My Book Notes: Death on Gokumon Island, 1947 – 1948 (Detective Kosuke Kindaichi # 2) by Seishi Yokomizo (translated by Louise Heal Kawai)

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Pushkin Press, 2022. Book Format: Kindle Edition. File Size: 4294 KB. Print Length: 283 pages. ASIN: B09ZH91YML. eISBN: 978-1-78227-742-2. Originally serialized in the magazine Houseki from January 1947 to October 1948, later published in Japan in 1971 by Kadokawa Corporation, Tokyo as Gokumontou. It is the fourth of Yokomizo’s mysteries to be published in translation by Pushkin Press under their Pushkin Vertigo imprint, from the series featuring his detective Kosuke Kindaichi, which has 77 books. The translator for this volume is UK-born and Japan-based Louise Heal Kawai, who also translated the first book in the series, The Honjin Murders

Blurb: Kosuke Kindaichi arrives on the remote Gokumon Island bearing tragic news – the son of one of the island’s most important families has died, on a troop transport ship bringing him back home after the Second World War. But Kindaichi has not come merely as a messenger – with his last words, the dying man warned that his three step-sisters’ lives would now be in danger. The scruffy detective is determined to get to the bottom of this mysterious prophesy, and to protect the three women if he can. As Kosuke Kindaichi attempts to unravel the island’s secrets, a series of gruesome murders begins. He investigates, but soon finds himself in mortal danger from both the unknown killer and the clannish locals, who resent this outsider meddling in their affairs. Loosely inspired by Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, the fiendish Death on Gokumon Island is perhaps the most highly regarded of all the great Seishi Yokomizo’s classic Japanese mysteries.

My Take: Gokumon Island is a fictitious place located seventeen miles south of Kasaoka, right on the border between Okayama, Hiroshima and Kagawa Prefectures, in the middle of the Seto Island Sea. Its name can be translated as Hell’s Gate Island. The story  begins in mid-September 1946, about a year after the end of the Second World War, in a five-tonne ferry, The White Dragon, bound to the Island. The head priest of the Senkoji Temple is returning from Kure where he went to get the temple bell. The bell had been confiscated during the war but it was never melted down. The priest had gone there to do the paperwork in order to get the bell back. The return home of the bell reminded Takezo, the man who was talking with the priest that Hitoshi-san was supposed to come home soon. Apparently Takezo had run into someone who was in the same regiment as him and told him that Hitoshi-san had entrusted him to let his family know that he had survived. He then asked the priest if this would mean that Chimata-san would also be alive. To which the priest, closing his eyes, replied: “Right. There’ll be no problem if the main family line is safe.”

This conversation was 0verheard by a third passenger who turning to the priest begged him if he could ask him whether he was Ryonen-san the priest from Gokumon Island, to which the priest nodded. Then, this third man opened his suitcase, pulled out an envelope and, breaking the seal, handed a piece of paper to the priest. The note was addressed to the priest, the mayor and the doctor. It was undoubtedly written by Chimata-san himseld and it said that the bearer was Kosuke Kindaichi, who was coming to the Island to inform them that Chimata-san had died aboard the ship that was bringing some soldiers back to Japan. There’ll will be an official statement, but he had come here to inform everyone at Chimata-san request. The priest was the first to brake the silence that followed. A death in the main family line will be very beneficial to the secondary branch of the family, that’s for sure. He said in a tone of disgust.

What Kosuke Kindaichi carefully silenced was that Chimata, before drawing his last breath, told Kindaichi that he had known who he were for a long time. In fact, he had read about the Honjin murder case in the newspapers. Therefore, he requested his comrade-in-arms to go to Gokumon Island in his place in order to save his three stepsisters, since he believed they would be killed once he died. At this point, I won’t not like to extend myself any further in order not to advance more information than what is strictly necessary about the story.

As I anticipated a few days ago, I really wanted to read this novel that has not disappointed me in the least. For my taste, Death on Gokumon Island more than meets the high expectations I had and I have much enjoyed reading it. The story is superbly crafted and perfectly matches the epoch in which the action unfolds. The war has put an end to an era and towards the end we get a glimpse to the beginning of another. Each an everyone of the elements in the plot has a special significance and the reader should pay special attention not to overlook anything. Highly recommended.

