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Suntory Mystery Award

さんとりーみすてりーたいしょう

An open-submission mystery new writer award sponsored by Suntory, Bungeishunju, and Asahi Broadcasting.

MysteryNew writer award
Established
1983
Organizer
Suntory, Bungeishunju, Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings
Category
Genre Fiction
Selection Method
Open call
Target
Newcomer
Frequency
1 per year
Status
Ended

Description

It was held a total of 20 times from 1983 to 2003, featuring public final selections, a reader award, and television drama adaptations of winning works. Grand prize winners received Suntory special whiskey and a prize of 12 million yen.

Prize

Main Prize
Suntory special whiskey
Cash Prize
12,000,000 JPY
  • Reader award
  • Honorable mention
  • Television drama adaptation

Related Awards

  • Mystery novel awards

Official Resources

https://web.archive.org/web/20160702061005/http://www.bunshun.co.jp/book/bungakushou/suntory.htm

Past Winners

Junichi Nakano なかの じゅんいち grand prize

This mystery follows Takuto, who works at a cabaret club in Shinjuku, as he investigates a stalking incident and a murder and meets Karin, a woman with the ability to glimpse the near future. It is a new-generation crime novel that overlays the atmosphere of the city at night with the unease of psychic ability.

In nighttime Shinjuku, a girl's warning about the future begins to move the case forward.

315 pages
mysteryShinjukuprecognitionyouth
鈴木凛太朗 すずき りんたろう readers prize

Invisible Giant Bird is a mystery novel that received the Readers' Prize in the final Suntory Mystery Award. It is remembered through its award history, with little evidence of a later book publication.

An unpublished Readers' Prize work from the final Suntory Mystery Award.

mysteryunpublished award workreaders' prize
藤森益弘 ふじもり ますひろ excellent work award

Spring Fortress is Masuhiro Fujimori's novel set around an advertising production company. Selected for an excellence award at the Suntory Mystery Award, it is read less as a puzzle-driven mystery than as a story of work, love, and unsettled middle-age feeling.

Against the background of advertising work, the novel follows a mystery and a set of emotions as they gradually unfold in everyday life.

404 pages
advertising industryromancemiddle-age sentimenteveryday mystery
Umizuki Rui かいづき るい grand prize / readers prize

This mystery begins with a childless couple attempting to steal a newborn, and portrays women driven into corners and the darker side of family systems. Beyond the shock of the crime, it carefully follows the distorted psychology that leads there.

Beyond the line of stealing a baby, the loneliness and fixation of the women come into focus.

289 pages
mysterymotherhoodfamily systemKyoto
義則喬 よしのり たかし excellent work award

This mystery portrays people carrying pain and anger they cannot openly express, holding them within quiet tension. Although the title uses the strong word “cry,” the story advances through the pressure of silence rather than loud outbursts.

A voice pushed deep into silence rises to the surface in the shape of a case.

mysterysilencepsychologyrepression
Izumi Fujimura ふじむら いずみ excellent work award

Kodoku no In-ei is a mystery novel by Izumi Fujimura that received an honorable award in the nineteenth Suntory Mystery Award. Although it was not published as a book, the title suggests a story concerned with loneliness, suspicion, and the shadows that gather around human relationships.

An award-recognized mystery that turns the shadow of loneliness into narrative tension.

lonelinesspsychological shadowunpublished mysterydistrust in relationships
Ryohei Sasamoto ささもと りょうへい grand prize / readers prize

A mystery in which past events and present relationships intersect against the temporal atmosphere of the shore. The novel combines adventure-like tension with a reflective view of turning points in life.

時の渚 is an award-winning work that distills the voice of 笹本稜平.

311 pages
mysteryseapastadventurelife
Takahisa Igarashi いがらし たかひさ excellent work award

Set inside a television station, this suspense novel turns media pressure and crisis management into a fast-moving mystery. Its strength lies in the way decisions tighten under pressure within a confined workplace.

TVJ is an award-winning work that distills the voice of 五十嵐貴久.

369 pages
mysterytelevision stationsuspensecrisis
Umizuki Rui かいづき るい excellent work award

A mystery that layers religious stillness with darker currents of female psychology while approaching a hidden motive. It foregrounds Kaizuki Rui's talent for uneasy psychological tension.

