is a 2018 novel by

Keiichiro Hirano is a Japanese novelist. Hirano was born in Gamagori, Aichi prefecture, Japan. He published his first novel (''Nisshoku'', ) in 1998 and won the Akutagawa Prize the next year as one of the youngest winners ever (at 23 years of age). He graduated ...

. It was originally published in

Bungakukai is a Japanese monthly literary magazine published by Bungeishunjū as a oriented publication. History and profile The first version of ''Bungakukai'' was published from 1893 to 1898. The founders were the first generation romantic authors in ...

's June 2018 issue and then published as a novel by

Bungeishunjū is a Japanese publishing company known for its leading monthly magazine '' Bungeishunjū''. The company was founded by Kan Kikuchi in 1923. It grants the annual Akutagawa Prize, one of the most prestigious literary awards in Japan, as well a ...

a few months later. The novel then went on to win the 70th

Yomiuri Literary Prize The is a literary award in Japan. The prize was founded in 1949 by the Yomiuri Shimbun Company to help form a "strong cultural nation". The winner is awarded two million Japanese yen and an inkstone. Award categories For the first two years, ...

. In 2020, an English translation by Eli K. P. William was released by

Amazon Crossing Amazon most often refers to: * Amazon River, in South America * Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin * Amazon (company), an American multinational technology company * Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mytho ...

, marking Hirano's debut in the English language. In 2022, the novel was adapted to film by director Kei Ishikawa and won the Japan Academy Film Prize for Picture of the Year.

Synopsis

The novel follows a divorce attorney, Akira Kido. Eventually, a former client of his appears, Rie Takemoto, who sets Kido on an investigation regarding her late husband. However, upon inquiring further about the late husband's life, he finds out that his entire identity was fabricated, prompting him to set out on a quest to find out who Rie's husband really was. All the while, Kido's own marriage risks deterioration.

Critical reception

English

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'' stated "Hirano's stylish, suspenseful noir should earn him a stateside audience." ''

The Japan Times ''The Japan Times'' is Japan's largest and oldest English-language daily newspaper. It is published by , a subsidiary of News2u Holdings, Inc. It is headquartered in the in Kioicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo. History ''The Japan Times'' was launched by ...

'' found the story's unfolding satisfactory.

Film adaptation

In 2022, the novel was adapted to film by director Kei Ishikawa and premiered at the

79th Venice International Film Festival The 79th annual Venice International Film Festival was held from 31 August to 10 September 2022, at Venice Lido in Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Eur ...

. The film went on to win 8 awards at the

Japan Academy Film Prizes The , often called the Japan Academy Prize, the Japan Academy Awards, and the Japanese Academy Awards, is a series of awards given annually since 1978 by the Japan Academy Film Prize Association (日本アカデミー賞協会, ''Nippon Akademii- ...

, including Best Picture. Many of the film's actors won awards as well, with

Satoshi Tsumabuki is a Japanese actor. His breakthrough film was '' Waterboys'' for which he was nominated for the "Best Actor" award at the Japanese Academy Awards, and won the "Newcomer of the Year" prize. He is also the bassist and lead singer of the Japanes ...

winning Best Actor,

Masataka Kubota is a Japanese actor. History Kubota was born in Kanagawa Prefecture. He is the youngest of three male brothers. He hoped to become a vehicle mechanic and enrolled in the mechanical department of Kanagawa Technical Senior High School. While Kub ...

winning Best Supporting Actor, and

Sakura Ando is a Japanese actress. She is best known for appearing in critically-acclaimed films such as Sion Sono's ''Love Exposure'', Hirokazu Kore-eda's ''Shoplifters'' (2018) and ''Monster'' (2023), as well as Takashi Yamazaki's Academy Award–winni ...

winning Best Supporting Actress.

Musical Adaptation

A stage musical adaptation had been announced by

Horipro is a Japanese talent agent, talent agency that manages actors, entertainers and musicians, as well as commercial and television productions. It has locations in Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville and Los Angeles in the United States. History I ...

, to premiere in 2025. It is composed by

Jason Howland Jason Howland is a musical theatre composer, playwright, conductor, music director, and producer. In 2015, he won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for his work producing the cast recording of ''Beautiful: The Carole King Musical''. ...

, with lyrics by and book by , who is also directing. The original cast features

Kenji Urai is a Japanese actor and singer known for his versatile performances in theater and television. In particular he is known for his roles in major theater productions such as '' Elisabeth'', '' Death Note: The Musical'' and '' Crest of the Royal Fa ...

Teppei Koike is a Japanese actor and singer associated with Burning Productions. After appearing in the television drama ''Tentai Kansoku'' in 2002, Koike began appearing in several other films and dramas, notably as Atsushi Otani in ''Love Com''. At the s ...

, ,

Sonim Seong Son-im (born March 10, 1983), known mononymously as , is a Japanese-born Korean actress and singer associated with Amuse Inc. She debuted in 2000 as the lead singer of the pop duo EE Jump. In 2002, she debuted as a solo singer with "Curr ...

, and

Takeshi Kaga , real name , is a well-known stage and movie actor in Japan who is best known internationally for his portrayal of Chairman Kaga in the Japanese television show ''Iron Chef'' produced by Fuji TV. Biography Kaga was born on October 12, 1950, ...

References

{{reflist 2018 Japanese novels Works about lawyers Works originally published in Bungakukai Japanese novels adapted into films Japanese novels adapted into plays