I probably should have read The Honjin Murders first, but I don’t think it’s essential to fully enjoy reading Gokumon Island either. In any case I’m looking forward to read The Honjin Murders in a not too distant future.

Death on Gokumon Island has been reviewed, among others, by Kate Jackson at Cross-examining Crime, and M.A.Orthofer at The Complete Review.

About the Author: Seishi Yokomizo (1902 – 1981) was a Japanese novelist in the Shōwa era (1926–1989). Yokomizo was born in the city of Kobe, Hyōgo. 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 even though sceptical of the contemporary ahistorical attitude towards drugs. However, drawn by his interest in literature, and the encouragement of Edogawa Rampo, he went to Tokyo instead, where 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). However, during World War II, he faced difficulties in getting his works published due to the wartime conditions, and was in severe financial problems. 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. However, soon after the end of World War II, his works received wide recognition and he developed an enormous fan following. He published many works via Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine in serialized form, 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 Jinken (both in 1946). His works became the model for postwar Japanese mystery writing. He was also often called the “Japanese John Dickson Carr” after the writer whom he admired. Yokomizo is most well known for creating the private detective character Kosuke Kindaichi. Many of his works have been made into movies. Yokomizo died of colon cancer in 1981. His grave is at the Seishun-en cemetery in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. The Yokomizo Seishi Prize is a literary award established in 1980 by the Kadokawa Shoten publishing company and the Tokyo Broadcasting System in honor of Yokomizo. It is awarded annually to a previously unpublished novel-length mystery. (Source: Wikipedia)

About the Translator: Louise Heal Kawai is the translator of The Honjin Murders, the first book of Seishi Yokomizo’s Kosuke Kindaichi series, as well as Soji Shimada’s Murder in the Crooked House, and Mieko Kawakami’s Ms Ice Sandwich for Pushkin Press. Additionally, she has translated a variety of works from Japanese, including the bestselling The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa. Louise is from Manchester, UK and currently resides in Yokohama.

English Translations: The Honjin Murders (Honjin satsujin jiken, April 1946) translated by Louise Heal Kawai. Pushkin Vertigo, 2019; Gokumon Island (Gokumontō, January 1947 – October 1948) translated by Louise Heal Kawai. Pushkin Vertigo, 2022; The Village of Eight Graves (Yatsuhakamura, March 1949 – March 1951) translated by Bryan Karetnyk. Pushkin Vertigo, 2021; and The Inugami Curse (Inugamike no ichizoku, January 1950 – May 1951) translated by Yumiko Yamazaki. Stone Bridge Press, 2007 as The Inugami Clan and then published by Pushkin Vertigo, 2020 as The Inugami Curse.

Puskin Press publicity page

Kōsuke Kindaichi Created by Seishi Yokomizo (1902-1981)

Gokumon-To: la isla de las puertas del infierno, de Seishi Yokomizo, traducido por Ismael Funes Aguilera

Editorial Quaterni (2015). Formato: Tapa blanda. Tamaño: 420 páginas, ISBN-13:‎ 978-8494285875

Contraportada: Japón, 1946. El país acaba de perder la guerra y todavía no ha empezado a recuperarse. En los lugares más recónditos el progreso apenas ha llegado y las gentes siguen ancladas en las costumbres y tradiciones de sus antepasados.Los hombres que vuelven del frente se encuentran con la difícil tarea de retomar sus vidas con el recuerdo imperecedero de los compañeros que no han podido regresar.«Te pido que vayas a la isla de Gokumon en mi lugar… Si no, matarán a mis hermanas…». Estas son las últimas palabras que Chimata dirige a su amigo y camarada de guerra, Kindaichi Kosuke, antes de fallecer. Movido por la obligación moral, este viajará hasta Gokumon-to, literalmente, la Isla de las Puertas del Infierno, un pequeño islote poblado por descendientes de piratas, situado en medio del mar Interior de Seto. Allí se encontrará con una comunidad cerrada y recelosa del forastero, en la que se están produciendo una serie de horribles asesinatos planeados a sangre fría, que escapan a la razón.Comienza así un soberbio thriller protagonizado por uno de los más queridos y recordados detectives de Japón, un héroe que bajo su excéntrica apariencia, oculta unas prodigiosas dotes deductivas de las que tendrá que hacer uso para encajar las piezas de un puzzle en el que se entremezclan secretos del pasado, luchas por el poder y haiku clásicos.Gokumon-to es considerada por los lectores japoneses como la mejor novela de misterio del siglo XX.

