Japanese Literary Awards

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Mystery Writers of Japan Award にほんすいりさっかきょうかいしょう

Edition 68 (2015)

Mystery novel

Winners

4 people
Ryôe Tsukimura つきむら りょうえ award

Members of Japan's First Airborne Brigade operating near the Somali border protect a woman caught in clan conflict and are drawn into a brutal pursuit. This adventure novel combines military suspense with decisions made on a ground not protected by the state.

In a desert flight, the line between mission and survival is stripped bare.

254 pages
Self-Defense ForcesSomaliamilitary suspenseadventure fictionextreme conditions
Kazuma Hayami はやみ かずま award

This novel retraces the case of a woman sentenced to death through testimony and the past. By uncovering the life of the accused from multiple angles, it asks what innocence and judgment mean.

The more her crime is pursued, the more the certainty of judgment begins to waver.

342 pages
death penaltyfear of wrongful convictiontestimonyfamilysocial mystery
Masahiko Kikuni きくに まさひこ award

A witty essay collection about rare books, shelf clearing, private editions, and friendships formed through books.

A shelf detective faces one last conversation with his library.

408 pages
rare bookspersonal librariesessays
霜月蒼 しもつき あお award

A critical guide that reads Agatha Christie work by work, candidly sorting out strengths and weaknesses.

A complete Christie guide driven by affection and critical judgment.

279 pages
mystery criticismreading guide