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Akinari Asakura

あさくら あきなり

Asakura Akinari

Pen Names: Asakura Toji（Pen name used for some novelizations）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1989-11-08 （Chiba Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Born in Chiba Prefecture, Japan → Resides in the Kanto region, Japan

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Manga original author
Active Years
2012-

Awards

13th Kodansha BOX Newcomer Award "Powers"
2012
Work: Noir Revenant
Organization: Kodansha BOX
Result: Winner
Branch BOOK Award 2021 — Grand Prize
2021
Work: Six Lying University Students
Organization: Branch BOOK Award
Result: Winner
Hontame Literary Award 2022 (first half) — Takumi Division Grand Prize
2022
Work: The Flame That's Not Me (literal)
Organization: Hontame Literary Award
Result: Winner
20th Honkaku Mystery Award (Novel category)
2020
Work: Until the Classroom Is Left Alone
Category: 小説部門
Organization: Honkaku Mystery Writers Club
Result: Nominated
73rd Mystery Writers of Japan Award (Long work / Collection category)
2020
Work: Until the Classroom Is Left Alone
Category: 長編及び連作短編集部門
Organization: Mystery Writers of Japan
Result: Nominated
12th Yamada Fūtarō Award
2021
Work: Six Lying University Students
Organization: Yamada Fūtarō Award Committee
Result: Nominated
13th Yamada Fūtarō Award
2022
Work: The Flame That's Not Me (literal)
Organization: Yamada Fūtarō Award Committee
Result: Nominated
43rd Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Newcomer Award
2022
Work: Six Lying University Students
Organization: Yoshikawa Eiji Award Committee
Result: Nominated
22nd Honkaku Mystery Award (Novel category)
2022
Work: Six Lying University Students
Category: 小説部門
Organization: Honkaku Mystery Writers Club
Result: Nominated
19th Booksellers Award (Honya Taisho)
2022
Work: Six Lying University Students
Organization: Booksellers Award Committee
Result: 5th place
76th Mystery Writers of Japan Award (Short story category)
2023
Work: The First Betrayed
Category: 短編部門
Organization: Mystery Writers of Japan
Result: Nominated
36th Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize
2023
Work: The Flame That's Not Me (literal)
Organization: Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize Committee
Result: Nominated

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Noir Revenant

2012 Mystery

Debut full-length novel that won the Kodansha BOX "Powers" newcomer award. A mystery notable for its extensive use of foreshadowing.

foreshadowingpuzzle-solvinghuman relationships

The Flagger Equation

2013 Mystery

A post-debut novel blending youth elements with mystery; it was later adapted into a manga.

youthmystery solvingfriendship
Adaptations
  • [Manga] The Flagger Equation (manga adaptation) (2014)

Roundabout Prepared for Heartbreak

2016 Youth fiction

A novel with strong youth-fiction elements; later reissued under a revised title.

coming-of-ageromancepersonal growth

Until the Classroom Is Left Alone

2019 Youth mystery

A school-set youth mystery exploring relationships, loneliness, and elements of an arising mystery; noted for its ensemble structure.

schoollonelinessinterpersonal relationshipsforeshadowing

You Who Turned Eighteen for the Ninth Time

2019 Mystery

Published by Sogen Mystery Frontier; a work that combines mystery elements with youth themes.

timeyouthmystery

Six Lying University Students

2021 Detective fiction / Youth mystery

A mystery about lies and relationships among university students. The work was adapted across media including radio drama, stage reading, and a 2024 film.

liesfriendshipcampus lifetrust and betrayal
Adaptations
  • [Radio drama] Six Lying University Students (NHK-FM radio drama) (2022)
  • [Stage (reading)] Six Lying University Students (reading act) / 山崎彬 (2022)
  • [Film] Six Lying University Students (film) / 佐藤祐市 (2024)

The Flame That's Not Me (literal)

2022 Contemporary mystery

A mystery dealing with social-media scandals, rumors and misunderstandings in modern society. The novel addresses social themes and was slated for a film adaptation.

social mediaonline outragereputationtruth vs. fiction
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Flame That's Not Me (film) / 山田篤宏 (2025)

A Thousand Kilometres to Family Dissolution

2024 Contemporary fiction

A novel about family relationships; details based on publication notes.

familyjourneyrecovery

First, I Mince Common Sense

2024 Satirical / Contemporary fiction

A work containing satirical elements that critiques contemporary society and common-sense values.

satirecontemporary societyethics

Bibliography

  • Noir Revenant
  • The Flagger Equation
  • Roundabout Prepared for Heartbreak
  • Until the Classroom Is Left Alone
  • You Who Turned Eighteen for the Ninth Time
  • Six Lying University Students
  • The Flame That's Not Me (literal)
  • A Thousand Kilometres to Family Dissolution
  • First, I Mince Common Sense
  • Unfair Trade (short story, magazine)
  • The First Betrayed (short story)
  • Attack on Titan: Novelization (as Asakura Toji)

Adaptations

  • Six Lying University Students (film, Toho, 2024)
  • Six Lying University Students (NHK-FM radio drama, 2022)
  • The Flagger Equation (manga adaptation, REX Comics)
  • The Flame That's Not Me (film planned, Shochiku, 2025)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
intricate use of foreshadowingcrisp, fast-paced dialogueblend of youth fiction and mystery
Recurring Motifs
foreshadowingschool / campus lifelies and betrayalsocial media and online outrage

Legacy

Recognized as a young mystery writer who combines extensive foreshadowing with youth-oriented themes. Has multiple nominations and several awards, with works adapted for film, stage and radio.

In Popular Culture

  • Sometimes described as the "sniper of foreshadowing" for his frequent use of planted clues

Trivia

  • In high school he formed a comedy duo and took part in the M-1 Koshien contest
  • Also active under the pen name Asakura Toji, writing novelizations among other works
  • Has publicly stated he is a fan of the Chiba Lotte Marines baseball team
  • Profile information lists height 173 cm, weight 66 kg, blood type A