Mi opinión: La isla de Gokumon es un lugar ficticio ubicado diecisiete millas al sur de Kasaoka, justo en la frontera entre las prefecturas de Okayama, Hiroshima y Kagawa, en medio del mar de la isla de Seto. Su nombre se puede traducir como la Isla de las Puertas del Infierno. La historia comienza a mediados de septiembre de 1946, aproximadamente un año después del final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, en un ferry de cinco toneladas, The White Dragon, con destino a la isla. El sacerdote principal del Templo Senkoji regresa de Kure, donde fue a buscar la campana del templo. La campana habia sido confiscada durante la guerra pero nunca fue fundida. El sacerdote había ido hasta allí a hacer los trámites para recuperarla. El regreso a casa de la campana le recordó a Takezo, el hombre que estaba hablando con el sacerdote, que se suponía que Hitoshi-san regresaría a casa pronto. Aparentemente, Takezo se había encontrado con alguien que estaba en el mismo regimiento que él y le dijo que Hitoshi-san le había confiado que le hiciera saber a su familia que había sobrevivido. Luego le preguntó al sacerdote si eso significaría que Chimata-san también estaría vivo, a lo que el sacerdote respondió cerrando los ojos: “Cierto. No habrá problema si la línea familiar principal está a salvo”.

Esta conversación fue escuchada por un tercer pasajero que volviéndose hacia el sacerdote le rogó si podía preguntarle si él era Ryonen-san, el sacerdote de la isla de Gokumon, a lo que el sacerdote asintió. Entonces, este tercer hombre abrió su maleta, sacó un sobre y, rompiendo el sello, entregó un papel al sacerdote. La nota estaba dirigida al sacerdote, al alcalde y al médico. Sin duda fue escrita por el propio Chimata-san y decía que el portador era Kosuke Kindaichi, quien venía a la Isla para informarles que Chimata-san había muerto a bordo del barco que traía a algunos soldados de regreso a Japón. Habrá una declaración oficial, pero él había venido aquí para informar a todos a petición de Chimata-san. El sacerdote fue el primero en romper el silencio que siguió. Una muerte en la línea familiar principal será muy beneficiosa para la rama secundaria de la familia, eso es seguro. Dijo en un tono de disgusto.

Lo que Kosuke Kindaichi silenció cuidadosamente fue que Chimata, antes de exhalar su último suspiro, le dijo a Kindaichi que sabía quién era desde hacía mucho tiempo. De hecho, había leído sobre el caso del asesinato de Honjin en los periódicos. Por lo tanto, le pidió a su compañero de armas que fuera a la isla de Gokumon en su lugar para salvar a sus tres hermanastras, ya que creía que las matarían una vez que él muriera. Llegados a este punto, no quisiera extenderme más para no adelantar más información de la estrictamente necesaria sobre la historia.

Como adelanté hace unos días, tenía muchas ganas de leer esta novela que no me ha defraudado lo más mínimo. Para mi gusto, Gokumon-to: la isla de las puertas del infierno cumple con creces las altas expectativas que tenía y he disfrutado mucho leyéndola. La historia está magníficamente elaborada y encaja a la perfección con la época en la que se desarrolla la acción. La guerra ha puesto fin a una era y hacia el final vislumbramos el comienzo de otra. Cada uno de los elementos de la trama tiene un significado especial y el lector debe prestar especial atención para no pasar nada por alto. Muy recomendable.

