Keigo Higashino

Keigo Higashino (東野 圭吾, Higashino Keigo, born February 4, 1958) is a Japanese author chiefly known for his mystery novels. He served as the 13th President of Mystery Writers of Japan from 2009 to 2013. He won the 31st Edogawa Rampo Prize in 1985 by his novel After School.

Biography

He was born in Osaka. After graduation from Osaka Prefecture University with the Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering, he started writing novels while still working as an engineer at Nippon Denso Co. (presently DENSO) from 1981. He won the Edogawa Rampo Prize, which is awarded annually to the unpublished finest mystery work, in 1985 for the novel Hōkago (After School) at age 27. Subsequently, he quit his job and started a career as a writer in Tokyo.

In 1999, he won the Mystery Writers of Japan Award for the novel Naoko, which was translated into English by Kerim Yasar and published by Vertical Inc.^[1] in 2004. In 2006, he won the 134th Naoki Prize for The Devotion of Suspect X (Yōgisha X no Kenshin). His novels had been nominated five times before winning the award. The novel also won the 6th Honkaku Mystery Award and was ranked as the number-one novel by Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! 2006 and 2006 Honkaku Mystery Best 10, annual mystery fiction guide books published in Japan.

The English translation of The Devotion of Suspect X was nominated for the 2012 Edgar Award for Best Novel and the 2012 Barry Award for Best First Novel.

He writes not only mystery novels but also essays and story books for children. The style of writing differs from his novels, but basically he does not use as many characters as in his novels.

Works in English translation

Detective Galileo series

• The Devotion of Suspect X (original title: Yōgisha X no Kenshin), trans. Alexander O. Smith (Minotaur Books, 2011)
• Salvation of a Saint (original title: Seijo no Kyūsai), trans. Alexander O. Smith (Minotaur Books, 2012)
• A Midsummer's Equation (original title: Manatsu no Hōteishiki), trans. Alexander O. Smith (Minotaur Books, 2016)^[2]

Police Detective Kaga series

• Malice (original title: Akui), trans. Alexander O. Smith (Minotaur Books, 2014)

Other novels

• Naoko (original title: Himitsu), trans. Kerim Yasar (Vertical, 2004)
• Journey Under the Midnight Sun (original title: Byakuyakō), trans. Alexander O. Smith (Little, Brown, 2015)
• The Name of the Game is Kidnapping (original title: Gēmu no Na wa Yūkai) (Vertical, 2017)^[3]

Awards and nominations

Japanese Awards

• 1985 - Edogawa Rampo Prize: Hōkago (After School)
• 1999 - Mystery Writers of Japan Award for Best Novel: Naoko
• 2006 - Honkaku Mystery Award for Best Fiction: The Devotion of Suspect X^[4]
• 2006 - Naoki Prize: The Devotion of Suspect X
• 2006 - The Best Japanese Crime Fiction of the Year (Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! 2006): The Devotion of Suspect X
• 2006 - The Best Japanese Crime Fiction of the Year (2006 Honkaku Mystery Best 10): The Devotion of Suspect X
• 2010 - The Best Japanese Crime Fiction of the Year (Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! 2010): Shinzanmono (The Newcomer)
• 2012 - 7th Chūōkōron Prize: Miracles of the Namiya General Store^[5]
• 2012 - Ranked as the No. 13 novel on the Top 100 Japanese Mystery Novels of All Time: The Devotion of Suspect X
• 2012 - Ranked as the No. 18 novel on the Top 100 Japanese Mystery Novels of All Time: Journey under the Midnight Sun

U.S. Awards

• 2012 - Nominee for Edgar Award for Best Novel: The Devotion of Suspect X
• 2012 - Nominee for Barry Award for Best First Novel: The Devotion of Suspect X
• 2012 - Chosen by the American Library Association as Best Mystery Novel for their 2012 reading list:^[6] The Devotion of Suspect X
• 2015 - Nominee for Audie Award for Mystery: Malice (Narrated by Jeff Woodman)^[7]

French Award

• 2010 - Prix Polar International: Mukashi Boku ga Shinda Ie (French title: La maison où je suis mort autrefois)

Bibliography

Detective Galileo series

• Novels
  • Yōgisha X no Kenshin (容疑者Xの献身), 2005 (The Devotion of Suspect X, Minotaur Books, 2011)
  • Seijo no Kyūsai (聖女の救済), 2008 (Salvation of a Saint, Minotaur Books, 2012)
  • Manatsu no Hōteishiki (真夏の方程式), 2011 (A Midsummer's Equation, Minotaur Books, 2016)
  • Kindan no Majutsu (禁断の魔術), 2015 (The Forbidden Magic)
• Short story collections
  • Tantei Galileo (探偵ガリレオ), 1998 (Detective Galileo)
  • Yochimu (予知夢), 2000 (Foresight Dream)
  • Galileo no Kunō (ガリレオの苦悩), 2008 (The Anguish of Galileo)
  • Kyozō no Dōkeshi (虚像の道化師), 2012 (The Virtual Clown)

