Mystery Writers of Japan Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 68 (2015) award
Masahiko Kikuni
きくに まさひこ
Kikuni Masahiko
Pen Names:
Fuga（Pen name used when published in Weekly Young Jump）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1958-10-17 （Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
Career
- Occupations
- manga artist, essayist, illustrator, musician (occasional)
- Active Years
- 1981-2023
- Memberships
- Mystery Writers of Japan, Honkaku Mystery Writers Club
- Influenced By
- Moto Hagio, Garo-style manga
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kagawa Prefectural Sakide High School | — | — | — | — | Japan |
| Tama Art University | Oil Painting Department | — | 芸術学士 | — | Japan |
Kagawa Prefectural Sakide High School
Country:
Japan
Tama Art University
Oil Painting Department
Degree:
芸術学士
Country:
Japan
Member of the manga research club; associated with Shiragari Kotobuki and others
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 4th Miura Jun Shinyu (Friend) Manga Prize | — | — | Miura Jun Shinyu Manga Prize | 受賞 |
| 2015 | 68th Mystery Writers of Japan Award (Criticism and Other) | The Bookshelf Detective's Final Salute | 評論その他 | Mystery Writers of Japan | 受賞 |
| 2017 | 17th Honkaku Mystery Award (Criticism/Research) | Honkaku Power: The Bookshelf Detective's Mystery Book Guide (co-authored with Yuka Kuniki) | 評論・研究 | Honkaku Mystery Writers Club | 受賞 |
4th Miura Jun Shinyu (Friend) Manga Prize
1997
Organization:
Miura Jun Shinyu Manga Prize
Result:
受賞
68th Mystery Writers of Japan Award (Criticism and Other)
2015
Work:
The Bookshelf Detective's Final Salute
Category:
評論その他
Organization:
Mystery Writers of Japan
Result:
受賞
17th Honkaku Mystery Award (Criticism/Research)
2017
Work:
Honkaku Power: The Bookshelf Detective's Mystery Book Guide (co-authored with Yuka Kuniki)
Category:
評論・研究
Organization:
Honkaku Mystery Writers Club
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Wounded Angels
1988 gag mangaA gag comic series centered on 4-panel strips; one of his breakthrough popular works.
gagself-deprecating humoreveryday satire
Adaptations
- [animation/live-action] Wounded Angels (video adaptation) (1990)
Whispers of Moonlight
1995 drama (romance/suspense-leaning)A non-gag serialized work that was adapted into a live-action film in 1999 directed by Akihiko Shiota.
human relationshipsmysteryhumanity
Adaptations
- [live-action film] Whispers of Moonlight (film) / 塩田明彦 (1999)
- [DVD/Video] Whispers of Moonlight (director's cut) / 塩田明彦 (2003)
mahjong Manga King
1989 mahjong parody mangaA series of mahjong manga that parodied classic works; became popular and was published in book form.
parodymahjongsubculture
ROCKOMANGA!
2013 music-themed short comics (6-panel / 3-panel format)Short comics themed on heavy metal fandom; serialized for many years in BURRN! magazine.
musicheavy metalsatire
The Bookshelf Detective's Final Salute
2014 essay/criticismAn essay collection about book collecting and mysteries; won the Mystery Writers of Japan Award.
book collectingmystery criticismessays
Bibliography
- Wounded Angels
- mahjong Manga King
- mahjong Manga Great King
- Selected Kikunisan
- Third District Defense Force
- Always Keep the Sun in Your Heart!
- Whispers of Moonlight
- The Soul of Japan's Greatest Man
- ROCKOMANGA!
- Adventures of the Bookshelf Detective
- The Bookshelf Detective's Final Salute
- Honkaku Power: The Bookshelf Detective's Mystery Book Guide
Adaptations
- Whispers of Moonlight (film adaptation)
- Wounded Angels (animation & live-action video)
- The Soul of Japan's Greatest Man (TV animation / soundtrack)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- fast-paced gag 4-panel and short comicsessayistic, personal narrative voicecritical perspective reflecting interest in mysteries
- Recurring Motifs
- old books / book collectingdetectives / mysterymusic (especially heavy metal)self-deprecating humor
Health
-
vision decline2023–Announced retirement from manga due to declining vision and health; reduced creative activity
Legacy
Known primarily for gag manga but active across genres, also respected as a mystery critic and book collector. Maintains a distinct fanbase due to long-running serializations and multi-genre work.
Academic Societies
- Mystery Writers of Japan
- Honkaku Mystery Writers Club
In Popular Culture
- Recognition in heavy metal circles via the BURRN! serialization 'ROCKOMANGA!'
- Media exposure through multiple anime and live-action adaptations
Trivia
- He is an only child.
- He cannot drink alcohol at all.
- Runs marathons as a hobby and has participated in the Tokyo Marathon.
- Used self-deprecating jokes about his anatomy in early works.
- Said he switched from bikini-style underwear to boxers after an embarrassing emergency hospitalization.
- He and his wife are heavy metal fans and have engaged in music-related activities.
- Announced retirement from manga in autumn 2023 due to declining vision and health (some serializations continue).