is a Japanese author of

mystery fiction Mystery is a genre fiction, fiction genre where the nature of an event, usually a murder or other crime, remains wiktionary:mysterious, mysterious until the end of the story. Often within a closed circle of suspects, each suspect is usually prov ...

, best known for his ''Hitman'' novel/manga series, including '' Maoh: Juvenile Remix'' (2007–2009), the first of which, '' 3 Assassins'' (2004, Japanese; 2022, English), was adapted as a Japanese feature film, ''

Grasshopper Grasshoppers are a group of insects belonging to the suborder Caelifera. They are amongst what are possibly the most ancient living groups of chewing herbivorous insects, dating back to the early Triassic around 250 million years ago. Grassh ...

'' (2015), and the second of which, '' Maria Beetle'' (2010, Japanese; 2021, English), was adapted as an American feature film, '' Bullet Train'' (2022).

Life and career

Isaka was born in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. After graduating from the law faculty of

Tohoku University is a public research university in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. It is colloquially referred to as or . Established in 1907 as the third of the Imperial Universities, after the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, it initially focused on sc ...

, he worked as a system engineer. In 2000, Isaka won the Shincho Mystery Club Prize for his debut novel ''Ōdyubon no Inori'', after which he became a full-time writer. In 2002, Isaka's novel ''Lush Life'' gained much critical acclaim, but it was his

Naoki Prize The Naoki Prize, officially , is a Japanese literary award presented biannually. It was created in 1935 by Kikuchi Kan, then editor of the ''Bungeishunjū'' magazine, and named in memory of novelist Naoki Sanjugo. Sponsored by the Society for ...

-nominated work ''Jūryoku Piero'' (2003) that brought him popular success. His following work ''Ahiru to Kamo no Koin Rokkā'' won the 25th Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers. ''Jūryoku Piero'' (2003), ''Children'' (2004), ''Grasshopper'' (2004), ''Shinigami no Seido'' (2005) and ''Sabaku'' (2006) were all nominated for the

. Isaka was the only author in Japan to be nominated for the Hon'ya Taishō in each of the award's first four years, finally winning in 2008 with ''Remote Control'' (original Japanese title: ''Golden Slumber''). The same work also won the 21st

Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize The is a Japanese literary award established in 1988 in memory of author Shūgorō Yamamoto. It was created and continues to be sponsored by the Shinchosha Publishing company, which published Yamamoto's ''Complete Works''. The prize is awarded ann ...

. Isaka's books have sold millions of copies around the world. His 2010 novel ''Maria Beetle'' was adapted as the 2022 major film '' Bullet Train'' starring

Brad Pitt William Bradley Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. In a Brad Pitt filmography, film career spanning more than thirty years, Pitt has received list of awards and nominations received by Brad Pitt, numerous a ...

. A film adaptation of his 2019 book ''Seesaw Monster'' (Shisō Monsutā, シーソーモンスター), starring

Anne Hathaway Anne Jacqueline Hathaway (born November 12, 1982) is an American actress. List of awards and nominations received by Anne Hathaway, Her accolades include an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime ...

and

Salma Hayek Salma Valgarma Hayek Pinault ( , ; ; born September 2, 1966) is a Mexican and American actress and film producer. She began her career in Mexico with starring roles in the telenovela ''Teresa (1989 TV series), Teresa'' (1989–1991) as well a ...

(who are also producers), is currently in production and will be distributed by

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

Works available in English

; Novels * ''Remote Control'' (original Japanese title: ''Golden Slumber''), trans. Stephen Snyder (

Kodansha is a Japanese privately held publishing company headquartered in Bunkyō, Tokyo. Kodansha publishes manga magazines which include ''Nakayoshi'', ''Morning (magazine), Morning'', ''Afternoon (magazine), Afternoon'', ''Evening (magazine), Eveni ...

USA, 2011) * ''Hitman'' series ** '' 3 Assassins'' (original Japanese title: ''Grasshopper''), trans. Sam Malissa (Japan 2004; Harvill Secker and The Overlook Press, 2022) ** ''Bullet Train'' (original Japanese title: ''Maria Beetle''), trans. Sam Malissa (Japan 2010; Harvill Secker and

The Overlook Press The Overlook Press is an American publishing house based in New York, New York which considers itself "a home for distinguished books that had been 'overlooked' by larger houses". History and operations The Overlook Press was formed in 1971 by ...

, 2021) ** ''The Mantis'' (original Japanese title: ''AX''), trans. Sam Malissa (Japan 2017; Harvill Secker and

, 2023) ** ''Hotel Lucky Seven'' (original Japanese title: ''777 トリプルセブン'') (Japan 2023; Harvill Secker and

, 2024) ; Manga * ''Hitman'' series ** ' (Japan 2007–2009;

Viz Media Viz Media, LLC is an American entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California, focused on publishing manga, and distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series. The company was founded in 1986 as Viz, ...

, 2010–2012) ** ''Waltz'' (Japan 2009–2012; Viz Media 2010–2012) ;Short stories * ''The Precision of the Agent of Death'' (original Japanese title: ''Shinigami no Seido''), trans. Beth Cary ** ''

Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine ''Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine'' is a bi-monthly American digest size fiction magazine specializing in crime fiction, particularly detective fiction, and mystery fiction. Launched in fall 1941 by Mercury Press, ''EQMM'' is named after the fic ...