尼僧の襟 is an award-winning work that distills the voice of 海月ルイ.

mysterypsychologyreligionwomen
Ryosuke Kakine かきね りょうすけ grand prize / readers prize

午前三時のルースター is a work by 垣根涼介. アジアを舞台にした冒険ミステリ。深夜の不穏な時間から始まる事件を通じ、若者の行動力と危険な旅を描きます。

午前三時のルースター centers on 冒険ミステリ and presents its characters through a distinctive literary frame.

冒険ミステリアジア若者
Masahiko Arai あらい まさひこ excellent work award

ネバーランドの柩 is a work by 新井政彦. 閉ざされた世界と過去の秘密を扱うミステリ。幻想的な題名とは対照的に、死と記憶をめぐる謎を追う作品です。

ネバーランドの柩 centers on ミステリ and presents its characters through a distinctive literary frame.

ミステリ記憶秘密
結城辰二 ゆうき たつじ excellent work award

暴走ラボ(研究所) is a work by 勇気達治. 研究所を舞台にしたサスペンス色のあるミステリ。制御不能な実験や組織の思惑をめぐり、テンポよく展開します。

暴走ラボ(研究所) centers on ミステリ and presents its characters through a distinctive literary frame.

ミステリ研究所サスペンス
Tetsuo Takashima たかしま てつお grand prize / readers prize

イントゥルーダー is an award-winning work. This Suntory Mystery Award winner is a full-length mystery driven by crime, secrets, and pursuit.

イントゥルーダー presents its award-recognized themes and narrative voice with clarity.

award-winning workliterary prizehuman portrayal
Masahiko Arai あらい まさひこ excellent work award

CATT―託されたメッセージ is an award-winning work. This Suntory Mystery Award winner is a full-length mystery driven by crime, secrets, and pursuit.

CATT―託されたメッセージ presents its award-recognized themes and narrative voice with clarity.

award-winning workliterary prizehuman portrayal
Daiki Agawa あがわ だいき excellent work award

天使の漂流 is an award-winning work. This Suntory Mystery Award winner is a full-length mystery driven by crime, secrets, and pursuit.

天使の漂流 presents its award-recognized themes and narrative voice with clarity.

award-winning workliterary prizehuman portrayal
Goro Yuki ゆうき ごろう grand prize

心室細動 is a work by 結城五郎. It was recognized by the suntory mystery award in 1998.

Shiro Shijo しじょう しろう readers prize

ゲノム・ハザード is a work by 司城志朗. It was recognized by the suntory mystery award in 1998.

Hirito Kawabata かわばた ひろと excellent work award

夏のロケット is a work by 川端裕人. It was recognized by the suntory mystery award in 1998.

Akira Miyake みやけ あきら grand prize

風よ、撃て by Akira Miyake is a work associated with the Suntory Mystery Award. It builds its world around the impression suggested by the title, following human choices and the atmosphere of its time with a lingering aftertaste.

風よ、撃て quietly conveys the core appeal that has kept it read as an award-recognized work.

257 pages
mysterycrimesuspense
Takao Sasuke たかお さすけ readers prize

アンデスの十字架 by Takao Sasuke is a work associated with the Suntory Mystery Award. It builds its world around the impression suggested by the title, following human choices and the atmosphere of its time with a lingering aftertaste.

アンデスの十字架 quietly conveys the core appeal that has kept it read as an award-recognized work.

258 pages
mysterycrimesuspense
Uchida Motoki うちだ もとき excellent work award

パイロット・イン・コマンド by Uchida Motoki is a work associated with the Suntory Mystery Award. It builds its world around the impression suggested by the title, following human choices and the atmosphere of its time with a lingering aftertaste.

パイロット・イン・コマンド quietly conveys the core appeal that has kept it read as an award-recognized work.

283 pages
mysterycrimesuspense
森純 もり じゅん grand prize

八月の獲物 is a mystery work by 森純. Recognized by the award, it centers on the world suggested by its title and follows shifts in character, memory, and atmosphere.

八月の獲物 reflects 森純's voice and the literary concerns surrounding its award year.

mysterycrimepsychology
Hironobu Inoue いのがみ ひろのぶ readers prize

火の壁 is a mystery work by 伊野上裕伸. Recognized by the award, it centers on the world suggested by its title and follows shifts in character, memory, and atmosphere.

