In Japanese literature, the detective genre appeared only a century ago, after the work of Edgar Alan Poe âMurder on Morgue Streetâ (1841) got into the Land of the Rising Sun. This is not to say that there are too many Japanese detectives, but sorting them by rank will not be superfluous. Even in spite of the number, it is difficult to determine the best ten, or five. Therefore, it is worth sorting books by authors, starting with classics and ending with modern writers.
A bit of history
The writers of the last century, such as Junichiro Tanizaki, Haruo Sato and Ryunosuke Akutagawa, had a huge influence on the development of the Japanese detective story. Some of their works are very close to the detective genre.
In 1920, the writer and translator Uson Morisata founded the New Youth magazine, which constantly published translations of Western detectives. This publication brought together young writers who tried their hand at the new literary genre for Japan. The first writer to devote himself entirely to the detective genre was Edogawa Rampo. His detective novel, The Copper Coin in Two Seni, came out in 1923 from her, and they count the beginning of the existence of the detective genre in Japanese literature.
Edogawa Rampo
His real name is Taro Hirai. He chose his pseudonym so that the characters were consonant with the name of Edgar Alan Poe (the Japanese writer was really his fan). Born in 1894 in Mie Prefecture (Nabari city). He studied economics at Waseda University, then worked as a sales agent, clerk, magazine editor and correspondent.
In 1926, Rampo published his first novel, and in 1931 he released the first collected works. In 1947 he became one of the founders of the Club of Japanese Detective Writers, in 1954 he instituted a literary prize for the best work in this literary genre. His outstanding works were:
- "The monster in the darkness."
- "Tales of the terrible."
- "The extraordinary history of the island of Panorama."
- "Psychological test".
- "Demons of the moon."
- "Twins".
- "Man-chair."
- "The fruit of the pomegranate."
- "Werewolf Games."
- "Peony Lantern."
- "Superman Nicora."
Akutagawa Ryunosuke
This is not to say that Ryunosuke was a master of the detective genre, but he is considered an outstanding writer and some of his books are very similar to Japanese detectives.
For example, the work "In more often." This story was seen by the world in 1922; based on it, in 1950 the film "Rashomon" was shot, which received many awards, including the Oscar. The plot of this narrative is very simple: a dead samurai is found in the forest, a robber is suspected of his death. At the trial, he confessed to the crime, and also said that he liked the samurai's wife, so he tied the man to a tree and abused his wife in front of him. The robber invited the woman to run with him, she said that one of the men should die. The robber untied the samurai, and defeated him in a fair fight, while the men fought, the woman managed to escape.
After this testimony was given by the widow of the murdered. According to her, the robber abused her and fled. She invited her husband to die with her, because she could not bear this shame. The woman stabbed the samurai and had to commit suicide, but lost consciousness, and when she came to, she was scared and ran away.
The third version of what happened tells the spirit of the murdered. After the robber abused the samurai's wife, he began to persuade her to leave with him. The woman saw her husband looking at her with contempt and ordered the robber to kill him. The rapist could not believe in such frivolous treachery, he hit the woman and began to untie the samurai. At this time, the woman managed to escape, and the samurai committed suicide.
Best
This story can be called a detective story with a stretch, however, based on the story, more than one film was shot and not only in Japan:
- "Rashomon" - 1950, Japan.
- âThat Dayâ - 1954, India.
- "Anger" - 1964, USA.
- "The Iron Maze" - 1991, Japan.
- âIn the Groveâ - 1996, Japan.
- âIn the Undergroundâ - 2011, Thailand.
- âIn the Groveâ - 2011, USA.
- âBag without a bottomâ - 2017, Russia.
So the story "In more often" can be called the best Japanese detective story.
Kobo Abe
His real name is Abe Kimifus - writer, playwright and screenwriter, leader of the Japanese postwar avant-garde in art. Despite the fact that the main theme of his work is manâs search for his own identity in the modern world, the detective genre was not alien to him, in particular, it is represented by the novel âBurned Cardâ, which later made the film.
This is a story about a private detective who was looking for the missing husband of his client, and eventually found his life's path. The novel describes in detail how the searches go, to the smallest detail it is shown what a real detective of a private detective agency should do. But the most unexpected in this novel is its end. Is the main character really a detective, or is he the same missing man?
Particularly worth paying attention to the style of narration. Many reviews write that this Japanese detective story is written in such a way that the reader is "as if drawn into a swamp." There are many books that are written in an accessible syllable, but over time they are erased from memory. As for the âBurned Cardâ by Kobo Abe, everything described in the book is firmly deposited in the readerâs mind. Even if you read the chapter a year, it is impossible to forget the information that has already been learned.
