Mystery Writers of Japan
Encyclopedia
is an organization for mystery writers in Japan
.
The organization was founded on 21 June 1947 by EDOGAWA Rampo
. It is currently chaired by Keigo HIGASHINO
and claims about 600 members.
It presents the Mystery Writers of Japan Award
to writers every year. It also presents the Edogawa Rampo Award
to amateur writers who has had few or no novels published commercially.
founded the , which was based in Tokyo
. In 1954, the Club merged with the , the counterpart based in Kansai region, and changed its name to the
. On 31 January 1963, the club changed its name to .
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
The organization was founded on 21 June 1947 by EDOGAWA Rampo
Edogawa Rampo
, better known by the pseudonym , was a Japanese author and critic who played a major role in the development of Japanese mystery fiction. Many of his novels involve the detective hero Kogorō Akechi, who in later books was the leader of a group of boy detectives known as the .Rampo was an admirer...
. It is currently chaired by Keigo HIGASHINO
Keigo Higashino
is a Japanese author chiefly known for his mystery novels.-Biography:Born in Osaka, he started writing novels while still working as an engineer at Nippon Denso Co. . He won the Edogawa Rampo Award, which is awarded annually to the finest mystery work, in 1985 for the novel Hōkago at age 27...
and claims about 600 members.
It presents the Mystery Writers of Japan Award
Mystery Writers of Japan Award
The are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of Japan. They honor the best in crime fiction and critical/biographical work published in the previous year.- MWJ Award for Best Novel winners :...
to writers every year. It also presents the Edogawa Rampo Award
Edogawa Rampo Award
The , named after Edogawa Rampo, is a Japanese literary award which has been presented every year by the Mystery Writers of Japan since 1955.Though its name is similar to the Edgar Allan Poe Awards, which has been presented by Mystery Writers of America, the Edogawa Rampo award is not a counterpart...
to amateur writers who has had few or no novels published commercially.
History
On 21 June 1947 , Edogawa RampoEdogawa Rampo
, better known by the pseudonym , was a Japanese author and critic who played a major role in the development of Japanese mystery fiction. Many of his novels involve the detective hero Kogorō Akechi, who in later books was the leader of a group of boy detectives known as the .Rampo was an admirer...
founded the , which was based in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. In 1954, the Club merged with the , the counterpart based in Kansai region, and changed its name to the
. On 31 January 1963, the club changed its name to .
Awards
The MWJ presents two annual awards.- Mystery Writers of Japan Award (since 1948)
- Best Novel
- Best Short Story
- Best Critical/Biographical Work
- Edogawa Rampo Award (since 1955): sponsored by KodanshaKodansha, the largest Japanese publisher, produces the manga magazines Nakayoshi, Afternoon, Evening, and Weekly Shonen Magazine, as well as more literary magazines such as Gunzō, Shūkan Gendai, and the Japanese dictionary Nihongo Daijiten. The company has its headquarters in Bunkyō, Tokyo...
and Fuji TelevisionFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
, open to anyone who has had few or no novels published commercially. The winner receives a small bust of Edogawa Rampo and a prize of 10,000,000 yen. The novel of the winner is published by Kodansha. The members of the selection committee of 2012 are Natsuo KirinoNatsuo Kirinois a Japanese novelist and a leading figure in the recent boom of female writers of Japanese detective fiction.-Biography:A prolific writer, she is most famous for her 1997 novel, Out, which received the Mystery Writers of Japan Award, Japan's top mystery award, and was a finalist for the 2004...
, Natsuhiko Kyogoku, Ira IshidaIra Ishidais a Japanese novelist, actor, and TV commentator.After graduating from Seikei University, he worked for a number of different advertising production companies and as a freelance copywriter....
, Bin Konno (ja) and Keigo HigashinoKeigo Higashinois a Japanese author chiefly known for his mystery novels.-Biography:Born in Osaka, he started writing novels while still working as an engineer at Nippon Denso Co. . He won the Edogawa Rampo Award, which is awarded annually to the finest mystery work, in 1985 for the novel Hōkago at age 27...
.
Presidents
- Detective Fiction Writers Club (of Japan)
- EDOGAWA RampoEdogawa Rampo, better known by the pseudonym , was a Japanese author and critic who played a major role in the development of Japanese mystery fiction. Many of his novels involve the detective hero Kogorō Akechi, who in later books was the leader of a group of boy detectives known as the .Rampo was an admirer...
