Yoko Sakata was an ordinary "office lady," not earning much and not aspiring to much, when she began suspecting her boyfriend of having an affair. She hired a private detective, who confirmed her fears and then paid her a compliment: "You have good intuition." He offered her a job. She grabbed it. That was 10 years ago. "Back then," she tells the weekly Shukan Josei, "there were very few women detectives. There was a need for them. Besides," she adds, "you earn double as a detective what you make as an office lady."

She has since established her own agency, and spends most of her time, not all, on the trail of straying wives, husbands and lovers. Other targets include stalkers, bullies and embezzlers. Her watch, glasses, key case and cigarette lighter conceal cameras and recording devices. A life spent ferreting out other people's dark secrets is not conducive to a bright view of human nature. It can get downright depressing. So Sakata was pleased one day when a client approached her with an unusual request.

He was a man in his 60s and evidently of a romantic turn, for he asked her to find a college sweetheart he hadn't seen in over 40 years. The woman had been a beauty, judging by photos the client produced. Where she was now or what she was doing he had no idea. Could Sakata help?