Seishi Yokomizo

May 24, 1902 (age 79)

Kobe, Japan

Seishi Yokomizo was attracted to the literary genre of historical fiction, especially that of the historical detective novel. In July 1934, while resting in the mountains of Nagano to recuperate from tuberculosis, he completed his first novel Onibi, which was published in 1935, although parts were immediately censored by the authorities. Undeterred, Seishi Yokomizo followed on his early success with a second novel Ningyo Sashichi torimonocho (1938-1939). However, during World War II, he faced difficulties in getting his works published due to the wartime conditions, and was in severe economic difficulties. The lack of Streptomycin and other antibiotics also meant that his tuberculosis could not be properly treated, and he joked with friends that it was a race to see whether he would die of disease or of starvation. However, soon after the end of World War II, his works received wide recognition and he developed an enormous fan following. Seishi Yokomizo published many works via Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine in serialized form, concentrating only on popular mystery novels, based on the orthodox western detective story format, starting with Honjin Satsujin Jiken and Chocho Satsujin Jinken (both in 1946). His works became the model for postwar Japanese mystery writing. Seishi Yokomizo died of colon cancer in 1981. His grave is at the Seishun-en cemetery in Kawasaki, Kanagawa.

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Works

book

The Honjin Murders

(In the winter of 1937, the village of Okamura is abuzz wi...)

The Inugami Clan (Stone Bridge Fiction)

(In 1940s Japan, the wealthy head of the Inugami Clan dies...)

Yatsuhaka-mura: el pueblo de las ocho tumbas

(Spanish edition)

Il detective Kindaichi

(Italian Edition)

Akuryoutou-jou

Le village aux huit tombes

(French edition)

Evil Spirit Island

(Japanese Edition, Volume # 1)

Seishi Yokomizo

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正史横溝

writer

Background

Seishi Yokomizo was born on May 24, 1902 in Kobe, Japan.

Education

Seishi Yokomizo graduated from Osaka Pharmaceutical College (currently part of Osaka University) with a degree in pharmacy, and initially intended to take over his family's drug store even though sceptical of the contemporary ahistorical attitude towards drugs. However, drawn by his interest in literature, and the encouragement of Edogawa Rampo, he went to Tokyo instead, where he was hired by the Hakubunkan publishing company in 1926. After serving as editor in chief of several magazines, he resigned in 1932 to devote himself full-time to writing.

Career

Seishi Yokomizo was attracted to the literary genre of historical fiction, especially that of the historical detective novel. In July 1934, while resting in the mountains of Nagano to recuperate from tuberculosis, he completed his first novel Onibi, which was published in 1935, although parts were immediately censored by the authorities. Undeterred, Seishi Yokomizo followed on his early success with a second novel Ningyo Sashichi torimonocho (1938-1939). However, during World War II, he faced difficulties in getting his works published due to the wartime conditions, and was in severe economic difficulties. The lack of Streptomycin and other antibiotics also meant that his tuberculosis could not be properly treated, and he joked with friends that it was a race to see whether he would die of disease or of starvation.

However, soon after the end of World War II, his works received wide recognition and he developed an enormous fan following. Seishi Yokomizo published many works via Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine in serialized form, concentrating only on popular mystery novels, based on the orthodox western detective story format, starting with Honjin Satsujin Jiken and Chocho Satsujin Jinken (both in 1946). His works became the model for postwar Japanese mystery writing.

Seishi Yokomizo died of colon cancer in 1981. His grave is at the Seishun-en cemetery in Kawasaki, Kanagawa.

Achievements

The Yokomizo Seishi Prize is a literary award established in 1980 by the Kadokawa Shoten publishing company and the Tokyo Broadcasting System in honor of Yokomizo. It is awarded annually to a previously unpublished novel-length mystery. The winner receives a statuette of Kosuke Kindaichi and a cash award of ¥10,000,000, making it one of the richest literary prizes in the world. In addition, the winning story is published by Kadokawa Shoten and dramatized as a television movie by TBS.