Japanese Literary Awards

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Sako Aizawa

あいざわ さこ

Aizawa Sako

Pen Names: Sako Aizawa（Pen name used for literary activities）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1983-03-03 （Saitama Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Screenwriter, Manga original author
Active Years
2009-
Affiliations
Member of the Mystery Writers of Japan
Memberships
Mystery Writers of Japan
Nominations
Nominated for the 64th Mystery Writers of Japan Award (short story) (2011), Nominated for the 41st Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Newcomer Award, Nominated for the 17th Booksellers Award (Honya Taisho)

Education

Seigakuin University
Faculty of Humanities, Japanese Culture / Department of Japanese Culture
Country: Japan
Dropped out

Awards

Ayukawa Tetsuya Award
2009
Work: Midnight Sandrillon
Organization: Tokyo Sogensha
Result: winner
Honkaku Mystery Award (Novel)
2020
Work: medium: Psychic Detective Hisui Jozuka
Category: 小説部門
Organization: Honkaku Mystery Writers Club
Result: winner
Apple Books 2019 Best Book (Mystery)
2019
Work: medium: Psychic Detective Hisui Jozuka
Organization: Apple Books
Result: winner
Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! (Domestic) — Ranked #1
2020
Work: medium: Psychic Detective Hisui Jozuka
Organization: Takarajimasha (Kono Mystery ga Sugoi!)
Result: ranked #1

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Midnight Sandrillon

2009 Mystery (short story collection)

Debut work. A collection of linked short stories featuring magic and everyday mysteries.

MagicSchool lifeEveryday mysteries

medium: Psychic Detective Hisui Jozuka

2019 Honkaku mystery / Logical mystery

A novel centered on psychic detective Hisui Jozuka. The book received high rankings in domestic mystery lists and led to a series.

Mediumship / the supernaturalDetective logicInverted mystery
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] Psychic Detective Hisui Jozuka (TV) (2022)

Matrika Matryoshka

2017 Mystery

A mystery with elements appealing to younger readers; noted for its structure and plot devices.

YouthPuzzle solvingEveryday strangeness

The God of Novels

2016 Light novel / Young adult fiction

An ensemble story about writers and creativity. Adapted into a film around 2019-2020.

CreationFriendshipComing of age
Adaptations
  • [Film] The God of Novels (Film) (2020)

Bibliography

  • Midnight Sandrillon
  • Rothkepchen, Come Here
  • Matrika Majorca
  • Matrika Maharita
  • Matrika Matryoshka
  • The God of Novels
  • medium: Psychic Detective Hisui Jozuka
  • invert: Hisui Jozuka Inverted Cases
  • invert II: Blind Spot of the Peephole
  • Kokoro Finder
  • I Don't Go to School on Rainy Days
  • Ryokuyo no Questa Lyrica: Sculpture of the Soul
  • Spines Lined Up in the Classroom

Adaptations

  • The God of Novels (film, 2020)
  • Psychic Detective Hisui Jozuka (TV drama, 2022)
  • invert: Hisui Jozuka Inverted Cases (TV adaptation / series)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Light, pop narrative toneLogical depiction of tricks and puzzlesA prose rhythm influenced by light novels
Recurring Motifs
Mysteries within everyday lifeMediumship and the supernaturalSchool settings and youth psychology

Legacy

Since debuting with the Ayukawa Tetsuya Award, Aizawa has won major mystery awards such as the Honkaku Mystery Award and earned high rankings. The Hisui Jozuka series has been particularly acclaimed and adapted for screen.

Academic Societies

  • Mystery Writers of Japan

In Popular Culture

  • Media expansions such as the film adaptation of The God of Novels and the TV drama adaptation of Psychic Detective Hisui Jozuka
  • Frequent appearances on mystery rankings (e.g., Kono Mystery ga Sugoi!)

Trivia

  • The magic featured in the debut work is a hobby of the author; Aizawa performed magic at award ceremonies and events.
  • Uses a pen name identical in appearance to the real name for publications.
  • The Hisui Jozuka series is a signature work and has ranked highly in multiple mystery lists.