Japanese Literary Awards

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Sosuke Watari

わたり そうすけ

Watari Sōsuke

Pen Names: Wawatari SosukeReading used until the second work after debut, Watari SosukeUsed since the third work 'Muen-zuka' published April 2009

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

Meiji University
Country: Japan

Awards

Mephisto Prize
2008
Work: The Woman Who Laughs in the Ditch
Organization: Kodansha
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Woman Who Laughs in the Ditch (Ronin Samon: Ayakashi Shinan)

2008 Period fiction / Mystery

A debut novel in which the ronin Samon investigates strange incidents and yokai-related mysteries centered on a canal; blends period setting with mystery elements.

yokaihuman dramamystery

One Hundred Ghost Stories (Ronin Samon: Ayakashi Shinan)

2008 Period fiction / Mystery

The second volume of the series; explores strange occurrences and human relationships centered on the motif of one hundred ghost stories.

storytellingghostsEdo atmosphere

Muen-zuka (Ronin Samon: Ayakashi Shinan)

2009 Period fiction / Mystery

The 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.

gravesbondsvengeful spirits

The Fox‑Possessed Daughter (Ronin Samon: Ayakashi Shinan)

2010 Period fiction / Yokai tale

A 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.

fox spiritsfatehuman empathy

Kaijindō Antique Shop

2011 Weird fiction / Linked short stories

A 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.

antique objectsstrange phenomenaeveryday vs uncanny

Cat Repellent (Kaijindō Antique Shop)

2012 Ghost story / Period flavor

A short story in the antique-shop series in which a cat-related grudge plays a central role.

catsgrudgesfolk traditions

Warehouse Theft (Kaijindō Antique Shop)

2013 Weird fiction / Mystery

A story centered on a warehouse theft and the supernatural occurrences intertwined with it.

theftghostspuzzle-solving

Welcoming Cat (Kaijindō Antique Shop)

2014 Ghost story

A tale linking past grudges and the present through a mysterious cat that appears at the shop.

catspast grudgesrenewal

Accursed Son‑in‑Law (Kaijindō Antique Shop)

2015 Weird fiction

Explores a curse afflicting a new son‑in‑law and its unexpected connection to an antique object.

cursesfamilyantiquities

Shadow Possession (Kaijindō Antique Shop)

2015 Tale of the uncanny

Uses the motif of being possessed by a shadow to examine human frailty and the uncanny.

shadowspossessionpsychology

Cat of Dreams (Kaijindō Antique Shop)

2016 Fantastical tale

Strange events revolving around a cat unfold as dreams and reality intermingle.

dreamscatsboundaries

Cursed Calamity (Kaijindō Antique Shop)

2021 Ghost story

A mid-length story depicting the chain reaction of a curse; expands the series' shared world.

chain cursescommunityregret

Hair Pursuit (Kaijindō Antique Shop)

2022 Ghost story

A ghost story centered on incidents involving hair; notable for its delicate character portrayals.

hairgrudgememory

Returning Grudge (Kaijindō Antique Shop)

2023 Weird fiction / Period flavor

A story themed on the return of grudges; explores revenge and reconciliation.

revengereconciliationcause and effect

Trial of Darkness (Kaijindō Antique Shop)

2023 Ghost story

A short-story piece portraying ordeals tied to darkness and the supernatural.

darknessordealfear

Twisted House (Kaijindō Antique Shop)

2024 Weird fiction

Depicts a house's warped history and the people connected to it.

housedistortionshadows of the past

Straw Shapeshifter (Kaijindō Antique Shop)

2024 Yokai tale

A yokai tale drawing on traditions involving straw figures and straw-related legends.

straw dollslocal folklorehorror

Traces of a Dream (Kaijindō Antique Shop)

2025 Fantastical ghost story

A recent work depicting how traces of dreams influence reality.

dream traceserosion of realitymemory

Mizoneko Nagaya: Shrine's Mystery

2016 Linked ghost stories

A linked collection of ghost stories set in a tenement house, centered on mysteries involving a shrine.

tenementshrinecommunity

The Gentle Evil Spirit (Mizoneko Nagaya: Shrine's Mystery)

2017 Ghost story

Depicts incidents involving an ostensibly gentle but deeply rooted evil spirit.

evil spiritsmisunderstandingredemption

The Deceiving Child Spirit (Mizoneko Nagaya: Shrine's Mystery)

2017 Ghost story / Mystery elements

Focuses on deception by a child's spirit and the human relationships that revolve around it.

child spiritsdeceptionrenewal

Monster‑Slaying (Mizoneko Nagaya: Shrine's Mystery)

2018 Period ghost story / Action elements

Portrays confrontations with monsters, blending supernatural events with swordplay.

monstersblade dramacourage

Farewell Spirit Shrine (Mizoneko Nagaya: Shrine's Mystery)

2018 Ghost story

A story about a shrine's mystery themed on farewells and the people connected to it.

farewellshrinereminiscence

Ghost‑Tale Eatery 'Furudanuki'

2019 Ghost tales / Linked short stories

A linked collection of ghostly tales set in a modest eatery, depicting strange events affecting patrons and the proprietor.

eateryghost storieshuman relations

The Cursing Deity (Ghost‑Tale Eatery 'Furudanuki')

2020 Ghost story

A story centered on incidents involving a deity associated with curses.

cursesdeitieslocality

The Kidnapping Demon (Ghost‑Tale Eatery 'Furudanuki')

2020 Ghost tale / Horror

A horror story about a demon that kidnaps; an eerie tale set around the eatery.

oniabductionfear

Baketama Nagaya

2014 Ghost stories

A collection of yokai tales set in a tenement house; comprises short stories of various strange phenomena.

tenementyokaieveryday disturbances

Chronicles of the Evil‑Spirit Grandpa

2020 Humorous ghost tales

A humorous take on disturbances surrounding an 'evil‑spirit grandpa' figure.

evil spiritshumorfamily

Day to Day (Essay: "May 11")

2021 Essay

An essay titled "May 11" included in an anthology; a short personal piece by the author.

essayspersonal notes

Five Minutes Later, a Tear: Edo Human Drama (Contribution: "All Get Along")

2022 Contribution / Short piece

A short contribution titled "All Get Along" to an anthology; a tale themed on Edo compassion and human ties.

Edo human warmthshort fiction

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'.