Police Detective Kaga series

• Novels
  • Sotsugyō (卒業), 1986 (Graduation)
  • Nemuri no mori (眠りの森), 1989 (The Forest in Sleep)
  • Dochiraka ga Kanojo o Koroshita (どちらかが彼女を殺した), 1996 (Who Killed Her)
  • Akui (悪意), 1996 (Malice, Minotaur Books, 2014)
  • Watashi ga Kare o Koroshita (私が彼を殺した), 1999 (I Killed Him)
  • Akai Yubi (赤い指), 2006 (The Red Finger)
  • Shinzanmono (新参者), 2009 (The Newcomer)
  • Kirin no Tsubasa (麒麟の翼), 2011 (Beautiful Wings)
  • Inori no Maku ga Oriru Toki (祈りの幕が下りる時), 2013 (When the Curtain of Prayer Descend)
• Short story collection
  • Uso o Mō Hitotsu Dake (嘘をもうひとつだけ), 2000 (Just One More Lie)

Naniwa Detective Boys series

• Naniwa Shōnen Tanteidan (浪花少年探偵団), 1988, Short story collection (Naniwa Detective Boys)
• Shinobu Sense ni Sayonara (しのぶセンセにサヨナラ), 1993, Short story collection (Goodbye, Miss Shinobu)

Detective Daigoro Tenkaichi series

• Meitantei no Okite (名探偵の掟), 1996, Short story collection (The Rule of the Detective)
• Meitantei no Jubaku (名探偵の呪縛), 1996, Novel (The Curse of the Detective)

Other novels

• Hōkago (放課後), 1985 (After School)
• Hakuba Sansō Satsujin Jiken (白馬山荘殺人事件), 1986 (The Murder in Mansion Hakuba)
• Gakusei-gai no Satsujin (学生街の殺人), 1987 (The Murder in the College Town)
• Jūichi Moji no Satsujin (11文字の殺人), 1987 (The Case of 11 Letters)
• Makyū (魔球), 1988 (Magic Ball)
• Uinku de Kampai (ウインクで乾杯), 1988 (Cheers with a Wink)
• Jūji Yashiki no Piero (十字屋敷のピエロ), 1989 (The Clown of House Juji)
• Chōjin Keikaku (鳥人計画), 1989 (Plan Chojin)
• Satsujin Genba wa Kumo no Ue (殺人現場は雲の上), 1989 (Murder on the Cloud)
• Burūtasu no Shinzō (ブルータスの心臓), 1989 (Heart of Burutasu)
• Shukumei (宿命), 1990 (Fate)
• Kamen Sansō Satsujin Jiken (仮面山荘殺人事件), 1990 (The Murder in Mansion Masquerade)
• Henshin (変身), 1991 (Transformation)
• Kairōtei Satsujin Jiken (回廊亭殺人事件), 1991 (The Murder in Kairotei)
• Aru Tozasareta Yuki no Sansō de (ある閉ざされた雪の山荘で), 1992 (In a Mansion Covered with Snow)
• Utsukushiki Kyōki (美しき凶器), 1992 (Beautiful Weapon)
• Dōkyūsei (同級生), 1993 (Classmate)
• Bunshin (分身), 1993 (Alter Ego)
• Mukashi Boku ga Shinda Ie (むかし僕が死んだ家), 1994 (The Home Where I Died)
• Niji o Ayatsuru Shōnen (虹を操る少年), 1994 (The Boy Who Controlled the Rainbow)
• Parareru Wārudo Rabu Sutōrī (Parallel world love story) (パラレルワールド・ラブストーリー), 1995
• Tenkū no Hachi (天空の蜂), 1995 (The Bee in the Sky)
• Himitsu (秘密), 1998 (Naoko, Vertical, 2004)
• Byakuyakō (白夜行), 1999 (Journey Under the Midnight Sun, Little, Brown, 2015)
• Kataomoi (片想い), 2001 (One-sided Love)
• Reikusaido (Lakeside) (レイクサイド), 2002
• Tokio (時生), 2002
• Gēmu no Na wa Yūkai (ゲームの名は誘拐), 2002 (The Name of the Game is Kidnapping)
• Tegami (手紙), 2003 (Letter)
• Ore wa Hijōkin (おれは非情勤), 2003 (I'm the Ruthless Teacher)
• Satsujin no Mon (殺人の門), 2003 (The Door of Murder)
• Gen'ya (幻夜), 2004 (Mysterius Night)
• Samayou Yaiba (さまよう刃), 2004 (The Hestitating Blade)
• Shimei to Tamashii no Rimitto (使命と魂のリミット), 2006 (The Limit of Mission and Heart)
• Yoake no Machi de (夜明けの街で), 2007 (The Street Where the Dawn Breaks)
• Daiingu Ai (Dying Eye) (ダイイング・アイ), 2007
• Ryūsei no Kizuna (流星の絆), 2008 (The Bonds of the Shooting Star)
• Paradokkusu Sātīn (Paradox 13) (パラドックス13), 2009
• Kakkō no Tamago wa Dare no Mono (カッコウの卵は誰のもの), 2010 (Whose Cuckoo Eggs)
• Purachina Dēta (Platinum Data) (プラチナデータ), 2010
• Hakugin Jakku (白銀ジャック), 2010 (Silver Hijack)
• Masukarēdo Hoteru (Masquerade Hotel) (マスカレード・ホテル), 2011
• Namiya Zakkaten no Kiseki (ナミヤ雑貨店の奇蹟), 2012 (The Miracle in the Grocery Store)
• Mugen-bana (夢幻花), 2013 (Dream Flower)

