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Japanese crime novels: Surprising investigations from the Far East conquer Germany!
Discover Leipzig's literary diversity with a focus on Japanese crime novels and their exciting backgrounds.
Japanese crime novels: Surprising investigations from the Far East conquer Germany!
June 5, 2025 is an exciting date for crime fans, especially those interested in the fascinating world of Japanese crime novels. In Germany there is a remarkably small selection of literary works from Japan compared to the popular Scandinavian crime novels. This represents an exciting area of crime literature that is increasingly becoming the focus of readers.
Keigo Higashino, one of the most famous Japanese crime authors, has made a name for himself with his subtle and complex criminal cases. But the works of Masako Togawa also deserve attention. Their criminal cases are complex and surprising, but not brutal or violent. This distinguishes it from many Western crime novels, which often use extreme depictions of violence.
Diversity of crime literature
What is particularly noteworthy is that many crime series with a Japanese connection are written by non-Japanese. This is how Andreas Neuenkirchen launched the Yoyogi series, which consists of four completed volumes. This series demonstrates the fascination for Japanese culture combined with exciting criminal cases.
Another interesting author is Sujata Massey. She and her Japanese investigator Rei Shimura have published a total of eleven volumes that have enjoyed a wide audience of readers. A new volume in the Inspector Takeda series, in which a Japanese investigator investigates in Germany, is also published every year. This shows how diverse the connection between Japanese and German crime literature is.
A look into the future
It remains to be seen how the perception and popularity of Japanese crime novels will develop in Germany. The demand for diverse and culturally different crime stories could lead to an expanded selection. In particular, the influence of international authors and their perspectives on Japanese topics could enrich the market.
Overall, the Japanese crime novel scene offers an exciting alternative to the established crime fiction in Germany. For anyone who wants to discover new, compelling stories, now is the perfect time to engage with these works and explore the unexplored crane gardens of crime fiction. Further information on this topic can be found at Ahoy Leipzig and Japan literature.