Probablemente debería haber leído primero Asesinato en el Honjin y otros relatos, pero tampoco creo que sea esencial para disfrutar plenamente de la lectura de Gokumon-to: la isla de las puertas del infierno. En cualquier caso, estoy deseando leer Asesinato en el Honjin y otros relatos en un futuro no muy lejano.

Gokumon-to: la isla de las puertas del infierno ha sido reseñado, entre otros, por Marta Marne en El Peso del Aire

Sobre el autor:  Seishi Yokomizo (Hyogo, 24 de mayo de 1902 Tokio, 28 de diciembre de 1981) fue un escritor japonés de la era Showa.Yokomizo nació en la ciudad de Kobe, Prefectura de Hyōgo. Leía novelas policíacas de niño y en 1921, mientras estaba empleado por el Banco Daiichi, publicó su primera historia en la popular revista Shin Seinen (“Nueva Juventud”). Se graduó de la Universidad Farmacéutica de Osaka (actualmente parte de la Universidad de Osaka) con una licenciatura en farmacia, y en un principio tenía la intención de hacerse cargo de la farmacia de su familia, aunque se mostraba escéptico ante la actitud ahistórica de sus contemporáneos hacia las drogas. Sin embargo, atraído por su interés por la literatura y los ánimos dados por Edogawa Rampo, se dirigió a Tokio donde fue contratado por la editorial Hakubunsha en 1926. Renunció en 1932 para dedicar su tiempo por completo a la escritura. Yokomizo se sintió atraído por el género literario de novela histórica, sobre todo por el de la novela histórica policíaca. En julio de 1934, mientras descansaba en las montañas de Nagano para recuperarse de la tuberculosis, completó su primera novela, Onibi, que fue publicada en 1935, aunque algunas partes fueron censuradas de inmediato por las autoridades. Sin inmutarse, Yokomizo continuó, en lo que serían sus primeros años de éxito, con una segunda novela: Ninngyo Sashichi torimonocho (1938-1939). Sin embargo, durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, se encontró con inconvenientes a la hora de publicar su trabajo, debido a las condiciones de la guerra y a las graves dificultades económicas. La falta de estreptomicina y otros antibióticos significaba también que su tuberculosis no podía ser tratada adecuadamente, y bromeaba con sus amigos diciendo que se trataba de una carrera para ver si iba a morir de tuberculosis o de hambre. Sin embargo, poco después del final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, sus trabajos recibieron un amplio reconocimiento y desarrolló un enorme interés en el público. Publicó numerosas obras a través de la revista Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine en forma de serial, comenzando con Honjin Satsujin Jiken y Chōchō Satsujin Jinken (ambos en 1946), concentrándose sólo en novelas de misterio populares y basando el formato en el de la novela policíaca occidental ortodoxa. Sus obras se convirtieron en el modelo de la escritura japonesa de misterio de posguerra. También se le suele llamar el “John Dickson Carr japonés”, escritor a quien admiraba. Yokomizo es más conocido por crear el personaje detective privado Kosuke Kindaichi. Muchas de sus obras han sido llevadas al cine por Kon Ichikawa. Yokomizo murió de cáncer de colon en 1981. Su tumba se encuentra en el cementerio Seishun-en de Kawasaki, Kanagawa. El Premio Yokomizo Seishi es un premio literario creado en 1980 por la editorial Kadokawa Shoten y Tokyo Broadcasting System en honor a Yokomizo. Es otorgado anualmente a una novela inédita de misterio. El ganador recibe una estatuilla de Kosuke Kindaichi y un premio en efectivo de ¥10,000,000. Además, el relato ganador es publicado por Kadokawa Shoten y dramatizada como una película para televisión por TBS.  (Fuente: Wikipedia)

Traducciones en español: Asesinato en el Honjin y otros relatos (Honjin satsujin jiken, April 1946) tranducido por Kazumi Hasegawa. Editorial Quaterni, 2017; Gokumon-to: la isla de las puertas del infierno (Gokumontō, January 1947 – October 1948) tranducido por Ismael Funes Aguilera. Editorial Quaterni, 2015; Yatsuhaka-Mura: el pueblo de las ocho tumbas (Yatsuhakamura, March 1949 – March 1951) traducido por Kazumi Hasegawa. Editorial Quaterni, 2018; y El clan Inugami (Inugamike no ichizoku, January 1950 – May 1951) traducido por Olga Marín Sierra. La Factoría de Ideas, 2008.