火の壁 reflects 伊野上裕伸's voice and the literary concerns surrounding its award year.

mysterycrimepsychology
Kotaro Isaka いさか こうたろう honorable mention award

悪党たちが目にしみる is a mystery work by 伊坂幸太郎. Recognized by the award, it centers on the world suggested by its title and follows shifts in character, memory, and atmosphere.

悪党たちが目にしみる reflects 伊坂幸太郎's voice and the literary concerns surrounding its award year.

mysterycrimepsychology
丹羽昌一 にわ しょういち grand prize / readers prize

A historical mystery set during the Mexican Revolution, intertwining a Japanese diplomat’s secret mission with the disappearance of Ambrose Bierce. Diplomacy, migration, and conspiracy intersect amid the turmoil of modern Central American history.

A historical mystery set during the Mexican Revolution, intertwining a Japanese diplomat’s secret mission with the disappearance of Ambrose Bierce.

369 pages
historical mysteryMexican Revolutiondiplomatdisappearance
高橋俊 たかはし しゅん honorable mention award

A mystery selected as an honorable mention for the Suntory Mystery Award. Centered on the image of a shadowy pursuer or infiltrator, it builds tension around the search for an elusive opponent.

A mystery selected as an honorable mention for the Suntory Mystery Award.

mysterypursuitshadowhonorable mention
桝田武宗 ますだ たけむね honorable mention award

A mystery recognized as an honorable mention for the Suntory Mystery Award. Its title evokes unstable ground, suggesting a plot in which the situation shifts as the truth comes closer.

A mystery recognized as an honorable mention for the Suntory Mystery Award.

mysteryquicksanduneasehonorable mention
熊谷独 くまがい ひとり grand prize

最後の逃亡者 is a mystery work by 熊谷独. Centered on the pursuit of a case, it brings out character psychology and darker social undercurrents.

最後の逃亡者 is an award-winning work that concentrates 熊谷独’s style and central concerns.

mysterycasepsychology
祐未みらの ゆうみ みらの readers prize

緋の風 is a mystery work by 祐未みらの. Centered on the pursuit of a case, it brings out character psychology and darker social undercurrents.

緋の風 is an award-winning work that concentrates 祐未みらの’s style and central concerns.

mysterycasepsychology
秋川陽二 あきかわ ようじ honorable mention award

殺人フォーサム is a mystery work by 秋川陽二. Centered on the pursuit of a case, it brings out character psychology and darker social undercurrents.

殺人フォーサム is an award-winning work that concentrates 秋川陽二’s style and central concerns.

mysterycasepsychology
Dachima Inaka grand prize / readers prize

A mystery about two kidnapping cases, separated by many years yet strikingly similar in their details. The shadow of the past falls across the present, giving the search for truth a lyrical afterglow.

The mystery of repeated kidnappings calls back emotions left behind in the past.

299 pages
kidnappingpast and presentmemorylyrical mystery
Reira special honorable mention

A mystery framed as Sherlock Holmes's own final casebook. It begins with a startling confession from the narrator and boldly reimagines the Holmes myth.

When Holmes begins to speak about identity, the legendary detective story reveals another face.

248 pages
Holmes pastichegender reversalfinal caseresponse to classic mystery
Hamubane honorable mention award

A historical mystery set around Edo in the Tenmei era and Hiraga Gennai. It layers madness, invention, and crime, shaping the brightness and darkness of Edo culture into detective fiction.

In Edo, where Gennai's shadow flickers, history and crime come together in uncanny ways.

Edo periodHiraga Gennaihistorical mysterymadness
Hideo Yokoyama honorable mention award

An honorable-mention mystery that can be read against the atmosphere of the bubble economy. Its title concisely points to swelling desire, money, and fragile relationships.

The fever of an inflating age unsettles both the crime and the relationships around it.

bubble economydesiresocial mannersmystery
Dachima Inaka grand prize

ヴェネツィアの名門歌劇場で, 著名な指揮者が毒殺される.警察官ブルネッティが, 芸術界の人間関係と街の陰影をたどりながら真相へ近づくミステリー.

華やかな歌劇場の死から, ヴェネツィアの人間模様が静かにあらわになる.

292 pages
海外ミステリーヴェネツィア警察小説
Reira readers prize

船のように行き場を失った男の漂泊感と喪失を描く長編.深い哀しみを抱えた人物の内面を, 海図という題名に重ねて描き出す.

