Agatha Christie Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 1 (2011) grand prize
Akimaro Mori
もり あきまろ
Mori Akimaro
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1979-03-05 （Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Hamamatsu (birthplace) → Takamatsu (residence)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Mystery writer, Writer
- Active Years
- 2004-
- Influenced By
- Stanley Ellin, Jean-Patrick Manchette, David Martin
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waseda University | First Faculty of Letters | — | — | — | Japan |
| Nihon University Graduate School | Graduate School of Arts (Master's program) | — | — | — | Japan |
Waseda University
First Faculty of Letters
Country:
Japan
Nihon University Graduate School
Graduate School of Arts (Master's program)
Country:
Japan
Completed master's coursework (exact year unknown)
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1st Agatha Christie Award | A Black Cat's Promenade, or Lectures on Aesthetics | — | Agatha Christie Award Committee | Winner |
| 2011 | 3rd Japan Title Only Award | Oku no Hosomichi of the Dead | — | Japan Title Only Award Committee | Winner |
1st Agatha Christie Award
2011
Work:
A Black Cat's Promenade, or Lectures on Aesthetics
Organization:
Agatha Christie Award Committee
Result:
Winner
3rd Japan Title Only Award
2011
Work:
Oku no Hosomichi of the Dead
Organization:
Japan Title Only Award Committee
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
A Black Cat's Promenade, or Lectures on Aesthetics
2011 Mystery (short-story collection / series debut)The first entry in the 'Black Cat' series. A collection of short pieces that mix academic references with puzzle-driven mysteries, marked by idiosyncratic humor and intellectual riddles.
MysteryAestheticsUniversity/research settingsMetafiction
Oku no Hosomichi of the Dead
2011 Humorous mysteryA title-focused work that attracted attention in awards contexts. It parodies classical travel narratives and features inventive mystery setups.
TravelParodyPlayful titles
The Fake Romantic Novelist
2014 Mystery / LiteraryA novel centered on a novelist of romantic fiction, exploring deception and constructed narratives with a mix of humor and suspense.
Image of the writerFiction vs. realityImitated romance
Bibliography
- A Black Cat's Promenade, or Lectures on Aesthetics
- A Black Cat's Kiss, or Final Lectures
- Oku no Hosomichi of the Dead
- The Fake Romantic Novelist
- Drunk on Flowers Logic
- The Funeral Faker Does Not Mourn
- The Detective Doesn't Make a Picture
- Hotel Maurice
- The Little Mermaid's Chair
- The Severed-Island Slaughter Theory
Adaptations
- Novelization: Detective Is in the BAR 3 (novelization of film)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Playful prose that incorporates scholarly and obscure referencesNarration mixing humor and irony
- Recurring Motifs
- Black catsAcademia (universities and lectures)MetafictionPlayful use of titles
Legacy
Akimaro Mori is known for mystery fiction that blends scholarly references with humor, establishing a distinct place among contemporary Japanese mystery writers. His playful approach to titles and settings is a hallmark.
Quotes
-
I call myself a 'fictioneer' (literally 'maker of fictions').
Source: Author profile / official website (2011)
Trivia
- Inspired to become a film director after seeing Jurassic Park in junior high school.
- Describes himself as a 'fictioneer'.
- Works across formats including manga scripts and novelizations.
- Maintains an official website, blog, and X (formerly Twitter) account.