Kōtarō Isaka


Kōtarō Isaka is a Japanese author of mystery fiction.

Life and career

Isaka was born in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. After graduating from the law school of Tohoku University he went on to work as a systems engineer. He wrote short stories in his free time which he submitted to literary competitions. In 2000 he won the Shincho Mystery Club Prize with debut work Audubon’s prayer, after which he became a professional author.
In 2002 Isaka's novel Lush Life began to garner critical attention, but it was his Naoki Prize nominated 2003 work Gravity Clown which led to him becoming widely known amongst regular readers. His following work The Foreign Duck, the Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker went on to win the 25th Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers.
Isaka is often referred to as a mystery writer, however he does not allow himself to be constrained by this definition, attracting many fans amongst the younger generation.
2003's Gravity Clown, 2004's Children and Grasshopper, 2005's The Precision of the Agent of Death and 2006's Desert were all nominated for the Naoki Prize. In addition Isaka is the only author to have been nominated for the first 4 years of the Honya Taisho, finally winning the 5th in 2008 with Remote Control. The same work also won the 21st Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize and led to Isaka being selected for the Naoki Prize. Isaka turned down the nomination citing his desire to focus on writing his novel Maoh has turned manga.

Works available in English

;Novel
;Short story
; Japanese awards
; French awards