noun
Edo-period detective story; thief-taker tale
Refers to a genre of fiction set in the Edo period, often featuring 目明かし or 岡っ引き as protagonists. The term evokes a historical, nostalgic feel.
この捕物帳は江戸の庶民の暮らしを生き生きと描いている。
This detective story vividly depicts the lives of common people in Edo.
While reading the thief-taker tale, he imagined the merchant culture of the Edo period.
noun
detective's memoirs; thief-taker's memoirs
Can refer to a real detective's or thief-taker's written record of cases, distinct from fictional stories. Less common than the fictional genre sense.
その捕物帳は、実際に岡っ引きが書き残した手記だった。
That detective's memoirs were actually notes left by a real thief-taker.
Compound of 捕物 (とりもの, 'capture' or 'arrest') and 帳 (ちょう, 'ledger' or 'account book'), literally 'arrest ledger'. The term originally referred to records of arrests kept by Edo-period law enforcement, later extended to fictional stories based on such records.