Editorila Quaterni página de publicidad

Seishi Yokomizo (1902 – 81)–Updated 4 July 2022

Seishi Yokomizo was a Japanese novelist in the Shōwa era (1926–1989). Yokomizo was born in the city of Kobe, Hyōgo. 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 even though sceptical of the contemporary ahistorical attitude towards drugs. However, drawn by his interest in literature, and the encouragement of Edogawa Rampo, he went to Tokyo instead, where 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). However, during World War II, he faced difficulties in getting his works published due to the wartime conditions, and was in severe financial problems. 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. However, soon after the end of World War II, his works received wide recognition and he developed an enormous fan following. He published many works via Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine in serialized form, 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 Jinken (both in 1946). His works became the model for postwar Japanese mystery writing. He was also often called the “Japanese John Dickson Carr” after the writer whom he admired. Yokomizo is most well known for creating the private detective character Kosuke Kindaichi. Many of his works have been made into movies. Yokomizo died of colon cancer in 1981. His grave is at the Seishun-en cemetery in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. The Yokomizo Seishi Prize is a literary award established in 1980 by the Kadokawa Shoten publishing company and the Tokyo Broadcasting System in honor of Yokomizo. It is awarded annually to a previously unpublished novel-length mystery. (Source: Wikipedia)

English Translations

• The Honjin Murders (本陣殺人事件 Honjin satsujin jiken, April 1946) translated by Louise Heal Kawai. Pushkin Vertigo, 2019; ISBN 9781782275008
• Gokumon Island (獄門島 Gokumontō, January 1947 – October 1948) translated by Louise Heal Kawai. Pushkin Vertigo, 2022; ISBN 9781782277415
• The Village of Eight Graves (八つ墓村 Yatsuhakamura, March 1949 – March 1951) translated by Bryan Karetnyk. Pushkin Vertigo, 2021; ISBN 9781782277453
• The Inugami Curse (犬神家の一族 Inugamike no ichizoku, January 1950 – May 1951) translated by Yumiko Yamazaki. Stone Bridge Press, 2007; ISBN 9781933330310. Later published by Pushkin Vertigo, 2020; ISBN 978-1-78227-503-9

I read The Inugami Curse (Spanish title: El clan de los Inugami). My post is here, and I’m looking forward to read the rest of his books available from Pushkin Vertigo. Stay tuned.

Mis apuntes de libros: El clan Inugami (1951) de Seishi Yokomizo (Tra. Olga Marín Sierra)

This post is bilingual. Scroll down to access the English version.

La Factoría de Ideas, 2014. Formato: Versión Kindle. Tamaño del archivo: 1039 KB. Longitud de impresión: 317 páginas. ASIN: B00EJX1GA2. ISBN: 978-84-9018-367-0. Título original: Inugamike no Ichizoku, originalmente publicado por entregas entre Enero 1950 y Mayo 1951. Traducción de Olga Marín Sierra. English title: The Inugami Clan (Stone Bridge Press, 1972). Detective Kosuke Kindaichi #6.

Sinopsis: En el Japón de mediados de los años cuarenta, Sahei Inugami, poderoso jefe del grupo Inugami, muere en su mansión a la venerable edad de 81 años. En su juventud, Sahei fue rescatado de la pobreza y de una muerte segura por un sacerdote shinto. Sin embargo, tras la muerte de Sahei, su deuda de gratitud con el sacerdote desata una maldición que provoca una serie de espantosos y extraños asesinatos, mientras los miembros de la familia Inugami se enzarzan en una desesperada lucha por su fortuna. Al descubrir los terribles secretos, las relaciones prohibidas, la monstruosa crueldad y las identidades secretas del clan Inugami, Kindaichi desentraña la compleja red de relaciones y pasiones humanas que se esconden tras los asesinatos.

