Japanese Literary Awards

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Amon Ibuki

いぶき あもん

Ibuki Amon

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1991-07-10 （Aichi Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Aichi Prefecture (birth) → Resident of Kyoto Prefecture

Career

Occupations
Mystery writer, Company employee
Active Years
2015-

Education

Doshisha University
Country: Japan
Member of Doshisha University Mystery Study Group (as student)

Awards

Mysteries! Newcomer Award (12th)
2015
Work: The Murder in the Prison House
Organization: Tokyo Sogensha
Result: winner
Honkaku Mystery Award (19th) — Novel
2019
Work: Sword and Umbrella — Meiji Kyōraku Mystery Tales
Category: 小説部門
Organization: Honkaku Mystery Writers Club of Japan
Result: winner
Haruhiko Oyabu Prize (nominee)
2021
Work: Phantom Moon and the Detective
Organization: Haruhiko Oyabu Prize Committee
Result: nominee
Japan Mystery Writers Association Award (77th, nominee)
2024
Work: Flame and Snow — Kyoto Detective Stories
Organization: Mystery Writers of Japan
Result: nominee

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Sword and Umbrella — Meiji Kyōraku Mystery Tales

2018 Mystery novel (with historical elements)

A collection of linked short stories set in Meiji-era Kyoto, blending historical setting with classic mystery puzzles centered around swords and umbrellas.

Meiji eraHistoryDetectiveClassic puzzle mystery

Rain and a Short Rifle

2021 Mystery novel

A collection of short stories themed around rainy streets and short firearms, exploring crimes and mysteries.

Urban lifeCrimeHuman drama

Phantom Moon and the Detective

2021 Mystery novel

A full-length novel featuring a detective protagonist, combining fantastical elements with rigorous puzzle-solving.

Detective fictionFantasyPuzzle-solving

Kyoto Onmyoryo — Demon-Slaying Mystery Files

2022 Historical mystery

A linked short-story collection about an onmyoryo-like organization in Kyoto that investigates incidents involving demons and occult practices.

Onmyo/OccultYokaiPeriod piece

Flame and Snow — Kyoto Detective Stories

2023 Mystery (short story collection)

A collection of detective short stories set in Kyoto, dealing with strange incidents hidden in everyday life.

KyotoDetectiveEveryday mysteries

Tales of Imperial Yokai

2024 Linked short stories (historical × supernatural)

A linked short-story collection set in the imperial era that centers on yokai-like beings, blending historical scenes with supernatural tales.

SupernaturalImperial periodLinked stories

The Backstreet February 26

2025 Historical mystery

A work (2025) drawing on historical incidents such as the February 26 Incident as background for a mystery narrative.

HistoryIncidentsPeriod mystery

Bibliography

  • The Murder in the Prison House (short story)
  • Sword and Umbrella — Meiji Kyōraku Mystery Tales (2018)
  • Rain and a Short Rifle (2021)
  • Phantom Moon and the Detective (2021)
  • Kyoto Onmyoryo — Demon-Slaying Mystery Files (2022)
  • Flame and Snow — Kyoto Detective Stories (2023)
  • Tales of Imperial Yokai (2024)
  • The Backstreet February 26 (2025)
  • Co-authored: Mystery Tour (2024)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
A restrained style that fuses classic puzzle mystery with period novel descriptionsDetailed descriptions attentive to narrative twists and setting
Recurring Motifs
Kyoto cityscapesYokai and supernatural phenomenaPeriod motifs such as swords and umbrellasDetectives and puzzle-solving

Legacy

Recognized as a leading young honkaku mystery author, winning a newcomer award for his debut and subsequently receiving major mystery awards and nominations. Noted for blending honkaku puzzle elements with period settings, connecting contemporary and historical sensibilities.

Trivia

  • Became the youngest winner of the Mysteries! Newcomer Award with "The Murder in the Prison House."
  • A former member of the Doshisha University Mystery Study Group; currently a company employee living in Kyoto Prefecture.