Keigo Higashino in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward in March 2025.
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Keigo Higashino, one of Japan's most celebrated mystery writers and the bestselling author of The Devotion of Suspect X, died of colorectal cancer on July 23.
Born in Osaka in 1958, Higashino worked as an engineer before making his literary debut in 1985. He went on to achieve international acclaim with novels including Journey Under the Midnight Sun, Malice, and the Detective Galileo series, becoming one of Japan's most widely read contemporary authors.
Excluding co-authored works, Higashino published 105 books during his lifetime, selling more than 109 million copies in Japan alone. His works have been translated into 41 languages and published in 41 countries and regions.
An official X account jointly managed by editors from seven publishing houses paid tribute on July 27 by sharing an image featuring the covers of all 106 of his books, including his final novel, Eien no Kioku (Eternal Memory), scheduled for release on August 5.
In a post published at 4:10 PM on July 27, the account wrote: "Author Keigo Higashino passed away in the early hours of July 23. We respectfully extend our deepest condolences and share this news with you."
The post also featured an image titled "Thank You, Keigo Higashino: 106 Works" and added: "The stories he created will continue to captivate countless readers. We hope you will continue to enjoy Higashino's novels."
Writing for Every Reader
Throughout his career, Higashino's goal remained the same: to entertain readers.
"I've always written with entertainment in mind," he once said. "I want to write stories that readers enjoy, stories that leave them wanting to read more."
Ironically, Higashino disliked reading as a child and struggled with written text, later saying he performed poorly in Japanese language classes. Yet he turned what seemed like a weakness into one of his greatest strengths.
"When I write, I imagine the reader I used to be," he once said. "I want to reach people who think they're not readers."
Master of Modern Mystery
That philosophy shaped a body of work known for ingenious twists, unexpected motives, and surprising culprits, while spanning a remarkable range of genres, from science fiction and suspense to parody and dark comedy. His 1998 novel Secret, in which a mother's soul inhabits her daughter's body after an accident, drew widespread acclaim for its blend of fantasy and emotional drama.
He was also renowned for his science-based mysteries, including the Detective Galileo series featuring a brilliant physicist. His years as an engineer lent authenticity to the scientific concepts and technology woven into his stories. By combining the appeal of classic detective fiction with a scientific perspective, he helped modernize the mystery genre.
At the same time, novels such as Journey Under the Midnight Sun and The Devotion of Suspect X explored the emotional lives and circumstances of people driven to commit crimes, creating deeply moving human dramas.
A Legacy Beyond Japan
His influence extended well beyond Japan. Chinese media, including the state-run Xinhua News Agency, reported Higashino's death on July 27. His novels have long been popular in China, where they have been widely translated, and social media quickly filled with tributes from readers.
The online edition of China Central Television described him as "the author of numerous bestselling novels who enjoyed broad popularity both in Japan and abroad," highlighting works such as The Devotion of Suspect X.
On the Chinese social media platform Weibo, users wrote, "He was my favorite Japanese novelist," "Reading his books was my only joy in high school," and "This is a great loss for East Asian literature."
The stories Higashino left behind will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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