Hideo Yokoyama is a highly acclaimed Japanese author, best known for his thriller and mystery novels. Born in Japan, Yokoyama worked as an investigative journalist for over a decade before transitioning to a career in fiction writing. His background in journalism provided him with a unique perspective and valuable experience that he would later incorporate into his literary works.
Yokoyama made his literary debut in 1998 with the collection of police stories, "Season of Shadows" (Kage no kisetsu). The book was well-received and won the prestigious Matsumoto Seicho Prize. It was also shortlisted for the Naoki Prize, further establishing Yokoyama's reputation as a talented writer. In the year 2000, Yokoyama's short story "Doki" (Motive) won the Mystery Writers of Japan Award for Short Stories, solidifying his position in the Japanese literary world.
Following his early success, Yokoyama continued to produce notable works, including "Half Solved" (Han'ochi) in 2002, which became a bestseller and earned him a place among Japan's top-selling authors. His 2013 novel "64" (64 Rokuyon) was another bestseller and marked his return to writing after a seven-year hiatus. Among his other prominent works are "Climber's High" (Kuraimazu hai), which centers around the crash of JAL Flight 123, and "Seas with No Exit" (Deguchi no nai umi), a World War II novel. Yokoyama's works have been praised for their intricate plotlines, meticulous attention to detail, and deep exploration of the human psyche.