Seicho Matsumoto
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese
writer.
Seichō's works created new tradition of Japanese mystery
/ detective fiction
. Dispensing with formulaic plot devices such as puzzles, Seichō incorporated elements of human psychology and ordinary life. In particular, his works often reflect a wider social context and postwar nihilism that expanded the scope and further darkened the atmosphere of the genre. His exposé of corruption among police officials as well as criminals was a new addition to the field. The subject of investigation was not just the crime but also the society in which the crime was committed.
The self-educated Seichō did not see his first book in print until he was in his forties. He was a prolific author, he wrote until his death in 1992, producing in four decades more than 450 works. Seichō's mystery and detective fiction solidified his reputation as a writer at home and abroad. He wrote historical novels and nonfiction in addition to mystery/detective fiction.
He awarded the Akutagawa Prize
in 1952 and the Kikuchi Kan Prize
in 1970, as well as the Mystery Writers of Japan Award
in 1957. He chaired the president of Mystery Writers of Japan
from 1963 to 1971.
Credited with popularizing the genre among readers in his country, Seichō became his nation's best-selling and highest earning author in the 1960s. His most acclaimed detective novels, including Ten to sen (1958; Points and Lines, 1970) and Suna no utsuwa (1961; Inspector Imanishi Investigates, 1989), have been translated into a number of languages, including English.
He collaborated with film director Yoshitaro Nomura
on adaptations of eight of his novels to film, including Castle of Sand
, which is considered to be one of the masterpieces of Japanese cinema
.
, now Kokura Kita ward
, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka
prefecture, on the island of Kyushu in Japan in 1909. His real name was Kiyoharu Matsumoto, he later adopted the pen name of Seichō Matsumoto;"Seichō" is the Sino-Japanese reading of the characters
of his given name. A product of humble origins, he was his parents' only child. Following his graduation from elementary school, Seichō found employment at a utility company. As an adult he designed layouts for the Asahi Shinbun in Kyushu. His work in the advertising department was interrupted by service in World War II. A medical corpsman, Seichō spent much of the war in Korea. He resumed work at Asahi Shinbun after the war, transferring to the publication's Tokyo office in 1950.
Though Seichō attended neither secondary school nor university, he was well read. As a rebellious teenager, he read banned revolutionary texts as part of a political protest. This act so enraged Seichō's father that he destroyed his son's collection of literature. Undeterred, the young Seichō sought award-winning works of fiction and studied them intently. His official foray into literature occurred in 1950 when Shukan Asahi magazine hosted a fiction contest. He submitted his short story "Saigō satsu" (Saigō's Currency) and placed third in the competition. With three generations dependent on him (he supported his parents as well as his wife and children), Seichō welcomed the prize money. His modest success and the encouragement of fellow writers fueled his efforts. Within six years he had retired from his post at the newspaper to pursue a full-time career as a writer.
Renowned for his work ethic, Seichō wrote short fiction while simultaneously producing multiple novels-at one point as many as five concurrently—in the form of magazine serials. Many of Seichō's crime stories debuted in periodicals, among them the acclaimed "Harikomi" (The Chase), in which a woman reunites with her fugitive lover while police close in on her home. As is true of much of Seichō's fiction, this psychological portrait reveals more about the characters than the crime.
For his literary accomplishments, Seichō received the Mystery Writers of Japan Prize, Naoki Prize
, and the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for Literature, all awards bestowed on writers of popular fiction. In 1952 he was awarded the prestigious Akutagawa Prize
for "Aru 'Kokura-nikki' den" (The Legend of the Kokura-Diary). Considered Seichō's best story, it features a disabled but diligent protagonist who seeks entries that are missing from the diary of author and army medical physician Mori Ōgai
.
A lifelong activist, Seichō voiced anti-American sentiment in some of his writings, but he was equally critical of his own society. Many of his works of fiction and nonfiction reveal corruption in Japanese system. A political radical despite (or perhaps in reaction to) growing up in a conformist society, Seichō associated with like-minded individuals. In 1968 he traveled to communist Cuba as a delegate of the World Cultural Congress and later that same year ventured to North Vietnam to meet with its president. Though he continued to write works of mystery and detective fiction in the 1970s and 1980s, at the same time the author was also interested in political topics.
