Kotaro Isaka is a highly acclaimed Japanese author, best known for his mystery fiction. He was born on May 25, 1971, in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. After graduating from the law faculty of Tohoku University, Isaka worked as a system engineer. However, he quit his job to focus on writing after being inspired by Kazuyoshi Saito's 1997 song "Kōfuku na Chōshoku Taikutsu na Yūshoku." The two have since collaborated on several projects.
In 2000, Isaka won the Shincho Mystery Club Prize for his debut novel, "Ōdyubon no Inori," which launched his career as a full-time writer. He gained critical acclaim with his novel "Lush Life" in 2002, but it was his Naoki Prize-nominated work "Jūryoku Piero" (2003) that brought him popular success. Isaka's following work, "Ahiru to Kamo no Koin Rokkā," won the 25th Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers. His novels "Jūryoku Piero" (2003), "Children" (2004), "Grasshopper" (2004), "Shinigami no Seido" (2005), and "Sabaku" (2006) were all nominated for the Naoki Prize.
Isaka is the only author in Japan to be nominated for the Hon'ya Taishō in each of the award's first four years. He finally won in 2008 with "Golden Slumber," which also won the 21st Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize. Isaka's work has gained international recognition, with his novel "Bullet Train" being adapted into a film starring Brad Pitt.