Keigo Higashino: 1958–2026
July 23, 2026
Passing of a Literary Giant
Keigo Higashino, Japan's most beloved mystery novelist whose works sold over 100 million copies worldwide, died on July 23, 2026, at a Tokyo hospital. He was 68. The cause was colorectal cancer, which he had been battling privately for the past two years.
Higashino's death was confirmed by his publisher, Shueisha, in a statement that described him as "a master storyteller whose compassion and intellect illuminated the human condition through the lens of mystery fiction." His family was by his side in his final moments.
Life and Career
Born on February 4, 1958, in Osaka, Japan, Higashino studied electrical engineering at Osaka Prefecture University. While working as an engineer, he wrote his debut novel, After School (放課後, Hōkago), which won the prestigious Edogawa Rampo Prize in 1985, launching his literary career.
Over four decades, Higashino published 106 works spanning mystery, literary fiction, drama, and young adult literature. His two most famous series — featuring Detective Galileo (Professor Manabu Yukawa) and Detective Kyoichiro Kaga — earned him international acclaim. His masterpiece, The Devotion of Suspect X (2005), won the Naoki Prize and was adapted into multiple films, cementing his reputation as a global literary phenomenon.
Global Media Coverage
"Keigo Higashino was the Japanese equivalent of Agatha Christie — a writer whose intricate puzzles and deep humanity transcended cultural boundaries. His death leaves a void in world literature."
— The New York Times
"Higashino elevated the crime novel to high art. His work will be studied for generations as the gold standard of character-driven mystery."
— The Guardian
"The Japanese mystery community has lost its guiding light. Higashino-sensei showed us that a mystery could break your heart and mend it at the same time."
— Mystery Writers of Japan
"With The Devotion of Suspect X, Higashino created what many consider the perfect crime novel — a story where the reader knows the killer from page one yet is still utterly captivated."
— BBC Culture
"China, South Korea, and Japan all claim Higashino as their own in spirit — his works were adapted across Asia, and his themes of justice, family, and sacrifice resonated with millions of Asian readers."
— Asahi Shimbun