Tit-for-Tat

Japanese literature is outstanding in nearly every aspect. For one, it boasts a long list of top-notch writers whose works have captivated the world. Despite the passage of time, their works illuminate and are integral in contemporary literary discourses. It boasts one of the first novels to be published, Lady Murasaki Shikibu’s 源氏物語 (Genji monogatari; trans. The Tale of Genji). Japanese literature has played a germane role in shaping the landscape of modern literature, underscoring how its influence goes far and wide; its fine prints are indelible and ubiquitous. It has a long and rich tradition of producing top-notch writers, including three Nobel laureates in literature: Yasunari Kawabata (1968), Kenzaburō Ōe (1994), and Kazuo Ishiguro (2017). The landscape of contemporary literature is also riddled with highly-heralded Japanese writers. They are among the most recognized and their works are among the most critically acclaimed.

What makes Japanese literature stand out even more is its diversity. It is vast and under this wide umbrella exist several genres and subgenres. It is renowned for its confessional novel, the I-novel, and its unique brand of magical realism. Rife with history and historical events, historical fiction is also prominent in this section of the literary world. With its philosophical insights and exploration of the human condition, Japanese literature is also renowned for its works of literary fiction. Japanese writers have written slice-of-life, coming-of-age, autobiographical, and political novels with unique dashes of Japanese flavor that distinguish them from the rest of the world. Japanese literature is a smorgasbord that caters to diverse palates. It comes as no surprise to find works of detective and mystery fiction under this literary umbrella.

Who has not heard of the slick young detective Conan Edogawa of the popular anime Detective Conan? His name combines Sir Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes fame and Edogawa Rampo, a Japanese popular author often credited for pioneering the development of Japanese thriller and mystery fiction. In the contemporary, the Japanese brand of mystery, suspense, and detective fiction continues to thrive because of writers like Keigo Higashino. Interestingly, when Higashino was starting his literary career in the 1980s, his unpublished mystery 放課後 (Hōkago; trans. After School) won the Edogawa Rampo Prize. This early success prompted him to resign from his job as an engineer at Nippon Denso Co. (presently DENSO) and pursue a full-time career as a writer.

When an amateur attempts to conceal something, the more complex he makes his camouflage, the deeper the grave he digs for himself. But not so a genius. The genius does something far simpler, yet something no normal person would even dream of, the last thing a normal person would think of doing. And from this simplicity, immense complexity is created.

~ Keigo Higashino, The Devotion of Suspect X

Like most popular detective fiction writers – Sherlock Holmes for Sir Arthur Conon Doyle and Hercule Poirot for Dame Agatha Christie, for instance – Higashino crafted his own literary creation. This came in the form of Detective Galileo who made his literary debut in 探偵ガリレオ (1998, Tantei Garireo; trans. Detective Galileo). However, it was the third book in the series, 容疑者Xの献身 (Yōgisha Ekkusu no Kenshin) which was published in 2005, that made the biggest breakthrough. It was also the most critically acclaimed, earning Higashino numerous accolades in his native Japan, including the Naoki Prize, a highly regarded award in Japan; and the Honkaku Mystery Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the mystery novels category in Japan. In 2011, it was the first novel in the series to be made available to Anglophone readers as The Devotion of Suspect X with a translation by Alexander O. Smith and Elye J. Alexander.

The novel first introduces Tetsuya Ishigami, a brilliant but reclusive mathematician who holds a mundane high school teaching position. His life has been devoted to mathematics and solving complex mathematical problems. He also had a gift for keen observation. He is living alone in an apartment in Tokyo’s Edogawa ward. His daily routine was simple: walking to work, teaching the same class every year, and ending the day eating at a local bento shop. Living across Ishigami is Yasuko Hanaoka and her daughter, Misato. Yasuko is a divorced single mother who, like Ishigami, was living a humble life. To sustain her and her daughter, Yasuko worked at the bento shop that Ishigami frequented. Unbeknownst to her, Ishigami was starting to develop feelings for her. However, Ishigami was too awkward to confess his feelings to her.

The novel, however, was no conventional mystery fiction. The complications all started with Yasuko’s past. For years, she has been escaping and hiding from the crutches of her abusive ex-husband, Shinji Togashi. Unfortunately, Togashi was able to locate his former wife. Occasionally, he dropped by his ex-wife’s home to extort money. One particular visit, unfortunately, escalated to violence when Togashi crossed the threshold of her home and tried to threaten her teenage daughter. Yasuko desperately pleaded to her ex-husband. The confrontation escalated and ended with Yasuko and Misato killing Togashi in self-defense. Yasuko found herself in a quandary. She had two choices. One was to cover up the crime. The other one was to confess. Confessing, however, would implicate Misato; Misato was Yasaku’s daughter from another relationship. They were in an impasse.

Just when mother and daughter were about to abandon hope, Tetsuya Ishigami entered their lives, presenting them with the solution to their dilemma; their interactions had been very limited because of Ishigami’s hermetical lifestyle. Overhearing the commotion, he became their salvation. To reiterate, this is not the typical mystery fiction because the perpetrator was immediately established within the opening chapters of the novel. The culprit was already unmasked. The crux of the story was the events that unfolded following the unfortunate event. It didn’t take long before the authorities were involved in Togashi’s case. Tasked to lead the investigation was Detective Shunpei Kusanagi. Because of their tumultuous history, Yasuko immediately comes under suspicion involving her former husband’s case.

