Edogawa Ranpo Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 12 (1966) award
Sakae Saito
さいとう さかえ
Saito Sakae
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1933-01-14 （Ota, Tokyo, Japan）
- Died
- 2024-06-15 （Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan） age 91
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Ota, Tokyo (birth) → Yokohama, Kanagawa (residence & death)
Career
- Occupations
- Mystery novelist
- Active Years
- 1963-2024
- Influenced By
- Edogawa Rampo (influence), Shintaro Ishihara (student-era circle associate)
- Influenced
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Tokyo | Faculty of Law | Law | — | — | Japan |
University of Tokyo
Faculty of Law
/ Law
Country:
Japan
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Houseki (Jewels) Novella Prize (mid-length prize) | Kimi ("Secret") | — | Houseki (magazine) | 受賞 |
| 1966 | Edogawa Rampo Prize | Murder Game Record | — | Mystery Writers of Japan / Edogawa Rampo Prize committee | 受賞 |
| 1997 | Ōyama Yasuharu Award | — | — | Shogi-related organization | 受賞 |
Houseki (Jewels) Novella Prize (mid-length prize)
1963
Work:
Kimi ("Secret")
Organization:
Houseki (magazine)
Result:
受賞
Edogawa Rampo Prize
1966
Work:
Murder Game Record
Organization:
Mystery Writers of Japan / Edogawa Rampo Prize committee
Result:
受賞
Ōyama Yasuharu Award
1997
Organization:
Shogi-related organization
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Murder Game Record
1966 Mystery (shogi-themed)A classical mystery themed on shogi; notable for puzzles and tricks woven around game records and matches.
shogidetective puzzlematches and human relations
Adaptations
- [TV drama] Murder Game Record (TV drama) (1978)
The Narrow Road to the Deep North Murder Case
1970 Mystery (travel-mystery)A travel-mystery inspired by Basho's travelogues; noted for popularizing a speculative 'Basho ninja' idea in fiction.
travelclassical literature motifsmystery solving
Water Magic Circle
1978 Mystery (social mystery / series)Part of a series mixing social issues and human drama; was adapted for television.
social mysteryhuman relationshipssymbolic 'magic circle' motif
Adaptations
- [TV drama] Water Magic Circle (TV drama) (1982)
N's Tragedy
1972 MysteryA novel exploring human guilt and tragedy; considered one of his representative works.
tragedyhuman psychologyrevenge
Bibliography
- Murder Game Record (1966)
- The Narrow Road to the Deep North Murder Case (1970)
- N's Tragedy (1972)
- Water Magic Circle (1978)
- Murder on the Star (debut story; first published in magazine 1963, book editions later)
Adaptations
- Numerous TV adaptations (e.g. 'Murder Game Record', episodes on Saturday Wide Theater, Tuesday Suspense, etc.)
- Limited film adaptations; most adaptations were for television
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Classical detective techniques with intricate tricksTravel-mystery emphasis on locations and journeyIncorporation of social-issue elements
- Recurring Motifs
- trains and travelshogidivination (tarot)mysteries tied to classical literature and historic sites
Health
-
senility / old age晩年Decline in vigor in later years leading to reduced activity; died of senility in 2024
Legacy
Sakae Saito was a prolific figure in Japanese detective fiction since the 1960s, well known for shogi-themed and travel-mysteries and for many TV adaptations. Winner of the Edogawa Rampo Prize, his representative works have enjoyed long readership and influence in the genre.
Academic Societies
- Mystery Writers of Japan
In Popular Culture
- Widely known through numerous TV adaptations (e.g. 'Murder Game Record', 'Water Magic Circle')
- Associated with early computer shogi history through documented episodes
Trivia
- Has an episode recorded in early computer shogi history: one of the first humans to play against an early shogi program (circa 1975).
- 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North Murder Case' is credited with popularizing a speculative 'Basho ninja' idea.
- Prolific author known for many 'murder travel' titles centered on trains and journeys.
- Known as the winner of the Edogawa Rampo Prize for 'Murder Game Record'.