An Introduction to Japanese Crime Fiction
This course explores the development of the crime fiction genre in Japan from 1920s to the present. We begin with some historical context on how/why the genre developed in Japan when it did. The texts covered include The two-sen copper coin by Taro Hirai(1923), Koga Sabura’s The Spider (1930), and the following novels - Seishi Yokomizo’s The Honjin Murders (1946), Seicho Matsumoto’s, Point Zero (1957), Soji Shimada’s, The Tokyo Zodiac Murders (1981), and Malice (1996) by Keigo Higashino.
Choose a starting date
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 25 Sep 2025End Date: 13 Nov 2025Thu (Evening): 18:00 - 19:30In PersonLocation: Keeley StreetDuration: 8 sessions (over -8 weeks)Course Code: HLT384Tutors: Christine HawkinsFull fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This in-college literature course considers how the crime fiction genre is explored within Japanese culture from the 1920s onwards, as well as being heavily influenced by writers such as Conan Doyle and others from Western outlooks.
The course is chronological, beginning with short crime stories from the 1920s and ending with more recent novels. Alongside reading and analysing this fiction we will consider some critical essays written by the author Matsumoto on the mystery writers of Japan society, the concept of Honkaku (deductive reasoning/ classic whodunnit), and the new ‘orthodox’ writers as the genre developed. The course will also aim to address these examples of Japanese crime fiction amidst their social, geographical, historical and political contexts.
What will we cover?
We will cover a wide range of topics including the figure of the detective, the use of the classic clue-puzzle format in the beginnings of the genre in Japan, and crime fiction and the traditions and customs of rural Japan amidst anxieties about changing class distinctions and social values. This is very important in understanding the fears about the decline in traditional Japanese values because of the popularity and influences of crime fiction.
We will also consider the move away from the influence of golden age crime novels to forensic detection in the modern age, postmodern crime fiction and the shift from sanitised to gruesome murder, the importance of geographical space, and the role of amateur detectives.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Have an understanding of how Japanese crime fiction has developed from its early twentieth century beginnings to present trends.
- Have an awareness of western fictional influences on Japanese crime fiction.
- Discuss the novels and short stories on the course with confidence, and amidst their social, geographical, historical and political contexts.
- Discuss the novels and short stories with an attention to evaluating to what extent this type of fiction is compelling/successful/ appealing. What sets it apart from other examples of crime fiction? What makes it unique?
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for anyone who enjoys reading crime fiction or who has an interest in learning about crime fiction from other countries.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Some of the sessions will begin with a short lecture of no longer than ten minutes, with PowerPoint presentation slides for context. Much of the sessions will be organised around large and small group work and whole class discussion. There will be two short stories to be discussed in week one, which will have been added to the Google classroom. Paper copies will also be available in the session. Students will be expected to have read these in preparation for the first week.
Secondary readings will sometimes be provided, but these will be allocated in session. Students will be given plenty of time to consider these very short extracts alongside the other texts we will study.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Students will need to buy or borrow the following:
Seishi Yokomizo The Honjin Murders (Pushkin,1946)
Seicho Matsumoto, Point Zero (Bitter Lemon Press, 1957)
Soji Shimada, The Tokyo Zodiac Murders (Pushkin,1981)
Keigo Higashino, Malice (Little Brown Book Group,1996).
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Look for other fiction courses on our website at www.citylit.ac.uk under Culture, History and Humanities.
Dr Christine Hawkins has extensive experience in teaching across a wide range of ages for many years. Her Phd surveyed Victorian policing, and early women police and detectives within fiction and real life instances. Her other research interests include sensation fiction, walking cultures, London and of course, crime fiction. She currently teaches at Queen Mary, University of London, on London, childhood, and diaspora. She is presently working on a novel set in 18th century England. Christine has a life-long love of Victorian novels and crime writing, and is slowly working her way through practically every crime novel ever written.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.