Mi opinión: Conviene señalar que El clan Inugami apareció publicado inicialmente por entregas en la revista mensual Kingu entre los meses de enero 1951 a Mayo 1952. Esto ayuda a entender por qué algunos capítulos comienzan con un breve resumen de lo ocurrido hasta ese momento. Evidentemente el autor se ve en la necesidad de recordar lo ocurrido un mes antes a sus lectores.

La historia se desarrolla a finales de los años 40. La II Guerra Mundial ha terminado con la derrota de Japón y todavía no han regresado a casa los soldados japoneses hechos prisioneros en algunos de los escenarios en donde se desarrolló la guerra. En este contexto Sahei Inugami, uno de los principales hombres de negocios de la región Shinsu, fundador del Grupo Inugami y conocido como el Rey de la Seda, ha fallecido en su mansión a orillas del lago Nasu a la venerable edad de 81 años. Sus herederos esperan con impaciencia la lectura de su testamento, pero una cláusula del mismo impide su lectura inmediata. El mayor de sus nietos, Kiyo Inugami, hijo de la hija mayor de Sahei, Matsuko, ha sido probablmente hecho prisionero en Birmania y todavía no ha regresado a casa, por lo que de acuerdo con esta cláusula, el testamento no podrá ser leído hasta su regreso, o, en el caso de no regresar en el plazo de un año, el testamento no será leido hasta el primer aniversario de la muerte del señor Inugami.  Ocho meses después de la muerte de Sahei, Kosuke Kindachi es introducido de la siguiente manera, para aquellos lectores que todavía no lo conocen:

Kosuke Kindachi es detective privado. Tiene lo que podría describirse como un aire inescrutable, y parece flotar por encima de las preoupaciones y los deseos mundanos. Físicamente, es un tipo tartamudo e intrascendente sin nada destacable, pero los casos de Asesinato en el Honjin, Gokumon-to: La isla de las puertas del infierno y Yatsuhake-Mura: El pueblo de las ocho tumbas atestiguan su extraordinaria capacidad de razonamiento y deducción. Su tartamudeo empeora cuando se pone nervioso, y tiende a rascarse la cabeza con un espantoso vigor. No es un hábito muy agradable.

Al llegar a este punto, no quiero revelar más detalles de la trama para evitar estropear el placer de la lectura. Basta decir que la trama está perfectamente elaborada. No importa cuán insignificante pueda ser cada detalle, todo termina encajando perfectamente. Es muy posible que, desde un punto de vista exclusivamente literario, la historia tenga algunos defectos, aunque también es posible que la traducción no haya sido muy afortunada. No puedo juzgar esto, pero si al final de la jornada se anima a leer esta novela, estoy seguro de que no le decepcionará en lo más mínimo. Y sí, he disfrutado mucho su lectura y la recomiendo encarecidamente.

Mi valoración: A+ (No se demore, consiga un ejemplar de este libro)