'', July 2006 ** ''Passport to Crime: Finest Mystery Stories from International Crime Writers'',

Running Press Running Press is an American publishing company and member of the Perseus Books Group, a division of the Hachette Book Group. The publisher's offices are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with many of the corporate functions taking place in ...

, 2007 * ''The Bookmobile'' (original Japanese title: ''Bukkumobīru''), trans. Michael Emmerich (

Granta ''Granta'' is a literary magazine and publisher in the United Kingdom whose mission centres on its "belief in the power and urgency of the story, both in fiction and non-fiction, and the story's supreme ability to describe, illuminate and make ...

online, 4 November 2020)

Awards

* 2022 – Strand Critics Awards for Best Debut Novel: ''Bullet Train'' (original Japanese title: ''Maria Beetle'') ; Japanese awards * 1996 – 13th Suntory Mystery Prize honorable mention: ''Akutō Tachi ga Me ni Shimiru'' (Later revised as ''Yōkina Gyangu ga Chikyū o Mawasu'') * 2000 – 5th Shincho Mystery Club Prize: ''Ōdyubon no Inori'' * 2004 – 25th

Yoshikawa Eiji was a Japanese historical novelist. Among his best-known novels are revisions of older classics. He was mainly influenced by classics such as ''The Tale of the Heike'', ''Tale of Genji'', ''Water Margin'' and ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'', m ...

Prize for New Writers: ''Ahiru to Kamo no Koin Rokkā'' * 2004 – 57th

Mystery Writers of Japan Award The are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of Japan. They honor the best in crime fiction and critical/biographical work published in the previous year. MWJ Award for Best Novel winners (1948–1951, 1976–present) MWJ Award for Be ...

for Best Short Story: ''Shinigami no Seido'' * 2008 – 5th

Japan Booksellers' Award is an annual Japan, Japanese literary award. It is awarded based on votes by bookstore clerks from all over Japan. Winners Excellent translations See also * CD Shop Awards References External links * J'Lit , Awards : Booksel ...

(Hon'ya Taishō): ''Remote Control'' (original Japanese title: ''Golden Slumber'') * 2008 – 21st

: ''Remote Control'' (original Japanese title: ''Golden Slumber'') * 2020 – 33rd Shibata Renzaburō Award: ''Gyaku Sokuratesu'' ; French awards * 2012 – Prix Masterton ( fr): ''Ōdyubon no Inori'' (French title: ''La Prière d'Audubon'') * 2012 – Prix Zoom Japon: ''Ōdyubon no Inori'' (French title: ''La Prière d'Audubon'')Zoom Japon Prize winners

Bibliography

''Hitman'' series

* , 2004 novel * , 2005 short story collection * , 2007–2009 manga series * , 2009–2012 manga series * , 2010 novel * , 2017 short story collection

Other novels

* , 2000 (French translation: ''La Prière d'Audubon'', Philippe Picquier Publishing, 2011) * , 2002 * , 2003 * , 2003 (French translation: ''Pierrot-la-gravité'', Philippe Picquier Publishing, 2012) * , 2003 * , 2005 * , 2006 * , 2007 * , 2008 * , 2009 * , 2009 * , 2010 * , 2012 * , 2013 * , 2013 * , co-authored with Kazushige Abe, 2014 * , 2015 * , 2015 * , 2016 * , 2017 * , 2018 * , 2019 * , 2021

Short story collections

* , 2004 * , 2005 (French translation: ''La Mort avec précision'', Philippe Picquier Publishing, 2015) * , 2006 * , 2007 * , 2010 * , 2012 * , 2012 * , 2014 * , 2014 * , 2015 * , 2019 * , 2020 * , 2022

Film adaptations

* '' A Cheerful Gang Turns the Earth'' (2006) (''Yōkina Gyangu ga Chikyū o Mawasu'') * ''Children'' (2006) * ''The Foreign Duck, the Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker'' (2007) (''Ahiru to Kamo no Koin Rokkā'') * ''Sweet Rain'' (2008) (''Shinigami no Seido'') * '' Fish Story'' (2009) * ''Gravity's Clowns'' (2009) (''Jūryoku Piero'') * ''Lush Life'' (2009) * ''Golden Slumber'' (2010) * ''Chips'' (2012) (''Potechi'') * ''Oh! Father'' (2014) *''

'' (2015) * '' Golden Slumber'' (2018) (Korean movie) * ''Little Nights, Little Love'' (2019) (''Eine kleine Nachtmusik'') * '' Bullet Train'' (2022) (''Maria beetle'') * Untitled ''Seesaw Monster'' film adaptation (TBA)

Television adaptations

* '' Goodbye Earth'' (2024) (''Shūmatsu no Fūru'')

Manga adaptations

* ''

'' (''3 Assassins'') * ''Eine kleine Nachtmusik''

References

External links

Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Isaka, Kotaro Japanese writers Japanese crime fiction writers Mystery Writers of Japan Award winners People from Matsudo Writers from Chiba Prefecture 1971 births Living people Tohoku University alumni Hitman (novel series)