Keigo Higashino's Legacy
Bestselling Japanese Mystery Author Keigo Higashino Dies at 68, Leaving a Vast Literary Legacy
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Key Points
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A new Keigo Higashino novel, titled 'Eien no Kioku' (translated as 'Eternal Memory'), is planned for release on August 5, 2026, signaling publishers’ intent to continue his literary legacy.
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The Camphorwood Custodian will be Higashino's first work to receive an animated film adaptation, set to debut in 2026, marking a milestone in his cross-media reach.
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Historical prize details tied to his career include: After School winning the 31st Edogawa Rampo Prize; Himitsu (Secret) winning the 52nd Mystery Writers of Japan Award; and The Devotion of Suspect X earning both the 134th Naoki Prize and the 6th Honkaku Mystery Award.
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Kodansha publicly stated that Higashino's funeral was private and that it will not solicit condolence money or media access to his family, with memorial plans to be announced later.
Keigo Higashino, one of Japan's most beloved mystery writers, died on July 23 from colorectal cancer at age 68, according to Tokyo Weekender. His publisher Kodansha confirmed the news and said a private funeral was held for family only.
Higashino wrote more than 106 books over a career spanning four decades, Free Malaysia Today reported. His novels sold over 100 million copies in Japan alone, making him one of the country's best-selling authors of all time.
From Engineering Student to Japan's Mystery Master
Higashino was born and raised in Osaka, where he studied engineering before turning to writing. He published his debut novel, After School, in 1985. It won the 31st Edogawa Rampo Prize, one of Japan's top awards for mystery fiction. That win launched a career that would last nearly 40 years.
He went on to win nearly every major prize in Japanese crime fiction. Himitsu, known in English as Secret, took the 52nd Mystery Writers of Japan Award. His landmark novel The Devotion of Suspect X won both the 134th Naoki Prize and the 6th Honkaku Mystery Award, Star News Korea reported.
Suspect X and the Novels That Defined a Genre
The Devotion of Suspect X became Higashino's most famous work worldwide. It follows a math teacher who commits the perfect crime to protect a woman he loves. The book stunned readers with its unusual structure — revealing the killer on page one and then asking why, not who.
Other major titles include Journey Under the Midnight Sun and The Miracles of the Namiya General Store. His books were translated into dozens of languages and adapted into films and TV series across Japan, South Korea, and China, according to Free Malaysia Today.
Kodansha Asks for Privacy as Family Mourns
Kodansha said the funeral was a quiet, family-only event. The publisher made clear it would not accept condolence money and asked media to leave the family alone, Tokyo Weekender reported. Details about any future memorial service will be announced at a later date.
New Novel and Animated Film Planned After His Death
Higashino's legacy is set to live on through new releases. A new novel titled Eien no Kioku, which translates to Eternal Memory, is scheduled for release on August 5, 2026. Publishers appear committed to keeping his work in front of readers even after his passing.
An animated film adaptation of The Camphorwood Custodian is also set to debut in 2026. It will be the first of his works to become an animated film. China Daily Asia noted that Higashino's stories continue to reach new audiences across books, film, and television.
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