Sosuke Watari
わたり そうすけ
Watari Sōsuke
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1972-01-01 (Tokyo, Japan)
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Tokyo, Japan
Career
- Occupations
- Historical novelist, Mystery writer
- Active Years
- 2008-
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meiji University | — | — | — | — | Japan |
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Mephisto Prize | The Woman Who Laughs in the Ditch | — | Kodansha | Winner |
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Woman Who Laughs in the Ditch (Ronin Samon: Ayakashi Shinan)
2008 Period fiction / MysteryA debut novel in which the ronin Samon investigates strange incidents and yokai-related mysteries centered on a canal; blends period setting with mystery elements.
One Hundred Ghost Stories (Ronin Samon: Ayakashi Shinan)
2008 Period fiction / MysteryThe second volume of the series; explores strange occurrences and human relationships centered on the motif of one hundred ghost stories.
Muen-zuka (Ronin Samon: Ayakashi Shinan)
2009 Period fiction / MysteryThe third installment dealing with a 'muen-zuka' (a grave for the unconnected) and related supernatural incidents; note: the author changed the reading of his pen name at the time of publication.
The Fox‑Possessed Daughter (Ronin Samon: Ayakashi Shinan)
2010 Period fiction / Yokai taleA tale about a girl said to be possessed by a fox and the incidents surrounding her; examines the relationship between humans and yokai with empathetic storytelling.
Kaijindō Antique Shop
2011 Weird fiction / Linked short storiesA linked-story collection set around an antique shop, each tale centered on old objects and the strange occurrences they attract; notable for its blend of the everyday and the uncanny.
Cat Repellent (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
2012 Ghost story / Period flavorA short story in the antique-shop series in which a cat-related grudge plays a central role.
Warehouse Theft (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
2013 Weird fiction / MysteryA story centered on a warehouse theft and the supernatural occurrences intertwined with it.
Welcoming Cat (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
2014 Ghost storyA tale linking past grudges and the present through a mysterious cat that appears at the shop.
Accursed Son‑in‑Law (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
2015 Weird fictionExplores a curse afflicting a new son‑in‑law and its unexpected connection to an antique object.
Shadow Possession (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
2015 Tale of the uncannyUses the motif of being possessed by a shadow to examine human frailty and the uncanny.
Cat of Dreams (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
2016 Fantastical taleStrange events revolving around a cat unfold as dreams and reality intermingle.
Cursed Calamity (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
2021 Ghost storyA mid-length story depicting the chain reaction of a curse; expands the series' shared world.
Hair Pursuit (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
2022 Ghost storyA ghost story centered on incidents involving hair; notable for its delicate character portrayals.
Returning Grudge (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
2023 Weird fiction / Period flavorA story themed on the return of grudges; explores revenge and reconciliation.
Trial of Darkness (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
2023 Ghost storyA short-story piece portraying ordeals tied to darkness and the supernatural.
Twisted House (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
2024 Weird fictionDepicts a house's warped history and the people connected to it.
Straw Shapeshifter (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
2024 Yokai taleA yokai tale drawing on traditions involving straw figures and straw-related legends.
Traces of a Dream (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
2025 Fantastical ghost storyA recent work depicting how traces of dreams influence reality.
Mizoneko Nagaya: Shrine's Mystery
2016 Linked ghost storiesA linked collection of ghost stories set in a tenement house, centered on mysteries involving a shrine.
The Gentle Evil Spirit (Mizoneko Nagaya: Shrine's Mystery)
2017 Ghost storyDepicts incidents involving an ostensibly gentle but deeply rooted evil spirit.
The Deceiving Child Spirit (Mizoneko Nagaya: Shrine's Mystery)
2017 Ghost story / Mystery elementsFocuses on deception by a child's spirit and the human relationships that revolve around it.
Monster‑Slaying (Mizoneko Nagaya: Shrine's Mystery)
2018 Period ghost story / Action elementsPortrays confrontations with monsters, blending supernatural events with swordplay.
Farewell Spirit Shrine (Mizoneko Nagaya: Shrine's Mystery)
2018 Ghost storyA story about a shrine's mystery themed on farewells and the people connected to it.
Ghost‑Tale Eatery 'Furudanuki'
2019 Ghost tales / Linked short storiesA linked collection of ghostly tales set in a modest eatery, depicting strange events affecting patrons and the proprietor.
The Cursing Deity (Ghost‑Tale Eatery 'Furudanuki')
2020 Ghost storyA story centered on incidents involving a deity associated with curses.
The Kidnapping Demon (Ghost‑Tale Eatery 'Furudanuki')
2020 Ghost tale / HorrorA horror story about a demon that kidnaps; an eerie tale set around the eatery.
Baketama Nagaya
2014 Ghost storiesA collection of yokai tales set in a tenement house; comprises short stories of various strange phenomena.
Chronicles of the Evil‑Spirit Grandpa
2020 Humorous ghost talesA humorous take on disturbances surrounding an 'evil‑spirit grandpa' figure.
Day to Day (Essay: "May 11")
2021 EssayAn essay titled "May 11" included in an anthology; a short personal piece by the author.
Five Minutes Later, a Tear: Edo Human Drama (Contribution: "All Get Along")
2022 Contribution / Short pieceA short contribution titled "All Get Along" to an anthology; a tale themed on Edo compassion and human ties.
Bibliography
- The Woman Who Laughs in the Ditch (Ronin Samon: Ayakashi Shinan)
- One Hundred Ghost Stories (Ronin Samon: Ayakashi Shinan)
- Muen‑zuka (Ronin Samon: Ayakashi Shinan)
- The Fox‑Possessed Daughter (Ronin Samon: Ayakashi Shinan)
- Kaijindō Antique Shop
- Cat Repellent (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
- Warehouse Theft (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
- Welcoming Cat (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
- Accursed Son‑in‑Law (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
- Shadow Possession (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
- Cat of Dreams (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
- Cursed Calamity (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
- Hair Pursuit (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
- Returning Grudge (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
- Trial of Darkness (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
- Twisted House (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
- Straw Shapeshifter (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
- Traces of a Dream (Kaijindō Antique Shop)
- Mizoneko Nagaya: Shrine's Mystery
- The Gentle Evil Spirit (Mizoneko Nagaya)
- The Deceiving Child Spirit (Mizoneko Nagaya)
- Monster‑Slaying (Mizoneko Nagaya)
- Farewell Spirit Shrine (Mizoneko Nagaya)
- Ghost‑Tale Eatery 'Furudanuki'
- The Cursing Deity (Ghost‑Tale Eatery 'Furudanuki')
- The Kidnapping Demon (Ghost‑Tale Eatery 'Furudanuki')
- Baketama Nagaya
- Chronicles of the Evil‑Spirit Grandpa
- Day to Day (Essay: "May 11")
- Five Minutes Later, a Tear: Edo Human Drama (Contribution: "All Get Along")
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- A narrative style that fuses period fiction and mysteryConcise prose that reconstructs yokai tales and folk traditions in a contemporary way
- Recurring Motifs
- yokaighostscatsantique objectshuman empathy
Legacy
Debuted by blending historical fiction with mystery elements and has consistently published series works. Gained notice after winning the Mephisto Prize in 2008; recognized for contemporary ghost tales drawing on yokai and folk traditions.
Trivia
- Debuted in 2008 after winning the 38th Mephisto Prize for 'The Woman Who Laughs in the Ditch'.
- Graduated from Meiji University.
- Changed the reading of his pen name in 2009 from 'Wawatari' to 'Watari'.