Matsumoto Seichō

Seicho Matsumoto redefined Japanese crime fiction, dispensing with traditional plot devices in favor of psychological depth and realism. His works, often reflecting a broader social context and postwar nihilism, expanded the genre's atmosphere and plunged it into darker territories. Matsumoto focused on exposing corruption across societal strata, examining not just the crime but also the society that spawned it. This self-taught author became one of his nation's most successful, with an influence that extended far beyond Japan's borders.