoi, but he must be faithful to his name, right? Thus begins their story, one where the two will come across different situations, some that they couldn't even imagine in their wildest dreams!
A Treat for the Eyes
Before anyone else misunderstands what I mean by that, hear me out for a bit. One look at that sentence would make you think that the show features top-notch animation, one that would leave even the likes of ‘ufotable’ in the dust after a minute of that first episode or something. I hate to break it to you, but the animation isn’t the best point regarding this title. I deem the show a treat for the eyes because of its art.
You get to learn a lot about history, and since all these different antique pieces have their own tales and stories to tell, it's hard not to view that as the show's main attraction, even after the end of it all. Every other episode features something new, which is the perfect surprise to look forward to. For someone who loves art, these different pieces have been nothing but bravo, to be honest. For that reason alone, anyone who loves art should watch this anime, and I highly recommend it!
Not Much Going on Other Than That
We've already appreciated the art that carries the show for the most part, but other than that, the show is bland at best. The story doesn't go anywhere throughout the entirety of the show's runtime, and the slow pacing that it features makes it seem like you're forcing yourself to put up with the episodes even when there are only 12 in number. Every other episode features artifacts and antiques on top of these different problems that serve as the cases of this story. The powers of deduction that define ‘the Holmes’ are there, but no mystery hits hard and makes you think and read along the lines.
When it comes to these mystery/thriller shows, a massive part of their charm comes from the fact that the viewer can deduce and play the ‘guessing game’ alongside the detective while arriving at the right or wrong conclusion. But with Holmes of Kyoto, that just doesn't become a thing since the mysteries don't have much life to them, if that makes sense. I mean, for a show centered on Holmes solving mysteries, doesn't that kill the whole purpose of what the show was designed for?
Forced Romance
We get it: two characters with similar backstories working together and solving these cases would spark a captivating tale of romance and love that wouldn't fade away anytime soon. But when it comes to Holmes of Kyoto, the show tries hard to accomplish this feat, only falling flat. Most of the time, you can feel that the show is trying its hardest to make the characters fall in love, but when you're juggling so many things simultaneously, you aren't going to catch a single one of them.
The show needs direction, and the character development is also non-existent. All in all that makes it evident that the show is more about solving these mysteries than a shojo anime that would make every other girl's heart flutter and land Yagashira Kiyotaka as the hottest unknown husbando out there.
Massacring Moriarty
Thank God ‘Moriarty of the Patriot’ came out after this show, since otherwise, this Moriarty would have killed the historical fan-favorite character. It's evident from the get-go that this Holmes of Kyoto has really been toned down for some reason, and later on, Moriarty gets even worse treatment. Even in the final battle that serves as the climax of the series, the end game isn't enough to carry the show to the finish line, even if it does lift it quite a bit.
The side characters aren't much either, making it straightforward to viewers that the art and historical artifacts were the show's main attractions. That does become the show's main attraction, so that's mission accomplished. The soundtrack is also unremarkable and takes away a lot from some of these iconic reveals that rely on a good OST to back them up.
People who are art fans should give this show a go without thinking much. The show takes you back and educates you about all these different antique pieces that make the show worth watching. But don’t expect anything else from Holmes of Kyoto, especially a good romance. I haven’t read the novel or the manga, so I can’t say how the series has changed later on, but talking about the anime alone, it doesn’t have much going for it apart from the history, to be honest. I’d give it 6/10.
The show could’ve been made way better if, instead of making all these ‘new additions’ work, we focused on the romance, the mind games, or the mysteries alone, but adding all these different things into the mix only ended up holding the anime back for the most part. Holmes of Kyoto is not the best addition to the ‘anime Holmes Saga’ that has seen many additions over the years, but it’s one of the most unique and different we’ve seen, and we can give the show props for that. Give the show a go if you want to, and let us know your thoughts!
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