Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Hiu Torikai

とりかい ひう

Torikai Hiu

Aliases: 鳥飼 久裕
Pen Names: Ikari Uhito（Pen name used for novelizations of the TV series "Aibou" (an anagram of "torikai hiu")）, Hiu Torikai（Primary pen name as a novelist (real name: Torikai Hisahiro)）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1960-03-06 （Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Fukuoka Prefecture (birth) → Amami Oshima (resident)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Mystery writer, Former editor, Nature writer (under real name)
Active Years
2001-
Affiliations
Amami Wild Bird Society (former chair), Ornithological Society of Japan, Japan Bird-Banding Association, Mystery Writers of Japan (member)
Memberships
Mystery Writers of Japan, Ornithological Society of Japan, Japan Bird-Banding Association
Nominations
7th Honkaku Mystery Award nominee (Jurei), 62nd Mystery Writers of Japan Award nominee (Kannōteki), 64th Mystery Writers of Japan Award nominee (short story category) ("Ten no Inu")

Education

Kyushu University, Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science / Department of Biology
Degree: 学士（理学）
Country: Japan
Graduated from the Department of Biology. Exact graduation year not specified in source.

Awards

Yokomizo Seishi Mystery Award (Excellence Prize)
2001
Work: Nakū (Chūkuu)
Category: デビュー作／優秀作
Organization: Yokomizo Seishi Mystery Award Committee
Result: 受賞
World Baka-mis☆Award
2009
Work: Kannōteki
Organization: World Baka-mis Committee
Result: 受賞
Honkaku Mystery Award (Novel category)
2016
Work: Death and the Hourglass
Category: 小説部門
Organization: Honkaku Mystery Writers Club
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Nakū (Chūkuu)

2001 Nature mystery / crime fiction

Debut novel featuring observer Tobiyama Hisashi and photographer Nekoda Natsumi. A nature-centered mystery that blends field observation with sealed-room style puzzles.

nature observationdeductionhuman-nature relationship

Kannōteki: Four Madnesses

2008 Baka-mis / Ayakashi City series (short stories)

A collection of imaginative short stories belonging to the Ayakashi City series. Characterized by "baka-mis" style — outrageous, humorous, and fantastical mysteries.

fantastical ideashumorcrime

Death and the Hourglass

2015 Honkaku mystery / novel

A full-length honkaku mystery emphasizing classical puzzle-solving. Uses motifs of time and death coupled with elaborate tricks and plotting; critically acclaimed.

timedeathpuzzle solving
Translations
  • Korean edition '죽움과모레시계'
  • Taiwan edition '死亡的沙漏'

Convulsive: Mr. Mondo's Paradox

2005 Ayakashi City series / novella collection

A series of stories rich in fantasy and paradoxes. Includes pieces that appeared in mystery rankings and critical lists.

paradoxfantastical ideassocial satire

Bibliography

  • Nakū (2001)
  • Hizai (2002)
  • Mitsurin (2003)
  • Jurei (2006)
  • Kannōteki (2008)
  • Death and the Hourglass (2015)
  • Kōjō Kitan (2017)
  • Inpei Jinrui (2018)

Adaptations

  • Novelizations of the TV series "Aibou" (published under Ikari Uhito)

Translations of Works

  • Death and the Hourglass (Korean, Taiwanese editions)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
A style that combines meticulous classical puzzle construction with evocative nature-observation descriptions.In short fiction, often leans toward fantastical, humorous "baka-mis" pieces.
Recurring Motifs
field observation / birdstime and deathparadoxical tricks

Legacy

A writer who balances orthodox honkaku mysteries (the Observer series) with wildly imaginative "baka-mis" works (Ayakashi City series). Also publishes natural-history works under his real name and is active in regional bird conservation.

Academic Societies

  • Mystery Writers of Japan
  • Ornithological Society of Japan

Trivia

  • Real name: Torikai Hisahiro.
  • Ikari Uhito is an anagram of 'torikai hiu' and is used for novelizations of the TV series "Aibou".
  • Resident of Amami Oshima; active in ornithological activities and publications.
  • Won the 2016 Honkaku Mystery Award (Novel category) for 'Death and the Hourglass'.