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Shusuke Michio

みちお しゅうすけ

Michio Shusuke

Pen Names: Shusuke Michio（Pen name used as author name. The surname element 'Michio' is derived from novelist Tsuzuki Michio; 'Shusuke' is his given name.）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1975-05-19 （Ashiya, Hyōgo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Mystery writer, Singer
Active Years
2004-
Memberships
Mystery Writers of Japan, Honkaku Mystery Writers Club (affiliated)
Influenced By
Michio Tsuzuki, Osamu Dazai, Yasunari Kawabata, Seishi Yokomizo
Nominations
2002: 9th Japan Horror Novel Award short-fiction finalist ("Tebukubi kara saki" / "Beyond the Wrist"), 2006: 6th Honkaku Mystery Award (novel) — nominated for 'A Summer Without Sunflowers', 2006: 59th Mystery Writers of Japan Award (short story) — nominated for 'How to Make a Shooting Star', 2009: Naoki Prize — nominated for 'Crow's Thumb', 2010: Naoki Prize — nominated for 'The Serpent of the Sphere'

Education

Tamagawa University
Faculty of Agriculture
Degree: 学士
Year of Graduation: 1998
Country: Japan
Graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture

Awards

Horror Suspense Award
2004
Result: 受賞（特別賞）
Honkaku Mystery Award
2007
Work: Shadow
Organization: Honkaku Mystery Writers Club
Result: 受賞
Mystery Writers of Japan Award
2009
Work: Crow's Thumb
Category: 長編及び連作短編集部門
Organization: The Mystery Writers of Japan
Result: 受賞
Oyabu Haruhiko Prize
2010
Work: Ryujin no Ame
Organization: Oyabu Haruhiko Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Yamamoto Shugoro Prize
2010
Organization: Yamamoto Shugoro Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Naoki Prize
2011
Work: Moon and Crab
Organization: Naoki Prize Selection Committee
Result: 受賞
Honkaku Mystery Award
2006
Work: A Summer Without Sunflowers
Category: 小説部門
Organization: Honkaku Mystery Writers Club
Result: 候補

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Eye on the Back

2005 Horror / Mystery

Debut work. A horror-tinged novel in two volumes that explores unsettling phenomena and human anxieties.

fearmemoryfamily
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] The Eye on the Back / 小松隆志 (2012)

A Summer Without Sunflowers

2005 Mystery

A human-centered mystery focusing on family and a past incident; became a major bestseller after publication.

familylossmemory

Shadow

2006 Mystery

A novel praised for its intricate plotting and psychological depiction; winner of the 7th Honkaku Mystery Award.

psychologypuzzleidentity

Crow's Thumb

2008 Mystery / Suspense

An ensemble mystery weaving multiple long-form elements; one of the author's representative works later adapted to film.

secretsrevengechain reactions
Adaptations
  • [Film] Crow's Thumb / 伊藤匡史 (2012)

Moon and Crab

2010 Literary mystery

A long-form work written after on-location research; intertwines the ordinary and the extraordinary. Winner of the 144th Naoki Prize.

journeyloss and rebirthfamily

Bibliography

  • The Eye on the Back
  • A Summer Without Sunflowers
  • Shadow
  • Crow's Thumb
  • Moon and Crab
  • —
  • —
  • —
  • Skeleton Key

Adaptations

  • Crow's Thumb (film adaptation, 2012)
  • The Eye on the Back (TV drama adaptation, 2012)
  • Moon Lovers (TV drama tie-in, 2010)
  • Hikari (radio drama, NHK-FM 'Seishun Adventure', 2013)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Detailed psychological descriptionBlend of lyricism and mysteryIncorporation of horror elements into prose
Recurring Motifs
childrenfamily secretslight and darknessfragments of memory

Legacy

A major contemporary Japanese mystery writer, recipient of multiple literary awards including the Naoki Prize. Known for blending horror elements with human drama and reaching a wide readership; 'A Summer Without Sunflowers' exceeded one million copies sold. Donated his Naoki Prize money to victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake.

Academic Societies

  • Mystery Writers of Japan

Archives

  • Holdings in the National Diet Library and other major libraries

In Popular Culture

  • Several works have been adapted for film and television and have received broad media exposure.

Quotes

  • I want to write the book I want to read myself.
    Source: Asahi Shimbun (Naoki Prize acceptance press conference) (2011)

Trivia

  • Blood type: O.
  • Pen name element 'Michio' is derived from novelist Tsuzuki Michio.
  • Donated the Naoki Prize monetary award to victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake.
  • Also active in music as part of the unit 'DEN'.