LONDON, Jul 04 (News On Japan) –
Japanese creator Akira Otani’s novel Baba Yaga’s Evening has gained the Dagger Award within the translated fiction class—marking the primary time a Japanese author has acquired the glory from what’s broadly considered the world’s high prize in crime and thriller literature.
The award ceremony, hosted by the UK’s Crime Writers’ Affiliation, happened in London on July third. Otani’s novel, translated into English by Sam Bett, was introduced the winner of the Dagger Award for translated crime fiction.
Baba Yaga’s Evening follows the story of a lady named Yoriko Shindo, who thrives on violence, and her complicated, unnamed relationship with the daughter of a yakuza boss she is assigned to guard. The novel blends high-paced motion with themes equivalent to feminine solidarity and misogyny, tackling gender points head-on.
In an interview with JNN forward of the award announcement, Otani stated: “For those who attempt to middle ladies in any style in Japan, it’s not possible to keep away from misogyny. For those who’re making an attempt to depict actuality, it’s important to face it. I feel feminine readers, throughout cultures and borders, may most likely relate to that shared expertise.”
Based in 1955, the Dagger Awards are thought-about among the many most prestigious accolades in international crime and thriller writing. Whereas earlier Japanese authors equivalent to Hideo Yokoyama (Six 4), Keigo Higashino (The Devotion of Suspect X), and Kotaro Isaka (Maria Beetle) have been shortlisted, Otani is the primary Japanese recipient.
Maxim Jakubowski, chair of the judging panel, praised the e-book’s originality: “It fused manga tradition, yakuza cinema, Takeshi Kitano influences, and powerful LGBTQ components. The mix was extremely distinctive.”
Otani’s win additionally highlights the continued rise of Japanese ladies writers in international literary circles. This yr’s shortlist additionally featured Asako Yuzuki’s BUTTER, which has offered greater than 400,000 copies within the UK.
