Japanese Literary Awards

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Yuji Yomisaka

よみさか ゆうじ

Yomisaka Yūji

Pen Names: ironic bomber（English-form pen name used on publications and credits since debut）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1979-01-01
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Mystery writer
Active Years
2007-
Influenced By
Rintarō Hōzuki, Takeshi Maki, Kenji Takemoto, Daisuke Satō, Toshihiko Yahagi, Ed McBain, George R. R. Martin, Yuji Horii, Keisuke Kuwata

Awards

KAPPA-ONE
2006
Work: Monday's Glass Woman (later published as Rilo Gra Sista / 'the little glass sister')
Organization: Kobunsha
Result: Winner
Honkaku Mystery Best 10 (ranked)
2009
Work: Tōkai Incident
Category: Ranking
Organization: Harashobo
Result: Ranked 12th
Honkaku Mystery Best 10 (ranked)
2010
Work: Denki Ningen no Ogu (Electric Human)
Category: Ranking
Organization: Harashobo
Result: Ranked 13th

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Rilo Gra Sista (the little glass sister)

2007 Mystery novel

A debut long-form honkaku mystery set in a high school; originally titled 'Monday's Glass Woman'. It weaves coming-of-age elements with a puzzle about secrets within the school.

High schoolComing-of-ageHonkaku mysterySecrets within school

Tōkai Incident: Why Did Makoto Satō Decapitate Himself?

2008 Mystery novel

A long-form mystery that investigates a shocking decapitation incident. The narrative digs into motives and the circumstances surrounding the event.

CrimeUnraveling motiveUnease

Denki Ningen no Ogu (Electric Human)

2009 Mystery / Experimental

An experimental mystery exploring technology and human identity; one of the works where the author varies narrative approach and tone.

TechnologyHuman identityExperimental techniques

Dulcinea's Holiday

2010 Mystery novel

A mystery with literary allusions. The title evokes Dulcinea from Don Quixote, but the story develops its own original puzzle.

Literary allusionPuzzle solving

A Dry Corpse Doesn't Even Breed Maggots

2010 Hardboiled / Mystery

A crime novel with stark imagery and forensic detail; notable for its clinical perspective and dark atmosphere.

CorpsesForensicsClinical observation

Insert Coin(s)

2012 Short story collection / Mystery

A collection of short stories including 'Soshite Mawarikomarenakatta', 'Ana e wa Kinoko o Oikakete', 'Zankyo Bayoe~n', 'Ore yori Tsuyoi Yatsu', and 'Insert Coin(s)'.

Short-form varietyGame / contemporary cultural elements

Hinnyūkoku Tokoyami Hiden

2013 Short story collection / Fantastic elements

A short-story collection containing fantastic motifs; includes stories such as 'Hakurai Oni', 'Jinare', 'Enpukuto', 'Ametetsuhō', and 'Eiyūbae'.

FantasyStrangenessShort-form structure

Two Ghosts

2013 Ghost stories / Mystery

Works themed around ghosts and the uncanny; combining mystery with ghost-story atmosphere.

GhostsKaidan (ghost stories)Dual perspectives

Now Loading

2014 Short story collection / Contemporary mystery

A short-story collection that incorporates gaming elements and contemporary themes; includes pieces like 'One More Turn', 'Even If You Flip the Book of Enlightenment', and 'Now Loading'.

Game cultureContemporary societyShort fiction

Hito no Machi (Town of People)

2016 Linked short stories / Mystery

A linked short-story collection composed of chapters such as 'Kaze no Machi', 'Inu no Machi', 'Hi no Machi', 'Ishi no Machi', and 'Ō no Machi', depicting the lives of people around a town.

TownHuman relationshipsLinked narratives

T-Island Incident: Why Did Six People Die on a Remote Island?

2017 Honkaku mystery / Isolated-island mystery

A long-form mystery about multiple deaths on an isolated island; employs a closed-circle setting to uncover the truth.

Isolated islandClosed-circle mysteryLocked-room elements

Kimi Machi Aki wa Sukitooru (Your Waiting Autumn Is Transparent)

2019 Mystery / Literary-leaning novel

A literary-leaning novel that blends lyrical description with mystery elements.

LyricismPassage of timeMemory

5A73

2022 Mystery novel

A recent novel with a cryptic title; details follow the published edition.

SymbolismContemporary mystery

Bibliography

  • Rilo Gra Sista (the little glass sister)
  • Tōkai Incident: Why Did Makoto Satō Decapitate Himself?
  • Denki Ningen no Ogu (Electric Human)
  • Dulcinea's Holiday
  • A Dry Corpse Doesn't Even Breed Maggots
  • Insert Coin(s)
  • Hinnyūkoku Tokoyami Hiden
  • Two Ghosts
  • Now Loading
  • Hito no Machi (Town of People)
  • T-Island Incident: Why Did Six People Die on a Remote Island?
  • Kimi Machi Aki wa Sukitooru (Your Waiting Autumn Is Transparent)
  • 5A73

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Rooted in classical honkaku mystery tradition while experimenting with varied stylesUses reportage-like narration at times and diverse approaches across short fiction
Recurring Motifs
SchoolsIsolated islandsGame cultureBlurred lines between fiction and reality

Legacy

A contemporary Japanese mystery writer who debuted via KAPPA-ONE and is known for expanding stylistic boundaries within the genre. Several works have ranked in the 'Honkaku Mystery Best 10'.

Archives

  • National Diet Library (catalog holdings)

Quotes

  • I spent my childhood playing games all the time.
    Source: Meikyū Kaitai Shinsho #25 (Hayakawa Mystery Magazine, Jan 2010) (2010)
  • I used four colors of paper—pink, blue, green, yellow—to make my submissions more noticeable.
    Source: Interview (Meikyū Kaitai Shinsho #25) (2010)

Trivia

  • Uses the pen name in English form 'ironic bomber' on publications.
  • Submitted 23 manuscripts to new-writer contests during his early career.
  • Known to have printed submission manuscripts on four colors of paper (pink, blue, green, yellow) to attract attention.
  • Debuted with a work published by Kobunsha through the KAPPA-ONE selection.
  • Has said he was an avid gamer in his youth and enjoyed titles such as Tactics Ogre.