Since younger days, Seichō had the keen interest in archeology and Ancient history
. He made his idea public in some fictions and in many essays. Though his concern started from the ancient history of Japan, the concern has been expanded to the world soon. His interest extended to Northeast Asia
, Western Regions
, and Celts, etc., especially, he had the keen interest in the Zoroastrianism
with Ancient Persia.
In 1977, Seichō met Ellery Queen
(Frederic Dannay) that visited Japan and discussed good mystery fiction. In 1987, he was invited by French mystery writers as a representative of Japanese mystery writers, and talked about his sense of mystery at Grenoble. Since then, his detective fiction has been often compared with that of Georges Simenon
.
Since his death from cancer at the age of eighty-three, Seichō's popularity as a writer of mystery and detective fiction has grown internationally, and he has achieved iconic status in Japanese culture.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
writer.
Seichō's works created new tradition of Japanese mystery
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
/ detective fiction
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
. Dispensing with formulaic plot devices such as puzzles, Seichō incorporated elements of human psychology and ordinary life. In particular, his works often reflect a wider social context and postwar nihilism that expanded the scope and further darkened the atmosphere of the genre. His exposé of corruption among police officials as well as criminals was a new addition to the field. The subject of investigation was not just the crime but also the society in which the crime was committed.
The self-educated Seichō did not see his first book in print until he was in his forties. He was a prolific author, he wrote until his death in 1992, producing in four decades more than 450 works. Seichō's mystery and detective fiction solidified his reputation as a writer at home and abroad. He wrote historical novels and nonfiction in addition to mystery/detective fiction.
He awarded the Akutagawa Prize
Akutagawa Prize
The is a Japanese literary award presented semi-annually. It was established in 1935 by Kan Kikuchi, then-editor of Bungeishunjū magazine, in memory of author Ryūnosuke Akutagawa...
in 1952 and the Kikuchi Kan Prize
Kikuchi Kan Prize
The honors achievement in all aspects of Japanese culture. It was named in honor of Kikuchi Kan.The Prize is presented annually by Bungei Shunju literary magazine and the Society for the Advancement of Japanese Culture.-Select list of prizewinners:...
in 1970, as well as the Mystery Writers of Japan Award
Mystery Writers of Japan Award
The 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 :...
in 1957. He chaired the president of Mystery Writers of Japan
Mystery Writers of Japan
is an organization for mystery writers in Japan.The organization was founded on 21 June 1947 by EDOGAWA Rampo. It is currently chaired by Keigo HIGASHINO and claims about 600 members.It presents the Mystery Writers of Japan Award to writers every year...
from 1963 to 1971.
Credited with popularizing the genre among readers in his country, Seichō became his nation's best-selling and highest earning author in the 1960s. His most acclaimed detective novels, including Ten to sen (1958; Points and Lines, 1970) and Suna no utsuwa (1961; Inspector Imanishi Investigates, 1989), have been translated into a number of languages, including English.
He collaborated with film director Yoshitaro Nomura
Yoshitaro Nomura
Yoshitarō Nomura was a prolific Japanese film director, film producer, and screenwriter. His first accredited film was released in 1953; his last in 1985...
on adaptations of eight of his novels to film, including Castle of Sand
Castle of Sand
Castle of Sand is a 1974 police procedural directed by Yoshitaro Nomura, based on the novel "Inspector Imanishi Investigates" by Seicho Matsumoto, and is largely considered by critics as one of the masterpieces of Japanese cinema....
, which is considered to be one of the masterpieces of Japanese cinema
Cinema of Japan
The has a history that spans more than 100 years. Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world – as of 2009 the fourth largest by number of feature films produced. Movies have been produced in Japan since 1897, when the first foreign cameramen arrived...
.
Biography
Seichō was born in the city of KokuraKokura
is an ancient castle town and the center of Kitakyūshū, Japan, guarding, via its suburb Moji, the Straits of Shimonoseki between Honshū and Kyūshū. Kokura is also the name of the penultimate station on the southbound Sanyo Shinkansen line, which is owned by JR Kyūshū and an important part of the...