(1947-1952) - Udaru OSHITA (1952-1954) (:ja:大下宇陀児)
- Takataro KIGI (1954-1960) (:ja:木々高太郎)
- Keisuke WATANABE (1960-1963) (:ja:渡辺啓助)
- EDOGAWA Rampo
- Mystery Writers of Japan
- EDOGAWA RampoEdogawa Rampo, better known by the pseudonym , was a Japanese author and critic who played a major role in the development of Japanese mystery fiction. Many of his novels involve the detective hero Kogorō Akechi, who in later books was the leader of a group of boy detectives known as the .Rampo was an admirer...
(1963) - Seicho MATSUMOTOSeicho Matsumotowas a Japanese writer.Seichō's works created new tradition of Japanese mystery / detective fiction. Dispensing with formulaic plot devices such as puzzles, Seichō incorporated elements of human psychology and ordinary life. In particular, his works often reflect a wider social context and postwar...
(1963-1971) - Kazuo SHIMADA (1971-1973) (:ja:島田一男)
- Yo SANO (1973-1979) (:ja:佐野洋)
- Toru MIYOSHI (1979-1981) (:ja:三好徹)
- Masao YAMAMURA (1981-1985) (:ja:山村正夫)
- Kawataro NAKAJIMA (1985-1989)
- Jiro IKUSHIMA (1989-1993) (:ja:生島治郎)
- Takashi ATODA (1993-1997) (:ja:阿刀田高)
- Kenzo KITAKATAKenzo Kitakatais an emminent Japanese novelist, especially known for his hard boiled style. He graduated with a degree in Law from Chuo University in 1973.- Bibliography :[Following is the list of translated to English texts, Kitakata is a prolific writer.]*The Cage...
(1997-2001) - Go OSAKA (2001-2005) (:ja:逢坂剛)
- Arimasa OSAWA (2005-2009) (:ja:大沢在昌)
- Keigo HIGASHINOKeigo Higashinois a Japanese author chiefly known for his mystery novels.-Biography:Born in Osaka, he started writing novels while still working as an engineer at Nippon Denso Co. . He won the Edogawa Rampo Award, which is awarded annually to the finest mystery work, in 1985 for the novel Hōkago at age 27...
(2009- )
- EDOGAWA Rampo
Anthologies
The MWJ started compiling the annual anthology of members in 1948.- The Best Mysteries 2001 (KodanshaKodansha, the largest Japanese publisher, produces the manga magazines Nakayoshi, Afternoon, Evening, and Weekly Shonen Magazine, as well as more literary magazines such as Gunzō, Shūkan Gendai, and the Japanese dictionary Nihongo Daijiten. The company has its headquarters in Bunkyō, Tokyo...
, TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, 2001, ISBN 4-06-114902-4) - The Best Mysteries 2002 (Kodansha, Tokyo, 2002, ISBN 4-06-114903-2)
- The Best Mysteries 2003 (Kodansha, Tokyo, 2003, ISBN 4-06-114904-0)
- The Best Mysteries 2004 (Kodansha, Tokyo, 2004, ISBN 4-06-114905-9)
- The Best Mysteries 2005 (Kodansha, Tokyo, 2005, ISBN 4-06-114906-7)
- The Best Mysteries 2006 (Kodansha, Tokyo, 2006, ISBN 4-06-114907-5)
- The Best Mysteries 2007 (Kodansha, Tokyo, 2007, ISBN 978-4-06-114908-3)
- The Best Mysteries 2008 (Kodansha, Tokyo, 2008, ISBN 978-4-06-114909-0)
- The Best Mysteries 2009 (Kodansha, Tokyo, 2009, ISBN 978-4-06-114910-6)
- The Best Mysteries 2010 (Kodansha, Tokyo, 2010, ISBN 978-4-06-114911-3)
See also
- Japanese detective fictionJapanese detective fiction, is a popular genre of Japanese literature. It's generally called in Japan.- Name :When the Western detective fictions spread into Japan, it created a new genre called detective fiction in Japanese literature....
- Mystery Writers of AmericaMystery Writers of AmericaMystery Writers of America is an organization for mystery writers, based in New York.The organization was founded in 1945 by Clayton Rawson, Anthony Boucher, Lawrence Treat, and Brett Halliday....
- Crime Writers' AssociationCrime Writers' AssociationThe Crime Writers Association is a writers' association in the United Kingdom. Founded by John Creasey in 1953, it is currently chaired by Peter James and claims 450+ members....
- Honkaku Mystery Writers Club of JapanHonkaku Mystery Writers Club of Japanis a Japan-based organization for mystery writers who write Honkaku mystery.The organization was founded on 3 November 2000 by Natsuhiko Kyogoku, Kaoru Kitamura, Tetsuya Ayukawa and the other mystery writers...