Seite Matsumoto
Real name is Matsumoto Kieharu. Japanese writer, journalist, laureate. R. Akutagawa (1952) He was the founder of the genre of social detective. He grew up in a simple family, before becoming a writer he changed many professions, and even managed to serve time in the Okura prison for actively promoting his position as a supporter of the left movement. His first works appeared after the Second World War in 1955. Despite the fact that he did not have a special education, Matsumoto wrote very well, and in 1956 received a prize established by Edogawa Rampo. The author of Japanese detectives released the following works into the world:
- âPoints and Linesâ is a detective story of the suicide of two young lovers in love on the Caspian Sea in Japan. The story was based on how once two lovers decided to commit suicide, but the guy just pushed the girl off the cliff.
- Eye Wall is a criminal story about the life of scammers, the mafia and scams.
- âThe Flag in the Fogâ is a philosophical detective story, where there are clear references to Dostoevskyâs novel âCrime and Punishmentâ.
- âRainy Seasonâ is a social detective story.
- âIn the Shadowâ is a political detective.
- The Black Gospel is a detective novel where events take place in the post-war period.
- âUnderwater currentâ - tells the story of the creation of the Central Intelligence Agency of Japan (political detective).
- âDesert Landâ - tells of the hunt for the Japanese consul in Switzerland, who was accused of betrayal (political detective).
Iori Fujiwara
We can say that he is the author of a modern Japanese detective story. Born in the post-war period, graduated from Tokyo University (specialty - âFrench literatureâ). To the domestic reader, he is already familiar with the bestseller "Darkness in the palm of your hand." He worked all his life as a clerk in the Dentsu advertising company. Just after retiring, he began his career as a professional novelist.
His works have everything: the irony of Chandler, and the mysticism of Murakami and characters in the spirit of Takeshi Kitano. That is why it has become so popular among Japanese readers. His novel Umbrella for a Terrorist was awarded the Edogawa Rampo Prize for Best Detective Novel. The whole life of the writer is reflected in this story: youth and radical student movements of the 60s, education, talent. He died at the age of 59 from cancer, until his death he continued to work on books.
Saishi yokomizo
Japanese writer of detective stories with frenzied popularity. From a youth he was fond of detectives, and in 1921 published his first story in this genre. By profession, a pharmacist. He was supposed to work in a family pharmacy, but the desire to write was stronger, so he first started working in a book publishing house, and six years later he resigned and became a professional writer. In 1935, publishes the first Onibi novel. After the war, his work was widely recognized.
Mostly in his novels, the private investigator Kindaichi Kosuke investigates. Yokomizo's works became a model of the genre for post-war authors. He is familiar to the Russian reader from books:
- "The village of eight graves."
- "Masquerade Ball."
- "Clan Inugami."
- "White and black".
Seiichi Morimura
The modern Japanese writer hails from Saitama. As a writer, they started talking about him in 1969, when the detective novel Dead Space at Height won the Edogawa Rampo Award for Best Detective of the Year. In total, he wrote about 150 novels, with a total circulation of 50 million copies. Mostly Morimura wrote socio-political action-packed detective stories. For example:
- "Teddy bear".
- "The Devil's Kitchen."
- "Containers of Death."
- "Test the beast."
It is worth noting that many works were published not only in solo publications, but also in collections. However, as with other authors.
Feature not covered
Few people paid attention to the fact that in Russia (however, as in other countries) Japanese novels can most often be found as collections. Yes, there are solo editions, but there are very few Japanese detectives in this form. Why? Everything is simple. Matter of size. Take, for example, Daria Dontsova. She has a book that doesnât occupy 250-300 pages. On the other side of the scales, you can put the novel "The Beast in the Darkness" (Edogawa Rampo) of 80 pages.
Therefore, on the bookshelves of domestic stores you can often find the publication "Japanese detectives", or "Eastern Kaleidoscope." In one such copy, 4-5 works of Japanese authors are usually published. In some cases, three or two, it all depends on the volume.
Of course, in Japan there are full-fledged novels, but young people more and more prefer light novels or manga.
Japanese dramas: detective story
In the Land of the Rising Sun, the production of anime and dramas does not stop for a moment. Including in the detective genre. Japanese dramas may seem somewhat overplayed to the Russian audience, but not one of them has lagged behind the traditions of the classic detective genre embedded in the books that came out at the end of the last century. For instance:
- Death Note - This story has undergone more than one adaptation. It is based on the philosophical idea: is it possible to achieve good for some people by killing others.
- âFlag in the Fogâ - the work is based on the work of the same name by Matsumoto Seite. The brother of the main character was illegally accused of murder, she goes to the capital to hire a good lawyer, but his services are too expensive. Desperate, the girl decides to take matters into her own hands.
- "Criminal Syndrome" - tells about the strange crimes committed by adolescents, etc.
Only after the Second World War, Japanese detectives reached the so-called world level. Writers not only reached a certain level of mastery, but also enriched a specific detective story with serious social problems. In post-war Japan, there really was something to ponder. Political corruption, the struggle of monopolies and general instability could not leave anyone indifferent, and writers even more so.