, now Kokura Kita ward
Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyushu
is a ward of Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan. It is the north part of what used to be Kokura City before the merger of five cities to create the new city of Kitakyūshū in 1963...
, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka
Kitakyushu, Fukuoka
is a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyūshū, Japan. It is midway between Tokyo and Shanghai.- Demographics :Kitakyūshū has a population of just under one million...
prefecture, on the island of Kyushu in Japan in 1909. His real name was Kiyoharu Matsumoto, he later adopted the pen name of Seichō Matsumoto;"Seichō" is the Sino-Japanese reading of the characters
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
of his given name. A product of humble origins, he was his parents' only child. Following his graduation from elementary school, Seichō found employment at a utility company. As an adult he designed layouts for the Asahi Shinbun in Kyushu. His work in the advertising department was interrupted by service in World War II. A medical corpsman, Seichō spent much of the war in Korea. He resumed work at Asahi Shinbun after the war, transferring to the publication's Tokyo office in 1950.
Though Seichō attended neither secondary school nor university, he was well read. As a rebellious teenager, he read banned revolutionary texts as part of a political protest. This act so enraged Seichō's father that he destroyed his son's collection of literature. Undeterred, the young Seichō sought award-winning works of fiction and studied them intently. His official foray into literature occurred in 1950 when Shukan Asahi magazine hosted a fiction contest. He submitted his short story "Saigō satsu" (Saigō's Currency) and placed third in the competition. With three generations dependent on him (he supported his parents as well as his wife and children), Seichō welcomed the prize money. His modest success and the encouragement of fellow writers fueled his efforts. Within six years he had retired from his post at the newspaper to pursue a full-time career as a writer.
Renowned for his work ethic, Seichō wrote short fiction while simultaneously producing multiple novels-at one point as many as five concurrently—in the form of magazine serials. Many of Seichō's crime stories debuted in periodicals, among them the acclaimed "Harikomi" (The Chase), in which a woman reunites with her fugitive lover while police close in on her home. As is true of much of Seichō's fiction, this psychological portrait reveals more about the characters than the crime.
For his literary accomplishments, Seichō received the Mystery Writers of Japan Prize, 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...
, and the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for Literature, all awards bestowed on writers of popular fiction. In 1952 he was awarded the prestigious Akutagawa Prize
Akutagawa Prize
The is a Japanese literary award presented semi-annually. It was established in 1935 by Kan Kikuchi, then-editor of Bungeishunjū magazine, in memory of author Ryūnosuke Akutagawa...
for "Aru 'Kokura-nikki' den" (The Legend of the Kokura-Diary). Considered Seichō's best story, it features a disabled but diligent protagonist who seeks entries that are missing from the diary of author and army medical physician Mori Ōgai
Mori Ogai
was a Japanese physician, translator, novelist and poet. is considered his major work.- Early life :Mori was born as Mori Rintarō in Tsuwano, Iwami province . His family were hereditary physicians to the daimyō of the Tsuwano Domain...
.
A lifelong activist, Seichō voiced anti-American sentiment in some of his writings, but he was equally critical of his own society. Many of his works of fiction and nonfiction reveal corruption in Japanese system. A political radical despite (or perhaps in reaction to) growing up in a conformist society, Seichō associated with like-minded individuals. In 1968 he traveled to communist Cuba as a delegate of the World Cultural Congress and later that same year ventured to North Vietnam to meet with its president. Though he continued to write works of mystery and detective fiction in the 1970s and 1980s, at the same time the author was also interested in political topics.
Since younger days, Seichō had the keen interest in archeology and Ancient history
Ancient history
Ancient history is the study of the written past from the beginning of recorded human history to the Early Middle Ages. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, with Cuneiform script, the oldest discovered form of coherent writing, from the protoliterate period around the 30th century BC...
. He made his idea public in some fictions and in many essays. Though his concern started from the ancient history of Japan, the concern has been expanded to the world soon. His interest extended to Northeast Asia
Northeast Asia
Northeast Asia and Northeastern Asia refers to the northeastern subregion of Asia. Though the precise definition of Northeast Asia changes according to context, it always includes Japan and the Korean Peninsula, and is sometimes used to refer to these two regions exclusively.-Definitions:The...
