Kōtaro Isaka
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese author of detective fiction.
he went on to work as a systems engineer. He wrote short stories in his free time which he submitted to literary competitions. In 2000 he won the Shinchou Mystery Club Prize with debut work Audubon’s prayer, after which he became a professional author.
In 2002 Isaka's novel Lush Life began to garner critical attention, but it was his Naoki Prize
nominated 2003 work Gravity Clown (Juryoku Piero, filmed in 2009 starring Ryō Kase
) which led to him becoming widely known amongst regular readers. His following work Foreign Duck, Native Duck Coin-locker went on to win the 25th Eiji Yoshikawa Newcomer’s Prize for Literature.
Isaka is often referred to as a mystery writer, however he does not allow himself to be constrained by this definition, attracting many fans amongst the younger generation.
2003's Gravity Clown, 2004's Children and Grasshopper, 2005's Accuracy of Death and 2006's Desert were all nominated for the Naoki Prize
. In addition Isaka is the only author to have been nominated for the first 4 years of the Honya Taisho, finally winning the 5th in 2008 with Remote Control(Golden Slumber). The same work also won the 21st Yamamoto Shugoro Prize and led to Isaka being selected for the Naoki Prize
. Isaka turned down the nomination citing his desire to focus on writing.
Biography
Isaka was born in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. After graduating from the law school of Tohoku UniversityTohoku University
, abbreviated to , located in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region, Japan, is a Japanese national university. It is the third oldest Imperial University in Japan and is a member of the National Seven Universities...
he went on to work as a systems engineer. He wrote short stories in his free time which he submitted to literary competitions. In 2000 he won the Shinchou Mystery Club Prize with debut work Audubon’s prayer, after which he became a professional author.
In 2002 Isaka's novel Lush Life began to garner critical attention, but it was his Naoki Prize
Naoki Prize
The Naoki Prize is a Japanese literary award presented semiannually. The official name is Naoki Sanjugo Prize. It was created in 1935 by Kikuchi Kan, then editor of the Bungeishunjū magazine, and named in memory of novelist Naoki Sanjugo...
nominated 2003 work Gravity Clown (Juryoku Piero, filmed in 2009 starring Ryō Kase
Ryo Kase
is a Japanese actor. He grew up in Bellevue, Washington until he was seven. He portrayed Shimizu, one of the lower-ranked Japanese soldiers, in Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima. He starred in Masayuki Suo's film I Just Didn't Do It.-Filmography:...
) which led to him becoming widely known amongst regular readers. His following work Foreign Duck, Native Duck Coin-locker went on to win the 25th Eiji Yoshikawa Newcomer’s Prize for Literature.
Isaka is often referred to as a mystery writer, however he does not allow himself to be constrained by this definition, attracting many fans amongst the younger generation.
2003's Gravity Clown, 2004's Children and Grasshopper, 2005's Accuracy of Death and 2006's Desert were all nominated for the Naoki Prize
Naoki Prize
The Naoki Prize is a Japanese literary award presented semiannually. The official name is Naoki Sanjugo Prize. It was created in 1935 by Kikuchi Kan, then editor of the Bungeishunjū magazine, and named in memory of novelist Naoki Sanjugo...
. In addition Isaka is the only author to have been nominated for the first 4 years of the Honya Taisho, finally winning the 5th in 2008 with Remote Control(Golden Slumber). The same work also won the 21st Yamamoto Shugoro Prize and led to Isaka being selected for the Naoki Prize
Naoki Prize
The Naoki Prize is a Japanese literary award presented semiannually. The official name is Naoki Sanjugo Prize. It was created in 1935 by Kikuchi Kan, then editor of the Bungeishunjū magazine, and named in memory of novelist Naoki Sanjugo...
. Isaka turned down the nomination citing his desire to focus on writing.
Works available in English
- Remote Control (ISBN 9784770031082)
- The Precision of the Agent of Death (Passports to Crime: Finest Mystery Stories from International Crime Writers, ISBN 9780786719167)
Awards
- 1996 - 13th Suntory Mystery Prize honourable mention
- 2000 - 5th Shinchou Mystery Club Prize
- 2004 - 25th Yoshikawa Eiji Bungaku Shinjin Prize
- 2004 - 57th Mystery Writers of Japan AwardMystery Writers of Japan AwardThe are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of Japan. They honor the best in crime fiction and critical/biographical work published in the previous year.- MWJ Award for Best Novel winners :...
for The Precision of the Agent of Death - 2006 - Heisei 17 Selection for Miyagi Prefecture Society for the Arts
- 2008 - 5th Honya Award, 21st Yamamoto ShūgorōYamamoto Shugorowas the pen name of , a Japanese novelist and short-story writer active during the Showa period of Japan. He was noted for his popular literature, and is known to have published works under at least fourteen different pen names.-Early life:...
Prize for Remote Control