Shosetsu Yasei Jidai Newcomer Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 3 (2012) award
You Ashizawa
あしざわ よう
Ashizawa You
Pen Names:
You Ashizawa（Pen name used as an author (derived from a character in 'Koori no Kujira').）,
Kuroto Machi（Used for a manga novelization.）
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1984-02-13 （Katsushika, Tokyo, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Katsushika, Tokyo (birthplace) → Kawasaki, Kanagawa (residence)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Mystery writer
- Active Years
- 2012-
- Affiliations
- Mystery Writers of Japan
- Memberships
- Mystery Writers of Japan
- Influenced By
- Stephen King, Fuyumi Ono, Mizuki Tsujimura
- Nominations
- 2015 - Nominated for the 68th Mystery Writers of Japan Award (Short Story) for 'I Don't Think I Should Be Forgiven'., 2017 - Nominated for the 38th Yoshikawa Eiji New Writer's Award for 'I Don't Think I Should Be Forgiven'., 2018 - Nominated for the 71st Mystery Writers of Japan Award (Short Story) for 'It Just Had Bad Luck'., 2019 - Nominated for the 72nd Mystery Writers of Japan Award (Short Story) for 'Umeawase (Compensation)'., 2020 - Nominated for the 164th Naoki Prize for 'Don't Wipe Dirty Hands There'., 2020 - Nominated for the 42nd Yoshikawa Eiji New Writer's Award for 'Don't Wipe Dirty Hands There'., 2025 - Nominated for the 173rd Naoki Prize for 'Lies and the Neighbor'.
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiba University | Faculty of Letters | Department of History | 学士（文学） | — | Japan |
Chiba University
Faculty of Letters
/ Department of History
Degree:
学士（文学）
Country:
Japan
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Yasei Jidai Frontier Literary Award | The Margin of Sin | — | Kadokawa Shoten (Yasei Jidai) | 受賞 |
| 2018 | Shizuoka Bookstore Award | No Smoke Without Fire | — | Shizuoka Bookstore Award Committee | 受賞 |
| 2022 | Shogi Pen Club Grand Prize (Literary Division Excellence Award) | God's Bad Move | 文芸部門 優秀賞 | Shogi Pen Club | 受賞 |
| 2023 | Mystery Writers of Japan Award (Long Fiction / Linked Short Story Collection) | Night's Signpost | 長編および連作短編集部門 | Mystery Writers of Japan | 受賞 |
Yasei Jidai Frontier Literary Award
2012
Work:
The Margin of Sin
Organization:
Kadokawa Shoten (Yasei Jidai)
Result:
受賞
Shizuoka Bookstore Award
2018
Work:
No Smoke Without Fire
Organization:
Shizuoka Bookstore Award Committee
Result:
受賞
Shogi Pen Club Grand Prize (Literary Division Excellence Award)
2022
Work:
God's Bad Move
Category:
文芸部門 優秀賞
Organization:
Shogi Pen Club
Result:
受賞
Mystery Writers of Japan Award (Long Fiction / Linked Short Story Collection)
2023
Work:
Night's Signpost
Category:
長編および連作短編集部門
Organization:
Mystery Writers of Japan
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Newcomer Award
2 appearances
-
Edition 38 (2017) nominee
-
Edition 42 (2021) nominee
Yamamoto Shugoro Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 32 (2019) nominee
Mystery Writers of Japan Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 76 (2023) novel and linked short stories category
Works
Major Works
The Margin of Sin
2012 MysteryDebut novel published in 2012. A mystery that examines human relationships and psychology surrounding guilt; the narrative reveals past events and crimes through multiple perspectives.
guiltatonementmemorysecretshuman relationships
Adaptations
- [Film] The Margin of Sin / 大塚祐吉 (2015)
I Don't Think I Should Be Forgiven
2016 Short stories / MysteryA collection centered on short stories that probe ethics and atonement; the pieces challenge readers' moral assumptions.
atonementethicsviolencefamily
No Smoke Without Fire
2018 Short story collection (Mystery)A short story collection featuring tales of the uncanny within everyday life and interpersonal distrust. Winner of the Shizuoka Bookstore Award.
the uncannyrumorsdistrusteveryday madness
Don't Wipe Dirty Hands There
2020 Short story collection / MysteryA collection of short and medium-length stories exploring chance, responsibility, and people affected by fate. It was nominated for the Naoki Prize.
fatechanceresponsibilityguilt
God's Bad Move
2021 Mystery (Shogi-themed)A collection of stories themed around shogi. Matches on the board serve to reveal the subtleties of characters' lives and emotions. Winner of the Shogi Pen Club Grand Prize (Literary Division Excellence Award).
shogicompetitionstrategyhuman drama
Night's Signpost
2022 Novel / MysteryA long-form mystery that approaches the truth through records and testimonies surrounding a suspect. It examines the fragility of memory and truth and won the Mystery Writers of Japan Award in 2023.
memorytruthjusticeguilt
Adaptations
- [TV drama] Night's Signpost: Records Around a Suspect / 森淳一 (2025)
Soul-Marriage Double Suicide
2024 Mystery / Psychological horror elementsA dark collection of stories about relationships and death. The linked pieces reveal webs of secrets and warped bonds between people.
lovedeathsecretsbetrayal
Lies and the Neighbor
2025 Novel / MysteryA novel about how small lies between neighbors escalate into broader consequences. The story focuses on distortions of everyday life and the chain of suspicion. Nominated for the 173rd Naoki Prize.
liesneighborhood relationssecretssuspicion
Bibliography
- The Margin of Sin
- May No Evil Come
- That Girl for a Moment
- A Hostage Someday
- I Don't Think I Should Be Forgiven
- Amari Retirement Photo Studio
- Baku's Earlobe
- Backstage
- No Smoke Without Fire
- Cain Did Not Speak
- My God
- Don't Wipe Dirty Hands There
- God's Bad Move
- Night's Signpost
- Soul-Marriage Double Suicide
- Lies and the Neighbor
Adaptations
- 'The Margin of Sin' — film adaptation (2015)
- 'Night's Signpost' — TV drama adaptation (scheduled 2025)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- meticulous plottingdeep psychological characterizationblend of the everyday and the uncannystructure making use of short-story techniques
- Recurring Motifs
- guilt and atonementfamily secretssmall liesshogithe instability of memory
Legacy
You Ashizawa is recognized as a contemporary Japanese mystery writer noted for realism and psychological depth. His shogi-themed works have attracted new readership, and he has received multiple literary awards.
Academic Societies
- Mystery Writers of Japan
Archives
- National Diet Library (author authority record)
- VIAF / international bibliographic identifier
In Popular Culture
- 'The Margin of Sin' film adaptation (2015) broadened recognition among general audiences
- The TV adaptation of 'Night's Signpost' is expected to increase exposure to television audiences
- Multiple appearances in mystery rankings (Weekly Bunshun, 'This Mystery Is Amazing!', etc.)
Quotes
-
I want to write about shogi someday.
Source: Tokyo Shimbun (interview) (2022) -
My pen name comes from the character Ashizawa Rihoko in 'Koori no Kujira'.
Source: WEB Hon no Zasshi (interview) (2017)
Trivia
- He continued submitting to magazines and literary prizes for 12 years from high school until his debut.
- His pen name was inspired by a character (Ashizawa Rihoko) from the novel 'Koori no Kujira'.
- He has a strong interest in shogi and has written shogi-themed works such as 'God's Bad Move'.
- 'The Margin of Sin' was adapted into a film in 2015.
- He is a member of the Mystery Writers of Japan.
- X (formerly Twitter) account: @AshizawaYou