, Western Regions
Western Regions
The Western Regions or Xiyu was a historical name specified in the Chinese chronicles between the 3rd century BC to 8th century AD that referred to the regions west of Jade Gate, most often Central Asia or sometimes more specifically the easternmost portion of it The Western Regions or Xiyu was a...
, and Celts, etc., especially, he had the keen interest in the Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
with Ancient Persia.
In 1977, Seichō met Ellery Queen
Ellery Queen
Ellery Queen is both a fictional character and a pseudonym used by two American cousins from Brooklyn, New York: Daniel Nathan, alias Frederic Dannay and Manford Lepofsky, alias Manfred Bennington Lee , to write, edit, and anthologize detective fiction.The fictional Ellery Queen created by...
(Frederic Dannay) that visited Japan and discussed good mystery fiction. In 1987, he was invited by French mystery writers as a representative of Japanese mystery writers, and talked about his sense of mystery at Grenoble. Since then, his detective fiction has been often compared with that of Georges Simenon
Georges Simenon
Georges Joseph Christian Simenon was a Belgian writer. A prolific author who published nearly 200 novels and numerous short works, Simenon is best known for the creation of the fictional detective Maigret.-Early life and education:...
.
Since his death from cancer at the age of eighty-three, Seichō's popularity as a writer of mystery and detective fiction has grown internationally, and he has achieved iconic status in Japanese culture.
Novels
- Saigō's Currency (ja:西郷札,Saigō satsu,1951)
- The Legend of the Kokura-Diary (:ja:或る「小倉日記」伝,Aru 'Kokura-nikki' den,1952)
- The Face (ja:顔,Kao,1955)
- The Voice (ja:声,Koe,1955)
- The Chase (ja:張込み,Harikomi,1955)
- The Woman who Took the Local Paper (:ja:地方紙を買う女,Tihōshi wo Kau Onna,1957)
- Wait One and a Half Years (:ja:一年半待て,Itinenhan Mate,1957)
- Points and Lines (:ja:点と線,Ten to Sen,1958)
- Walls of Eyes (:ja:眼の壁,Me no Kabe,1958)
- The Demon (ja:鬼畜,Kitiku,1958)
- Amagi-Pass (ja:天城越え,Amagi Goe,1958)
- Zero Focus (:ja:ゼロの焦点,Zero no Shōten,1959)
- Tower of Wave (:ja:波の塔,Nami no Tou,1960)
- Pro Bono (:ja:霧の旗,Kiri no Hata,1961)
- Inspector Imanishi Investigates (:ja:砂の器,Suna no Utsuwa,1961)
- Bad Sorts (:ja:わるいやつら,Warui Yatsura,1961)
- Black Gospel (:ja:黒い福音,Kuroi Fukuin,1961)
- The Globular Wilderness (:ja:球形の荒野,Kyūkei no Kōya,1962)
- Manners and Customs at time (:ja:時間の習俗,Jikan no Shūzoku,1962)
- Beast Alley (:ja:けものみち,Kemono-Miti,1964)
- The Complex of D (:ja:Dの複合,D no Fukugō,1968)
- Central Saru (:ja:中央流沙,Chūō Ryūsa,1968)
- The Finger (ja:指,Yubi,1969)
- Far Approach (:ja:遠い接近,Tōi Sekkin,1972)
- Fire Street between Ancient Persia and Japan (:ja:火の路,Hi no Miti,1975)
- Castle of Glass (ja:ガラスの城,Garasu no Shiro,1976)
- The Passed Scene (:ja:渡された場面,Watasareta Bamen,1976)
- Vortex (ja:渦,Uzu,1977)
- A Talented Female Painter (:ja:天才画の女,Tensaiga no Onna,1979)
- Pocketbook of Black Leather (:ja:黒革の手帖,Kurokawa no Techō,1980)
- The Magician in Nara Period (:ja:眩人,Genjin,1980)
- Stairs that shine at Night (:ja:夜光の階段,Yakou no Kaidan,1981)
- Suspicion (ja:疑惑,Giwaku,1982)
