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Shunou Masayuki

しゅのう まさゆき

Shunou Masayuki

Aliases: 田波正
Pen Names: Shunou Masayuki（Pen name derived from a phrase in the Chu Ci ('Tianwen')）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1964-01-19 （Fukui Prefecture, Japan）
Died
2013-02-11 age 49
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Fukui Prefecture, Japan → Tokyo, Japan (lived there while working)

Career

Occupations
Mystery writer, Masked/anonymous author, Translator, Critic
Active Years
1999-2008
Affiliations
Nagoya University SF Society, Obscure Inc. (editing production)
Influenced By
Avram Davidson, Paul Arte
Nominations
Candidate for the 1st Honkaku Mystery Award (Mino Ushi), Candidate for the 2nd Honkaku Mystery Award (Kagami no Naka wa Nichiyoubi), Reference candidate, 47th Seiun Award, Nonfiction (Shunou Masayuki: Reading Diary 2000-2009)

Education

Fukui Prefectural Fujishima High School
Country: Japan
Graduated from high school.
Nagoya University
Faculty of Science
Country: Japan
Dropped out while enrolled; belonged to the Nagoya University SF Society.

Awards

Mephisto Prize
1999
Work: Hasami Otoko (The Scissors Man)
Organization: Kodansha
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Hasami Otoko (The Scissors Man)

1999 Mystery novel

Debut work that won the Mephisto Prize; published under a mask, a mystery noted for its distinctive viewpoint and concerns.

honkaku mysterydeceptionpsychological elements

Mino Ushi

2000 Mystery novel

A volume in the 'Isurugi Gisaku' series; shows the author's experimental techniques and reworking of mystery traditions.

honkaku mysteryexperimentation

Kuroi Hotoke (Black Buts/butoke)

2001 Mystery novel

A work in the same series featuring a distinctive atmosphere combined with puzzle-solving technique.

mysteryhuman psychology

Kagami no Naka wa Nichiyoubi

2001 Mystery novel

Candidate for the 2nd Honkaku Mystery Award; later issued in paperback sometimes bundled with other pieces.

honkaku mysterystructural devices

Shikimi / Muro

2002 Mystery novel

A collection of short/medium-length works; later incorporated into paperback editions alongside other pieces.

short fictionmystery

Kimaera no Atarashii Shiro (The Chimera's New Castle)

2004 Mystery novel

Notable for its use of erudition and extensive bibliographic references; discussed in paperback edition commentary.

extensive referenceserudition

Kodomo no Ousama (The Child King)

2003 Mystery (children/young reader)

Published in Kodansha's Mystery Land imprint; a story that treats children as a focal point.

childrenmystery

Shunou Masayuki: Unpublished Short Stories

2016 Short story collection

Posthumously published collection of previously unpublished short stories; includes commentary by editors such as Nozomi Omori.

short fictionposthumous publications

Bibliography

  • Hasami Otoko (1999)
  • Mino Ushi (2000)
  • Kuroi Hotoke (2001)
  • Kagami no Naka wa Nichiyoubi (2001)
  • Shikimi / Muro (2002)
  • Kimaera no Atarashii Shiro (2004)
  • Kodomo no Ousama (2003)
  • Shunou Masayuki: Unpublished Short Stories (2016)
  • Dongaragaan (editor/anthology, 2005)
  • Shunou Masayuki: Reading Diary 2000-2009 (2015)

Translations by Author

  • F.M. Busby, 'Won't You Tell Me About Yourself?' (translated under the name Katsuhiko Kitazawa)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
A style that weaves erudition with sarcasmTechnically inventive approach that reconfigures classic mystery conventions
Recurring Motifs
erudition and display of reference knowledgewordplayculinary/gastronomic elementsextensive bibliographic listings

Health

  • Ill health (1995)
    1995
    In 1995 he fell ill, resigned from Obscure Inc. and returned to his hometown.

Legacy

A masked author who presented idiosyncratic, imaginative honkaku-style mysteries. After his death his real name was revealed and posthumous collections and diaries contributed to renewed critical attention.

Academic Societies

  • Nagoya University SF Society

Archives

  • Nagoya University SF Society publication 'Before mercy snow: Manuscript collection by Tadashi Tanami'
  • National Diet Library authority records and other bibliographic authorities (ISNI, VIAF, WorldCat, etc.)

Quotes

  • "I glanced through the reference works at hand, but they have almost nothing to do with the content of this work; that is what is unique about this author."
    Source: Naomi Fukumoto (paperback edition commentary)

Trivia

  • He worked as a masked author; after his death his real name (Tadashi Tanami) was revealed.
  • As a high-school student he was noted in SF/mystery circles and called a 'genius of Fukui.'
  • Debuted in 1999 with 'Hasami Otoko,' which won the 13th Mephisto Prize.
  • In 1995 he became ill, left his Tokyo employment and returned to Fukui, where he lived while publishing.
  • Posthumous publications include an unpublished short story collection and a reading diary.