Keigo Higashino: chronicler of the human mind
The article reflects on the life and legacy of Japanese author Keigo Higashino following his death at age 68. It argues that he should be remembered as a profound chronicler of human nature rather than just a writer of mystery novels.
Why it matters
Higashino was a globally influential literary figure whose work bridged the gap between genre fiction and serious social commentary.
L ast month, when Keigo Higashino died of colorectal cancer at the age of 68, reports of his passing seemed like a scene from one of his own novels — a private family funeral and a public mourning, with condolences pouring in on social media. For a fan of Higashino’s writings, the scene, so well described in so many of his novels, played itself out mentally as a sombre Japanese memorial service; you could even smell the incense sticks.
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