- Street of Desire (:ja:彩り河,Irodorigawa,1983)
- Straying Map (:ja:迷走地図,Meisou Tizu,1983)
- Hot Silk (:ja:熱い絹,Atsui Kinu,1985)
- Array of Sage and Beast (:ja:聖獣配列,Seijū Hairetsu,1986)
- Foggy Conference (:ja:霧の会議,Kiri no Kaigi,1987)
- Black Sky (:ja:黒い空,Kuroi Sora,1988)
- Red Glacial Epoch (:ja:赤い氷河期,Akai Hyōgaki,1989)
- Madness of Gods (:ja:神々の乱心,Kamigami no Ranshin,1997)
Japanese Modern History
- Black Fog over Japan (日本の黒い霧,Nihon-no Kuroi Kiri,1960)
- Unearthing the Shōwa Period (:ja:昭和史発掘,Shōwa-shi Hakkutu,1965–1972)
- Essay of Ikki Kita (北一輝論,Kita Ikki Ron,1976)
- February 26 Incident (二・二六事件,Ni-niroku Jiken,1986–1993)
Ancient History
- Essay of Yamataikoku (:ja:古代史疑,Kodai-shi-gi,1968)
- Japanese Ancient History by Seichō (:ja:清張通史,Seichō Tsūshi,1976–1983)
- From Persepolis to Asuka,Yamato (:ja:ペルセポリスから飛鳥へ,Persepolis kara Asuka he,1979)
Major Film Adaptation
- Voice Without a ShadowVoice Without a Shadowis a 1958 Japanese mystery film directed by Seijun Suzuki for the Nikkatsu Corporation. It is based on a novel by famed mystery writer Seichō Matsumoto.-External links:* at Cinefiles* at the Japanese Movie Database...
(1958) directed by Seijun SuzukiSeijun Suzuki, born Seitaro Suzuki on May 24, 1923, is a Japanese filmmaker, actor, and screenwriter. His films are renowned by film enthusiasts worldwide for their jarring visual style, irreverent humour, nihilistic cool and entertainment-over-logic sensibility... - Zero FocusZero Focusis a 1961 Japanese mystery film directed by Yoshitaro Nomura and is based on a novel by Seicho Matsumoto.-Plot:One week into newlywed Teiko Uhara's marriage, her husband, Kenichi, leaves on a short business trip and never returns. Teiko travels across Japan to search for him, and along the way...
(1961) directed by Yoshitaro NomuraYoshitaro NomuraYoshitarō Nomura was a prolific Japanese film director, film producer, and screenwriter. His first accredited film was released in 1953; his last in 1985... - The Shadow Within(1970) directed by Yoshitaro Nomura
- Castle of SandCastle of SandCastle of Sand is a 1974 police procedural directed by Yoshitaro Nomura, based on the novel "Inspector Imanishi Investigates" by Seicho Matsumoto, and is largely considered by critics as one of the masterpieces of Japanese cinema....
(1974) directed by Yoshitaro Nomura - The DemonThe Demon (1978 film)The Demon is a 1978 Japanese psychological drama directed by Yoshitaro Nomura and written by Masato Ide, based on the novel by Seicho Matsumoto.-Plot:...
(1978) directed by Yoshitaro Nomura - SuspicionSuspicionSuspicion may refer to:*Suspicion , a feeling of distrust or perceived guilt for someone or something-Music:* "Suspicion" , recorded by Elvis Presley and Terry Stafford* "Suspicion" , a song by R.E.M....
(1982) directed by Yoshitaro Nomura
External links
- Salem Press: Survey of Seichō Matsumoto—includes brief biography and bibliography
- Brief biography of Matsumoto Seichō
- Seichō Matsumoto Memorial Museum near Kokura CastleKokura Castlein Kitakyushu, Japan was built by Hosokawa Tadaoki in 1602. It was the property of the Ogasawara clan between 1632 and 1860. The castle was burnt down in 1865 in the war between the Kokura and Chōshū clans....