The Dragon Mirror
Ryo Hazuki is returning home, but something doesn't feel quite right. The dojo sign outside the front gate is smashed, and there's a strange black car parked beside it. Cautiously walking through, Ryo spots his housekeeper Ine-san, apparently injured. She insists that she's fine, but Ryo's father may be in danger. Stopping to catch his breath, Ryo is shocked by his father's pupil, Fukuhara-san, being thrown violently out of the dojo and landing at Ryo's feet. Inside the dojo, Ryo is restrained by two men in black suits, while a mysterious man in a flowing Chinese robe, Lan Di, demands to know where Ryo's father Iwao has hidden a "mirror". Momentarily breaking free, Ryo attempts to assist in his father's fight against Lan Di, but he is easily knocked aside. Despite refusing to divulge the mirror's location, Iwao is forced to reveal that he has buried it when Lan Di threatens to kill Ryo. When the black suits return with the ancient stone artifact, Lan Di delivers the killing blow to Iwao, and leaves Ryo to hold his dying father.
Four Days Later...
After the opening cutscene, you can look around Ryo's room to get used to the controls. Looking on the desk and in the drawers will get you a few items for your inventory - none of them are essential, but they might help you pass the time later in the game.
Hazuki Residence
Once you're done, head into the hall to get a cutscene with Ine-san - she'll ask that you're doing okay, and will give you the first of your daily ¥500 allowance, before telling you that Fuku-san wants to speak with you in the dojo.
There are a couple of things you can pick up in the house before you leave, though - your father's room has a letter to Ryo, and the drawer in his desk contains the "Mysterious Key", which you'll need later. Behind this room is a small hallway; the basket at one end contains a moves scroll which will teach you the "Twin Blades" move. The Altar Room has some candles in one of the drawers and matches on the Altar table. Back in the entrance/porch area, there is a flashlight in the cupboard underneath the phone.
When you leave the house, you'll find yourself in the courtyard. Head left around the side of the house (not through the gate), to get to the Dojo. You can look at the tree outside the dojo for another flashback, or just head straight in to talk to Fuku-san in a short cutscene. Once that's done, you'll be back in the courtyard. Head back to the front of the house, and go out through the gate.
Yamanose
There's only really one way to walk through Ryo's home village, so follow the road down the hill. When you're passing the shrine, Ryo will hear a cat meow and go in. He'll spend a few minutes talking to Megumi, a little girl who's adopted an orphaned kitten, before she reveals that the cat's mother was killed by a black car, similar to the one Lan Di was travelling in. At one point, you'll be asked to choose what food to give the kitten. The best option is the Dried Fish - she won't eat the tofu.
After that cutscene, continue down the hill to...
Sakuragaoka
Take the first right, past the phone booth - the only other path is a dead end. You'll come to a T-junction, where an old woman will ask you to help her find the Yamamoto's house. If you want to help her, it's on the left from the T-junction, more or less opposite the road to Dobuita. If not, you're looking for Yamagishi-san's house, which is the last house when you turn right at the T-junction. Keep talking to him until you've exhausted the conversation, then head into Dobuita. At this point it's marginally faster to take the road between the park and the candy store, so that's the route this walkthrough will take.
Dobuita
On your way through Dobuita, make a note of where the Liu Barber store is - it's closed now, but you'll be coming back later. Follow the road to the end, and take a right to the flower shop. Nozomi is standing outside - talk to her for a bit, and she'll tell you that Tom had words with people in a black car. Continue in that direction, past the Tomato convenience store and you'll find Tom dancing at his hot dog truck. Speak to him and he'll eventually point you in the direction of looking for Chinese people. Go back towards the Tomato store, and you'll encounter the first QTE of the game.
- QTE: Left, A, B
Following the QTE, you should turn around and take a left just before the Tomato store. You're looking for the Ajiichi Chinese Restaurant on the left-hand side - it's got a red and yellow storefront. Go in, and talk to Tao-san. He'll eventually tell you about the "Three Blades", the Barber, the Tailor and the Cook: a set of ancient professions that most Chinese immigrants in the area are involved in. He'll mention three people to speak to - Itoi-san at the Mary's Patch shop, Maeda-san the barber, and Manpukken Ramen for the cook as well as mentioning Liu-san, a barber who's been ill lately. You can talk to all of them, but if you're in a hurry you can go straight to Maeda the Barber. Head past Tom's hotdog truck to the corner at the You GAME Arcade. The Maeda Barber shop is just opposite the Arcade, but you can go to Suzume Park, on the road just before the Arcade, to learn the Double Blow move from Yamagishi-san. Otherwise, enter the Barber's and speak with Maeda-san briefly; he'll tell you more about the Liu family. The Liu Barber shop is now open, so head back past Tom, Tomato and Nozomi to get there.