Edogawa Rampo

japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edogawa Rampo

Japanese Fictional Crimes and Criminal Fictions

By Ho-Ling Wong

August 12, 2011

It is commonly said that truth is stranger than fiction, and while I won’t go quite that far, I have to admit that the truth can be quite strange at times. Criminals can be extremely creative, with the most creative often being the most successful. As G.K. Chesterton wrote in his Father Brown story “The…

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Chaotic Steps in Japanese Crime Fiction: A Brief History From the 1920s-1940s

By Ho-Ling Wong

May 8, 2011

Discussions of Japanese detective fiction, especially those concerning the pre-World War II period, will inevitably mention the name Edogawa Rampo. Essayists will mention how he was the first full-time modern crime writer in Japan, and how he’s considered the father of the Japanese detective story. They will also mention how Hirai Tarō’spen name, Edogawa Rampo,…