碇泊地を持たない船のように, 男は喪失の海を漂う.

喪失漂泊心理ミステリー
Hamubane honorable mention award

南紀白浜で運輸会社社長が刺殺され, 濡れ衣を着せられそうになった海洋研究所員が自ら犯人探しに乗り出す長編ミステリー.海辺の土地柄を背景に事件が展開する.

濡れ衣を晴らすため, 海洋研究所員は南紀の殺人事件を追い始める.

265 pages
殺人事件南紀濡れ衣
Hideo Yokoyama honorable mention award

十五年前の女子高生転落死, 時効目前の殺人予告, かつての同級生たちの記憶が絡み合う長編ミステリー.過去の出来事が現在の捜査を揺さぶる.

時効が迫る過去の死が, 同級生たちの現在を再び動かす.

331 pages
過去の事件学校警察ミステリー
Dachima Inaka grand prize

TVレポーター殺人事件 is a mystery novel by モリー・マキタリック. It is recorded as a 大賞 work, and its title and genre show one facet of the author's literary concerns.

TVレポーター殺人事件 by モリー・マキタリック is a mystery novel remembered through its award history.

290 pages
mystery novelaward-recognized workJapanese literature
Reira readers prize

蜂の殺意 is a mystery novel by 関口ふさえ. It is recorded as a 読者賞 work, and its title and genre show one facet of the author's literary concerns.

蜂の殺意 by 関口ふさえ is a mystery novel remembered through its award history.

296 pages
mystery novelaward-recognized workJapanese literature
Hamubane honorable mention award

暗示の壁 is a mystery novel by ふゆきたかし. It is recorded as a 佳作賞 work, and its title and genre show one facet of the author's literary concerns.

暗示の壁 by ふゆきたかし is a mystery novel remembered through its award history.

318 pages
mystery novelaward-recognized workJapanese literature
Dachima Inaka grand prize

死がお待ちかね is a ミステリ by ベゴーニャ・ロペス. Recognized by the award, it centers on the scene or relationship suggested by its title and draws the reader into memory, place, and the atmosphere of its time.

As an award-recognized work, 死がお待ちかね leaves a sense of people and their era beneath its quiet title.

award-recognized workミステリmemoryperiod atmosphere
Reira readers prize

ワイングラスは殺意に満ちて is a ミステリ by 黒崎緑. Recognized by the award, it centers on the scene or relationship suggested by its title and draws the reader into memory, place, and the atmosphere of its time.

As an award-recognized work, ワイングラスは殺意に満ちて leaves a sense of people and their era beneath its quiet title.

award-recognized workミステリmemoryperiod atmosphere
Hamubane honorable mention award

猟人の眠り is a ミステリ by 中川裕朗. Recognized by the award, it centers on the scene or relationship suggested by its title and draws the reader into memory, place, and the atmosphere of its time.

As an award-recognized work, 猟人の眠り leaves a sense of people and their era beneath its quiet title.

award-recognized workミステリmemoryperiod atmosphere
Dachima Inaka grand prize

漂流裁判 is a mystery by 笹倉明, combining the tension of investigation with attention to motive, psychology, and human ties.

漂流裁判 is a mystery by 笹倉明, combining the tension of investigation with attention to motive, psychology, and human ties.

325 pages
mysterycrimepsychologyhuman relationships
Reira readers prize

ぼくと、ぼくらの夏 is a mystery by 樋口有介, combining the tension of investigation with attention to motive, psychology, and human ties.

ぼくと、ぼくらの夏 is a mystery by 樋口有介, combining the tension of investigation with attention to motive, psychology, and human ties.

315 pages
mysterycrimepsychologyhuman relationships
Hamubane honorable mention award

新古今殺人草紙 is a mystery by 岩木章太郎, combining the tension of investigation with attention to motive, psychology, and human ties.

新古今殺人草紙 is a mystery by 岩木章太郎, combining the tension of investigation with attention to motive, psychology, and human ties.

mysterycrimepsychologyhuman relationships
Hideo Yokoyama honorable mention award

グッド・シェパーズ is a mystery by ダブ・シルバーマン, combining the tension of investigation with attention to motive, psychology, and human ties.

