Yoki Koto Kiku

Plot

The patriarch of the Nekogami family dies, and he leaves his fortune to his eldest grandson Sukekiyo. But Sukekiyo is off at war and if he does not return in 6 months, one of the younger grandchildren or Sukekiyo's fiancėe, Tamayo, will inherit the fortune. Triplets Yokiko, Kotosuke, and Kikuyo plot to take out Tamayo and each other in order to claim the fortune for themselves.

Main characters

Yokiko Nekogami (猫神良子, Yokiko Nekogami)

Also known as Yoki, she is the eldest of the triplets. She attends a girls' music school and dreams of becoming a star on stage. Her weapon of choice is the axe.

Kotosuke Nekogami (猫神琴助, Kotosuke Nekogami)

Also known as Koto, he is the second and only boy of the triplets. Born with a weak heart, he wishes for a cure for his sickness. He is an expert koto player. His weapon of choice are the koto strings.

Kikuno Nekogami (猫神菊代, Kikuno Nekogami)

Also known as Kiku, she is the youngest of the triplets. She admires her older sister Yoki and wishes to attend the same music school to become a songstress. She likes to arrange flowers and dress up her hair in curls. Her weapon of choice are the flower arrangement needles.

Tamayo (珠世, Tamayo)

Tamayo is the housekeeper of the Nekogami family and the fiancee to Sukekiyo Nekogami. She has a pet named Saruzo, who has a head of a monkey and a body of a miniature elephant. The triplets and her promised Sukekiyo that they will protect the family and the house. Very good at avoiding weapons and fights, peacemaker!

Inugami Clan

Yoki Koto Kiku is a parody of Inugami Clan (犬神家の一族, Inugamike no Ichizoku), a mystery novel by Seishi Yokomizo. Inugami Clan is one of many mystery novels featuring the detective Kōsuke Kindaichi (金田一耕助, Kindaichi Kōsuke). The story begins with the death of Sahei Inugami, the patriarch of the Inugami family. Instead of leaving his fortunes with his three daughters from three different marriages, Sahei leaves the family heirlooms yoki (axe), koto (Japanese zither), and kiku (chrysanthemum) to Tamayo Nonomiya, the granddaughter of his close friend. The will read by the family lawyer states that the grandson that Tamayo selects as her husband will inherit the family fortune. The battle between the three daughters and their sons, Sukekiyo, Suketake, and Suketomo begins.

Reception

Carl Kimlinger feels the story's repetitiveness is highlighted in the book. Janet Houck described the work as a doujinshi of Inugami-ke no Ichizoku. Erin Finnegan felt that the manga wasn't funny. Brigid Alverson felt the ending was unsatisfying.