On July 27, 2026, South Korean media Newsis reported that Keigo Higashino, a leading Japanese mystery writer, died on the 23rd. He was 68 years old.

Higashino was born in Osaka Prefecture in 1958, and after graduating from the Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University (now Osaka Metropolitan University), he wrote novels while working as an engineer. He debuted in 1985, winning the Edogawa Rampo Award for "After School". In 1999, he garnered attention by winning the Mystery Writers of Japan Award for "The Secret", and in 2006, he won the Naoki Prize for "The Devotion of Suspect X". He continued to win numerous literary awards for works such as "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store", "Mirage Flower", and "When the Curtain of Prayer Descends", and was active as a leading writer in the Japanese mystery world for 42 years.

Higashino's popularity was also very high in South Korea, and the article mentioned that he was "known as a doyen of the mystery novel world, becoming a bestseller in South Korea upon publication." "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store," published in South Korea in 2012, surpassed 2 million copies in cumulative sales. In the cumulative novel sales ranking from 2009-2018 compiled by Kyobo Book Centre, South Korea's largest bookstore, he sold approximately 1.27 million copies, ranking 1st by author.

In 2023, Higashino, who responded to an interview with South Korean media, said, "I feel greatly honored to be loved so much in South Korea." He also revealed his philosophy on creation, stating, "Novels are living things and cannot be written like assembling robots. Life itself, as I have lived it, is the idea, and stories are born from that." In Japan, his new work "Eternal Memories" is scheduled for publication next month.

Regarding this article, South Korean netizens commented with remarks such as: "Unbelievable. Truly regrettable." "He was the author who colored my youth. May he rest in peace." "He must be one of the most beloved Japanese authors in South Korea." "I'm not very familiar with authors, but I only knew Keigo Higashino." "Keigo Higashino was my gateway to Japanese literature." "I'm still in the middle of borrowing his book. The shock is great."

Additionally, comments such as "He was a representative mystery writer of our time," "I want to express my gratitude for leaving behind so many masterpieces," "I want to read his last new work soon in South Korea," and "I used to look forward to every new release. It's sad to think that I can't read any new works anymore" were also raised. (Translation/Editing by Higuchi)