グッド・シェパーズ is a mystery by ダブ・シルバーマン, combining the tension of investigation with attention to motive, psychology, and human ties.

mysterycrimepsychologyhuman relationships
Dachima Inaka grand prize / readers prize

土壇場でハリー・ライム is a mystery novel by Tenkyu Goro and a winner of サントリーミステリー大賞.

土壇場でハリー・ライム is an essential work in the award history of Tenkyu Goro.

308 pages
mysterycrimepsychology
Dachima Inaka くろかわ ひろゆき grand prize

A full-length mystery by Hiroyuki Kurokawa. Beginning with a corpse whose stomach contains the gemstone cat’s eye, young detectives trace the truth behind the case in this early award-winning novel.

With a gemstone left in a corpse as their only clue, young detectives pursue the case.

285 pages
mysterypolice proceduralgemstoneOsaka
Reira readers prize

A historical mystery by Masao Nagao. It recasts the world of The Tale of Genji as a chain of murders, turning classical court literature into detective fiction through an investigation by Murasaki Shikibu and To no Chujo.

A historical mystery that rereads death and intrigue in court literature as murder cases.

historical mysteryThe Tale of Genjicourt literaturedetection
Hamubane honorable mention award

An international thriller by Ralph Young. Set in Germany, it depicts extremists plotting to seize NATO nuclear missiles and the larger conspiracy behind the operation.

An international thriller about the conspiracy behind a plan to steal nuclear missiles.

253 pages
international thrillernuclear weaponsNATOconspiracy
Dachima Inaka grand prize

名なし鳥飛んだ is a ミステリー小説 by 土井行夫. This payload records the award-winning work with the bibliographic information that could be confirmed.

名なし鳥飛んだ represents award-recognized work by 土井行夫.

260 pages
award-winning workミステリー小説
Reira readers prize

カフカズに星墜ちて is a ミステリー小説 by 安田均. This payload records the award-winning work with the bibliographic information that could be confirmed.

カフカズに星墜ちて represents award-recognized work by 安田均.

award-winning workミステリー小説
Hamubane honorable mention award

一万分の一ミリの殺人 is a ミステリー小説 by 深谷忠記. This payload records the award-winning work with the bibliographic information that could be confirmed.

一万分の一ミリの殺人 represents award-recognized work by 深谷忠記.

319 pages
award-winning workミステリー小説
Dachima Inaka grand prize

運命交響曲殺人事件 is a prize-winning work shaped by its subject matter and the author's point of view. Through the people, places, events, or memories suggested by the title, it conveys the atmosphere of its time and the tensions of human relationships.

運命交響曲殺人事件 draws out human lives and the shape of its time through the implications carried by its title.

award-winning workhuman relationshipsperiod atmospherememorysociety
Reira readers prize

懐かしき友へ―オールド・フレンズ― is a prize-winning work shaped by its subject matter and the author's point of view. Through the people, places, events, or memories suggested by the title, it conveys the atmosphere of its time and the tensions of human relationships.

懐かしき友へ―オールド・フレンズ― draws out human lives and the shape of its time through the implications carried by its title.

award-winning workhuman relationshipsperiod atmospherememorysociety
Hamubane くろかわ ひろゆき honorable mention award

雨に殺せば is a prize-winning work shaped by its subject matter and the author's point of view. Through the people, places, events, or memories suggested by the title, it conveys the atmosphere of its time and the tensions of human relationships.

雨に殺せば draws out human lives and the shape of its time through the implications carried by its title.

award-winning workhuman relationshipsperiod atmospherememorysociety
Dachima Inaka grand prize

A mystery that combines the drive of detection with a longing for adventure. Its movement toward the rainbow carries exhilaration, danger, and youthful momentum.

虹へ、アヴァンチュール is a work that explores human feeling and the atmosphere of its time through 青春.

mysteryadventureyouth
Reira れいら readers prize

A mystery in which unease around a person’s return begins to unravel hidden relationships. Behind the vivid title lies tension between memory and suspicion.

桜子は帰ってきたか is a work that explores human feeling and the atmosphere of its time through 帰還.

mysterydisappearancereturn
Hamubane くろかわ ひろゆき honorable mention award

A mystery in which repeated farewells lead toward the heart of a case. Its conversational rhythm and dry view of crime anticipate the author’s later work.

二度のお別れ is a work that explores human feeling and the atmosphere of its time through 犯罪.

mysteryfarewell犯罪