Sobre el autor: Seishi Yokomizo fue novelista japonés de la era Shōwa (1926–1989). Yokomizo nació en la ciudad de Kobe, en la prefectura de Hyōgo. Leía novelas policiacas de niño y en 1921, mientras estaba empleado en el Banco Daiichi, publicó su primera historia en la popular revista “Shin Seinen” (Nueva Juventud). Se graduó en la Universidad de Farmacia de Osaka (actualmente parte de la Universidad de Osaka) con una licenciatura en farmacia, e inicialmente tenía la intención de hacerse cargo de la farmacia de su familia, aunque se mostraba escéptico ante la actitud ahistórica de sus contemporáneos hacia las drogas. Sin embargo, atraído por su interés por la literatura y los ánimos de Edogawa Rampo, marchó a Tokio, donde fue contratado por la editorial Hakubunkan en 1926. Tras ejercer como editor en jefe de varias revistas durante unos años, renunció en 1932 para dedicarse a tiempo completo a la literatura. Yokomizo se sintió atraído por el género literario de novela histórica, sobre todo por la novela histórica policiaca. En julio de 1934, mientras descansaba en las montañas de Nagano para recuperarse de la tuberculosis, completó su primera novela Onibi, que fue publicada en 1935, aunque algunas partes fueron censuradas de inmediato por las autoridades. Sin inmutarse, Yokomizo continuó en lo que serían sus primeros años de éxito, con una segunda novela, Ningyō Sashichi torimonochō (Cuaderno de casos de Ningyō Sashichi) (1938–1939). Sin embargo, durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, se encontró con inconvenientes para publicar su trabajo, debido a las condiciones de la guerra, y a graves dificultades económicas. La falta de estreptomicina y otros antibióticos significaba también que su tuberculosis no podía ser tratada adecuadamente, y bromeaba con sus amigos diciendo que se trataba de una carrera para ver si iba a morir de tuberculosis o de hambre. Sin embargo, poco después del final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, sus trabajos recibieron un amplio reconocimiento y tuvo un gran número de seguidores. Publicó numerosas obras a través de la revista Weekly Shōnen de Kodansha en forma serializada, comenzando con Honjin Satsujin Jiken (Asesinato en el Honjin) y Chōchō Satsujin Jinken (ambas en 1946). Sus obras se convirtieron en el modelo de la escritura japonesa de misterio de posguerra. También se le suele llamar el “John Dickson Carr japonés”, escritor a quien admiraba. Yokomizo es más conocido por crear el personaje del detective privado Kosuke Kindaichi. Muchas de sus obras han sido llevadas al cine. Yokomizo murió de cáncer de colon en 1981. Su tumba se encuentra en el cementerio Seishun-en de Kawasaki, Kanagawa. El Premio Yokomizo Seishi es un premio literario creado en 1980 por la editorial Kadokawa Shoten y Tokyo Broadcasting System en honor a Yokomizo. Se otorga anualmente a una novela inédita de misterio. (Fuente: Wikipedia).

El clan Inugami ha sido reseñado, entre otros, en Beneath the Stains of Time, Pretty Sinister Books, y At the Scene of the Crime (en inglés)

La factoria de ideas página de publicidad (pdf)

Hasta donde sé, la editorial Quaterni ha publicado en España Asesinato en el Honjin, Gokumon-to: La isla de las puertas del infierno y Yatsuhake-Mura: El pueblo de las ocho tumbas.

The Inugami Clan by Seishi Yokomizo

Book Description: In 1940s Japan, the wealthy head of the Inugami Clan dies, setting off a chain of bizarre, gruesome murders. Detective Kindaichi must unravel the clan’s terrible secrets of forbidden liaisons, monstrous cruelty, and disguised identities to find the murderer.

My Take: It should be noted that The Inugami Clan was serialised in the monthly magazine Kingu between the months of January 1951 to May 1952. This helps to understand why some chapters ended with a brief summary of what happened so far. Obviously the author needs to remember what happened in the previous month to his readers.

The story unfolds in the late 1940s. World War II has just ended with the defeat of Japan. Some Japanese soldiers, prisoners of war, expect to be repatriated. In this context, Sahei Inugami, one of the main businessmen of the Shinsu region, founder of the Inugami Group and known as the Silk King, dies in his mansion on the shores of Lake Nasu at the venerable age of 81. His heirs eagerly await the reading of his testament, but one clause prevents its immediate reading. The eldest of his grandchildren, Kiyo Inugami, son of Sahei’s eldest daughter, Matsuko, was taken prisoner somewhere in the jungle of today’s Burma and has not returned yet. The said clause prevents the reading of the will until his return or, alternatively, if he doesn’t return within a year, the testament will become public on the first anniversary of Mr. Inugami’s death. Only eight months after Sahei’s death, Yokomizo introduces Kosuke Kindachi to the readers who are not yet familiar with this character, as follows (my free translation):

Kosuke Kindachi is a private detective. He has what could be described as an inscrutable air, and he seems to float above the concerns and earthly desires. Physically, he is a stuttering and inconsequential guy with nothing remarkable, but the cases of Murder In The Honjin, Gokumon Island and The Village of the Eight Graves attest his extraordinary reasoning and deduction capacity. His stuttering gets worse when he gets nervous, and he tends to scratch his head with a frightful vigour –not a very pleasant habit.

