Edogawa Rampo

Background

Edogawa Rampo was born in Mie Prefecture. His real name is Taro Hirai. His pen name of Edogawa Rampo is a transcription of that of Edgar Allan Poe.

Education

In 1916 he graduated from the political economy school of Waseda University.

Career

Upon graduation he worked with a trading company, a shipyard, a second-hand book store and newspaper before he won reputation for a number of detective stories he wrote for the magazine, Shin Seinen, including «The Two-sen Coin». In the early part of his career, he created the Japanese gothic mystery, developing the work of Edgar Allan Poe and related nineteenth century writers in a distinctly Japanese form. His early works are featured by grotesque sadism. Also he was a Chairman of the Detection Fiction Writers Society.

Achievements

• The Edogawa Rampo Prize, originally endowed by Rampo himself, is awarded annually to the finest work of the year in the mystery genre. It is the most important prize of its type in Japan.