Other short story collections

• Tantei Kurabu (探偵倶楽部), 1990 (Detective Club)
• Hannin no Inai Satsujin no Yoru (犯人のいない殺人の夜), 1990 (A Night of Murder with no Murderer)
• Kōtsū Keisatsu no Yoru (交通警察の夜), 1991 (A Night of the Traffic Officer)
• Ayashii Hitobito (怪しい人びと), 1994 (Suspicious People)
• Kaishō Shōsetsu (怪笑小説), 1995 (Weird Laughs Novel)
• Dokushō Shōsetsu (毒笑小説), 1996 (Poisonous Laughs Novel)
• Chō Satsujin Jiken: Suiri Sakka no Kunō (超・殺人事件 推理作家の苦悩), 2001 (Super-Murder: The Anguish of the Mystery Writers)
• Kokushō Shōsetsu (黒笑小説), 2005 (Dark Laughs Novel)
• Ano Koro no Dareka (あの頃の誰か), 2011 (Someone of Those Days)
• Waishō Shōsetsu (歪笑小説), 2012 (Crooked Laughs Novel)

Picture book

• Santa no Obasan (サンタのおばさん), 2001 (Illustrated by Hiromi Sugita)

TV and film adaptations

Some of his novels have been made into TV drama series and films:

Japanese films

• Naoko (Film, 1999, Original Title: Himitsu, 1998)
• g@me. (Film, 2003, Original Title: Gēmu no Na wa Yūkai, 2002)
• Lakeside Murder Case (Film, 2004, Original Title: Lakeside, 2002)
• Henshin (Film, 2005)
• Tegami (Film, 2006)
• Suspect X (Film, 2008)
• Samayou Yaiba (Film, 2009)
• Into the White Night (Film, 2011)
• Yoake no Machi de (Film, 2011)
• The Wings of the Kirin (Film, 2012)
• Platinum Data (Film, 2013)^[8]
• Midsummer's Equation (Film, 2013)

Japanese TV dramas

• Tokio chichi e no dengon (TV Drama, 2004 Aug-Sep, Original Title: Tokio, 2002)
• Byakuyakō (TV Drama, 2006)^[9]
• Galileo (TV Drama, 2007 and TV Drama SP, 2008, Original Title: Tantei Galileo, 1998, Yochimu, 2000, and Galileo no Kunō, 2008)
• Ryūsei no Kizuna (TV Drama, 2008)
• Meitantei no Okite (TV Drama, 2009)
• Shinzanmono (TV Drama, 2010)
• Higashino Keigo Mysteries (TV Drama, 2012, Original Title: Hannin no Inai Satsujin no Yoru, 1990, Ayashii Hitobito, 1994, and Ano Koro no Dareka, 2011)
• Galileo II (TV Drama, 2013 and TV Drama SP, 2013, Original Title: Seijo no Kyūsai, 2008, Galileo no Kunō, 2008, Kyozō no Dōkeshi, 2012, and Kindan no Majutsu, 2012)

South Korean films

• White Night (Film, 2009)
• Perfect Number (Film, 2012)
• Broken (Film, 2014)

French film

• The Secret (Film, 2007, based on Himitsu; French title: Si J'etais Toi, meaning "If I Were You")

See also

• Mystery Writers of Japan

References

External links

• J'Lit | Authors : Keigo Higashino | Books from Japan