Seicho Matsumoto

The renowned Japanese author Seichō Matsumoto, who was also known by his real name Kiyoharu Matsumoto, was a highly prolific and esteemed writer during his lifetime. He adopted the name Seichō, which is the Sino-Japanese reading of the character in his real name, and became widely known by this name. Matsumoto's works created a new tradition of Japanese crime fiction and resonated with readers from around the world.

Seichō Matsumoto was born on December 21, 1909, and passed away on August 4, 1992. He was a self-educated writer who did not see his first book in print until he was in his forties. Despite this late start, Matsumoto became a prolific author and wrote more than 450 works in four decades. His mystery and detective fiction solidified his reputation as a writer in his home country and abroad. In addition to mystery and detective fiction, Matsumoto wrote historical novels and nonfiction.

Matsumoto's crime fiction was unique in that it incorporated elements of human psychology and ordinary life, and often reflected a wider social context and postwar nihilism. He was known for exposing corruption among police officials as well as criminals, and his works expanded the scope and darkened the atmosphere of the genre. His most acclaimed detective novels, including "Ten to sen" (1958; Points and Lines, 1970); "Suna no utsuwa" (1961; Inspector Imanishi Investigates, 1989) and "Kiri no hata" (1961; Pro Bono, 2012), have been translated into several languages, including English. Matsumoto also collaborated with film director Yoshitarō Nomura on adaptations of eight of his novels to film, including "Castle of Sand."

Matsumoto's contributions to the field of crime fiction earned him numerous awards, including the Akutagawa Prize in 1952 and the Kikuchi Kan Prize in 1970. He also received the Mystery Writers of Japan Award in 1957 and chaired the president of Mystery Writers of Japan from 1963 to 1971. His popularity among readers in his country led him to become his nation's best-selling and highest earning author in the 1960s. Matsumoto's legacy continues to be felt in the world of crime fiction, and his works remain influential to this day.