He had always thought of mathematics as a treasure hunt. First, one had to decide where to dig; then one had to determine the proper excavation route that led to the answer. Once you had a plan, you could make formulas to fit it, and they would give you clues. If you wound up empty-handed, you had to go back to the beginning and choose another route. Only by doing this over and over, patiently, yet boldly, could you hope to find the treasure—a solution no one else had ever found.

~ Keigo Higashino, The Devotion of Suspect X

Yasuko’s alibi, however, was solid proof despite scrutiny. Detective Kusanagi could barely find any loopholes even though his intuition could sense that there was more to the case than meets the eye. He just cannot pinpoint it with conviction. It was at this critical juncture that Dr. Manabu Yukawa, the titular Detective Galileo of the detective series, found himself involved in the case. He is a physicist by profession and Detective Kusanagi’s college friend. The police often consult Dr. Yukawa in solving their cases. His wisdom and intuition helped the authorities solve the most mind-numbing cases. It was perhaps one of fate’s ironies that Dr. Yukawa and Ishigami went to the same college, Tokyo’s Imperial University. Dr. Yukawa was in awe of Ishigami’s brilliance and problem-solving techniques; he was baffled by why Ishigami settled for a mundane job.

What ensues is a cat-and-mouse story rife with red herrings and suspenseful moments. Would the police officers be able to get to the bottom of the case? Or will Suspect X manage to deflect them? As Suspect X and Detective Galileo engage in a psychological and mental dance, suspense mounts and the crime becomes secondary. Ishigami was cognizant of Dr. Yukawa’s brilliance. The game of chess between Dr. Yukawa and Ishigami was the novel’s stroke of brilliance. It was the backbone of the novel. The thrill of the chase was scintillating and kept readers at the edge of their seats. Catching and proving who the real culprits were as suspenseful as the mind games between the two characters. Dr. Yukawa and Ishigami were both brilliant in their respective fields. In each other, they found worthy opponents.

It was a battle between mathematics and science. Mathematics and science concepts were embedded into the story, rendering it with interesting layers. Higashino also captured the “devotion” that Ishigami had for Yasuko. It has its own interesting backstory which is revealed as the story reaches its conclusion. This explains the lengths Ishigami went through to save Yasuko from conviction. His motivation for helping her is a different mystery of its own. Ishigami was in his mid-forties, balding, and plump. Yasuko was his antithesis. She was described as beautiful. His devotion, perhaps bordering on obsession, for Yasuko is one of the novel’s more endearing facets. One can’t help but root for him. Despite his deep devotion to her, he did not resent the prospect of Yasuko falling in love with other men. He was simply looking after her from a safe distance and avoiding any instances disrupting the natural flow of her life.

Kusanagi had met plenty of good, admirable people who’d been turned into murderers by circumstance. There was something about them he always seemed to sense, an aura that they shared. Somehow, their transgression freed them from the confines of a mortal existence, allowing them to perceive the great truths of the universe. At the same time, it meant they had one foot in forbidden territory. They straddled the line between sanity and madness.

~ Keigo Higashino, The Devotion of Suspect X

Higashino’s skillful storytelling also keeps the readers guessing at every turn. The novel is both plot and character-driven. All of the novel’s wonderful elements were masterfully woven together into a suspenseful tapestry filled with grit. It was all tit-for-tat as two brilliant minds clashed. The characters’ backstories were also connected to their actions. It was also wise on Higashino’s part not to muddle the story by introducing more characters than necessary. By focusing on the limited cast, their actions, and their individual histories, Higashino kept the readers reeled in. What made it even more engaging was how Higashino pared down Ishigami. He looked in control from the onset. He has a calculating mind and is seemingly invincible. However, he is not infallible. He is just like us. He is subservient to human emotions. It is his vulnerability that glued the story together. Despite also his genius, Ishigami did not crave recognition.

While The Devotion of Suspect X lacks elements of mystery, it is brimming with elements of suspense at every turn. It was seemingly unconventional and even followed certain storytelling conventions. Nevertheless, Higashino made it his own, weaving all of the novel’s elements together into one cohesive story. The chase between Detective Galileo and Suspect X was equally scintillating and gripping. It was the quintessential detective battle in the same vein as Sherlock against Moriarty, blended with psychological insights. However, Ishigami’s devotion to Yasuko gives the story a more endearing and more human dimension. Its themes of mathematic principles and how logical and analytical thinking made it an even more compelling read because these are also integral in the commitment and resolution of crimes. It is no wonder that The Devotion of Suspect X is considered one of Higashino’s finer works.

There are some mysteries in this world, that cannot be unraveled with modern science. However, as science develops, we will one day be able to understand them. The question is, is there a limit to what science can know? If so, what creates that limit?

~ Keigo Higashino, The Devotion of Suspect X
Book Specs

Author: Kiego Higashino
Translator: Alexander O. Smith, Elye J. Alexander
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publishing Date: 2011 (2005)
No. of Pages: 312
Genre: Suspense

Synopsis

A mother’s determination to protect her daughter drives her to a brutal act. A man’s unspoken devotion inspires him to cover up her crime. A detective’s drive for justice leads him into the ultimate battle of wits.

With one surprising twist after another, leading to a stunning final turn, The Devotion of Suspect X will linger in the reader’s mind long after the last page is turned.

About the Author

To learn more about the popular Japanese mystery and detective fiction writer Keigo Higashino, click here.