Japanese Literary Awards

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Masaki Kojima

こじま まさき

Kojima Masaki

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Mystery writer
Active Years
2000-
Affiliations
Mystery Writers of Japan, Honkaku Mystery Writers Club
Memberships
Mystery Writers of Japan, Honkaku Mystery Writers Club
Influenced By
Seishi Yokomizo, Yukito Ayatsuji, Masayuki Shuno, Natsuhiko Kyogoku, Shinzo Mitsuda

Awards

Ekinaka Bookstore Award
2015
Work: Rondo of Strangulation
Organization: Ekinaka Bookstore Awards Committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Boat Returning to Heaven

2005 Mystery

Coauthored with Soji Shimada. A mystery novel that weaves multiple puzzles into a long-form plot.

trickscoauthorshipcomplex puzzles

The Thirteenth Memorial

2008 Mystery

One of his early solo debut works. Features locked-room elements entwined with family secrets and grudges.

locked-roomgrudgesfamily

Rondo of Strangulation

2010 Honkaku mystery

A long novel packed with numerous tricks. Winner of the 2015 Ekinaka Bookstore Award.

trickslocked-roomcomplex structure

The Exposed Head at Dragon Temple

2011 Mystery

Combines traditional elements with modern mystery conventions; contains mid- to long-form narrative elements.

temples/shrinesritualistic murdergrudges

The Glass Detective and the Vanished Motorcycle

2013 Mystery

A volume in the 'Glass Detective' series. Features a distinctive detective character and clever tricks.

detectivetricksseries

Monochrome Requiem

2015 Mystery / Short story collection

A collection mainly of short stories. Contains a variety of tricks and uncanny elements.

short storiesuncannycollection of tricks

Bibliography

  • Boat Returning to Heaven (coauthored)
  • The Thirteenth Memorial
  • Rondo of Strangulation
  • The Exposed Head at Dragon Temple
  • Island of Strange Tales
  • The Clan of Cursing Fire
  • The Cursed Village
  • The Glass Detective and the Vanished Motorcycle
  • The Glass Detective and the Silver Locked Room
  • Detective Hamanaka's Delusions and Great Luck
  • Blood Brain: The Descent of the Dark Detective
  • Monochrome Requiem

Style & Themes

Literary Style
dense structures filled with many trickshonkaku-style mystery narrationuse of humor to offset darker scenes
Recurring Motifs
river kayakinglocked roomsold grudgesritualistic elements

Legacy

Known for reinterpreting traditional honkaku mystery techniques in a modern way and for densely packed tricks. Recognized with awards such as the Ekinaka Bookstore Award.

Academic Societies

  • Mystery Writers of Japan

Trivia

  • A river-kayaking enthusiast; kayaking often appears in his works.
  • Sometimes describes himself as a proponent of 'over-the-top mysteries' ('yarimisu').
  • Debuted in 2005 with a coauthored work with Soji Shimada.