Arriving at this point, I do not want to reveal more details of the plot to avoid spoil the reading pleasure. Suffice is to say that the plot is perfectly elaborated. No matter how insignificant can each detail be, everything ends up fitting perfectly well. It’s well possible that, from an exclusively literary point of view, the story may have some flaws, although it is also possible that the translation would not have been very fortunate. This I can’t judge, but if at the end of the day you are encourage to read this novel, I’m positive you won’t be disappointed in the least. And, yes, I’ve very much enjoyed its reading and I strongly recommend it.

My Rating: A+ (Don’t delay, get your hands on a copy of this book)

About the Author: Seishi Yokomizo was a Japanese novelist in the Shōwa era (1926–1989). Yokomizo was born in the city of Kobe, Hyōgo. 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 even though sceptical of the contemporary ahistorical attitude towards drugs. However, drawn by his interest in literature, and the encouragement of Edogawa Rampo, he went to Tokyo instead, where 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). However, during World War II, he faced difficulties in getting his works published due to the wartime conditions, and was in severe economic 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. However, soon after the end of World War II, his works received wide recognition and he developed an enormous fan following. He published many works via Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine in serialized form, 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 Jinken (both in 1946). His works became the model for postwar Japanese mystery writing. He was also often called the “Japanese John Dickson Carr” after the writer whom he admired. Yokomizo is most well known for creating the private detective character Kosuke Kindaichi. Many of his works have been made into movies. Yokomizo died of colon cancer in 1981. His grave is at the Seishun-en cemetery in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. The Yokomizo Seishi Prize is a literary award established in 1980 by the Kadokawa Shoten publishing company and the Tokyo Broadcasting System in honor of Yokomizo. It is awarded annually to a previously unpublished novel-length mystery. (Source: Wikipedia)

The Inugami Clan has been reviewed, among others, at Beneath the Stains of Time, Pretty Sinister Books, and At the Scene of the Crime.

As far as I know Pushkin Press has scheduled to release Murder In The Honjin next 12 December 2019 and The Inugami Curse (aka The Inugami Clan under a new translation) on 6 February 2020.

Seishi Yokomizo

I’m reading El clan de los Inugami in Spanish. I understand that the English version is out of print. However the following information from Pushkin Press and Amazon might be of interest to some readers:

Seishi Yokomizo (1902-81) was one of Japan’s most famous and best-loved mystery writers. He was born in Kobe and spent his childhood reading detective stories, before beginning to write stories of his own, the first of which was published in 1921. He went on to become an extremely prolific and popular author, best known for his Kosuke Kindaichi series, which ran to 77 books, many of which were adapted for stage and television in Japan. The Honjin Murders is the first Kosuke Kindaichi story, and regarded as one of Japan’s great mystery novels. It won the first Mystery Writers of Japan Award in 1948 but has never been translated into English, until now.

The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo (release date 5 December, 2019)

In the winter of 1937, the village of Okamura is abuzz with excitement over the forthcoming wedding of a son of the grand Ichiyanagi family. But amid the gossip over the approaching festivities, there is also a worrying rumour – it seems a sinister masked man has been asking questions about the Ichiyanagis around the village.

Then, on the night of the wedding, the Ichiyanagi family are woken by a terrible scream, followed by the sound of eerie music – death has come to Okamura, leaving no trace but a bloody samurai sword, thrust into the pristine snow outside the house. The murder seems impossible, but amateur detective Kosuke Kindaichi is determined to get to the bottom of it.

The Inugami Curse by Seishi Yokomizo (release date 6 February, 2020) aka The Inugami Clan

In 1940s Japan, the wealthy head of the Inugami Clan dies, and his family eagerly await the reading of the will. But no sooner are its strange details revealed than a series of bizarre, gruesome murders begins. Detective Kindaichi must unravel the clan’s terrible secrets of forbidden liaisons, monstrous cruelty, and hidden identities to find the murderer, and lift the curse wreaking its bloody revenge on the Inugamis. The Inugami Curse is a fiendish, intricately plotted classic mystery from a giant of Japanese crime writing, starring the legendary detective Kosuke Kindaichi.