When I was in elementary school, I also checked out his books from the library and enjoyed his mysterious worldview and mysteries that were different from the modern world.
When it comes to Japanese mystery fiction, one name always comes first: Edogawa Rampo.
His name alone tells you something. It’s a clever homage to “Edgar Allan Poe,” one of his literary idols—and like Poe, Rampo had a deep fascination with the strange, the grotesque, and the psychological. He didn’t just write mysteries; he created atmospheres—tense, dreamlike, and often disturbing.
Who Was Edogawa Rampo?
Born Tarō Hirai in 1894, Edogawa Rampo became one of the most iconic writers of early 20th-century Japan. He is considered the father of modern Japanese detective fiction.
His stories often feature clever detectives, bizarre murders, locked rooms, and a touch of eroticism or madness that gives them a truly unique edge.
He was also a literary critic and editor, helping to shape the genre itself in Japan.
What Did He Write?
Some of his most famous works include:
- The Human Chair
A deeply unsettling short story about a man who hides inside a chair to be close to women who sit in it. - The Black Lizard
A glamorous jewel thief, a brilliant detective, and a cat-and-mouse chase through Tokyo’s underworld. - The Edogawa Rampo Reader (English collection)
A great place to start for English-speaking readers. It includes short stories and essays that showcase his range.
Why Should You Read Him?
If you’re a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, or early Sherlock Holmes-style puzzles—but with a Japanese twist—Rampo is for you.
But he’s more than just “Japan’s Poe.”
His stories offer a window into Taisho and early Showa era Japan, full of cultural change, western influence, and psychological depth.
His work is stylish, strange, and unforgettable.
Rampo’s world is one of shadows, secrets, and sudden twists.
Once you enter it, you may not want to leave.
— Honami
Click here for a list of his authors.
