Akira Iriyie

Akira Iriyie is a prolific Japanese author, best known for his work in the postmodern and hardboiled genres. He is credited with reviving interest in the postmodern writing style and his works often explore themes of identity, alienation, and utopia. Born in 1974 in Tokyo, Japan, Iriyie has had a long and successful career as an author, with works appearing in both English and Japanese translations. He has won a number of literary awards and is widely considered one of the most important contemporary Japanese authors.

Iriyie got his start as a writer in the late 1990s. His debut work, “Kakousei no Akuma” (The Devil of Awakening), was released in 1996, and became widely known for its dystopian themes and its exploration of identity and alienation. The book was recently re-released by Vertical Books in a new, revised edition.

Iriyie's second work, “Utsukushi Mono” (Beautiful Thing), was also widely acclaimed. It explored the societal effects of racism and xenophobia on individuals, and is widely considered one of Iriyie's masterpieces. This work was awarded the Akutagawa Prize in 2004.

Iriyie's third work, “Kokkyō o Koete” (Beyond the Border), was released in 2006 and won the Tanizaki Prize. It is a classic dystopian novel which features a world of extreme social imbalance and poverty. Iriyie's use of hardboiled themes and postmodern writing style set him apart from other authors in Japan, and this book cemented his status as a major voice in contemporary Japanese literature.

In 2009, Iriyie released “Umi ni Iru Yūbe” (The Night at the Sea), which was later translated into English and released by University of Minnesota Press. This book won the Naoki Prize and was lauded for its vivid imagery and its exploration of the human psyche. It is a classic work of postmodern literature, and is considered one of Iriyie's greatest works.

Iriyie's most recent book, 2015's “Gōsuto Chōsa” (Ghost Investigator), is a hardboiled detective story set in a post-apocalyptic world. It follows a mysterious protagonist as he investigates a series of supernatural occurrences that have been plaguing a strange city. The book incorporates classic noir tropes, as well as postmodern writing and style, to create a unique and captivating narrative.

Alongside his work as an author, Iriyie has taken part in numerous writing workshops and seminars, as well as lecturing at universities worldwide. He is currently a Visiting Professor at the University of Minnesota, and lectures on various topics related to the postmodern literary movement.

Iriyie's books have sold millions of copies worldwide, and are some of the most important works of contemporary Japanese literature. His stories explore the human condition, offering thought-provoking and often surreal tales from a master of postmodern and hardboiled writing. His work continues to inspire new generations of authors, and Iriyie's legacy as one of the key figures of the postmodern literary movement will long remain.