Seishi Yokomizo

Seishi Yokomizo studied at University of Osaka. The recorded working language is Japanese. Works named in the authority record are The Murder in the Honjin, Akuma no Temariuta, Gokumon Island, The Inugami Curse, Yatsuhakamura and Akuma ga Kitarite Fue wo Fuku. Work by Seishi Yokomizo is recorded in the collections of Yokomizo Seishi Museum. Distinctions recorded are Order of the Sacred Treasure, 3rd class.

• Name — Seishi Yokomizo • Born — 24 May 1902 • Birthplace — Kobe, Hyōgo, Empire of Japan • Died — 28 December 1981 • Place of death — Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan • Resting Place — Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan • Occupation — Author • Language — Japanese • Education — Specialized School • Alma Mater — Osaka Pharmaceutical College • Period — 1921–1981 • Genre — Mystery fiction • Notable Works — * The Honjin Murders • Chōchō Satsujin Jiken • Death on Gokumon Island • The Village of Eight Graves • The Inugami Curse • The Devil's Flute Murders • The Little Sparrow Murders • Awards — * Mystery Writers of Japan Award for Best Novel • Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon Seishi Yokomizo was a Japanese mystery novelist, known for creating the fictional detective Kosuke Kindaichi.

Yokomizo was born in the city of Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture. He read detective stories as a boy and in 1921, while employed by the Daiichi Bank, published his first story in the popular magazine Shin Seinen ("New Youth"). He 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. However, drawn by his interest in literature, and the encouragement of Edogawa Rampo, he went to Tokyo instead. There 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.

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, Yokomizo followed on his early success with a second novel Ningyo Sashichi torimonocho (1938–1939). During World War II, he faced difficulties in getting his works published and was in severe financial 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. Soon after the end of World War II, his works received wide recognition and he developed an enormous fan following. He published many works as serials in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine, concentrating only on popular mystery novels based on the orthodox western detective story format, starting with Honjin Satsujin Jiken (The Honjin Murders) and Chōchō Satsujin Jiken (both in 1946). His works became the model for many other postwar Japanese mystery writers. He was also often called the "Japanese John Dickson Carr" after a writer whom he admired. Yokomizo is most well known for creating the private detective Kosuke Kindaichi. Many of his works have been made into movies. In particular, January 1950 - May 1951 received two film adaptations by Kon Ichikawa: The Inugami Family in 1976, and his 2006 remake The Inugamis. The scholar Mari Kotani called his 1939 story The Death's Head Stranger "the first successful adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula" and "the archetype of Japanese vampire literature." Yokomizo died of colon cancer in 1981. His grave is at the Shunjuen Cemetery in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. In 2018 a literature professor found a previously missing piece of Yokomizo's wartime serial romance story "Yukiwariso," completing the manuscript for publication in book form.

• The Honjin Murders; • January 1947 - October 1948; • Woman Walking at Night; • The Village of Eight Graves; • January 1950 - May 1951; • June 1951 – May 1952; • The Sleeping Bride;. • The Devil Comes and Plays His Flute; • Three Head Tower; • Head; • The Tragedy of MaZee Inn; • The Little Sparrow Murders; • Pimple on Human Face; • Masquerade; • The House of Hanging on Hospital Slope;

• The Honjin Murders (本陣殺人事件 Honjin satsujin jiken) translated by Louise Heal Kawai. Pushkin Vertigo, 2019; • The Inugami Curse (犬神家の一族 Inugamike no ichizoku) translated by Yumiko Yamazaki. ICG Muse, 2003;. Later published by Stone Bridge Press, 2007; and Pushkin Vertigo, 2020; • The Village of Eight Graves (八つ墓村 Yatsuhakamura) translated by Bryan Karetnyk. Pushkin Vertigo, 2021; • Death on Gokumon Island (獄門島 Gokumontō) translated by Louise Heal Kawai. Pushkin Vertigo, 2022; • The Devil's Flute Murders (悪魔が来りて笛を吹く Akuma ga kitarite fue o fuku) translated by Jim Rion. Pushkin Vertigo, 2023; • The Little Sparrow Murders (悪魔の手毬唄 Akuma no temari uta) translated by Bryan Karetnyk. Pushkin Vertigo, 2024; • Murder at the Black Cat Cafe (黒猫亭事件 Kuronekotei jiken) translated by Bryan Karetnyk. Pushkin Vertigo, 2025; • She Walks at Night (夜歩くYoru aruku) translated by Jesse Kirkwood. Pushkin Vertigo, 2026;

Seishi Yokomizo was recorded at birth as 横溝 正史. The authorities additionally record the heading Yokomizo Seishi. His recorded language was Japanese. 2 children are recorded: Ryōichi Yokomizo and Rumi Nomoto.

Works recorded as notable number 6: The Murder in the Honjin, Akuma no Temariuta, Gokumon Island, The Inugami Curse, Yatsuhakamura and Akuma ga Kitarite Fue wo Fuku.

Seishi Yokomizo is recorded as novelist and writer.