The literary era since 1979

Chapter 300 Master of Mystery Fiction
Saitama, Japan.

With the help of Yoko Suzuki, Fangyan found Seiichi Morimura's house.

A typical Japanese style, just like the one-family houses in "Chibi Maruko-chan", "Crayon Shin-chan" and "Doraemon".

The nameplate on the door of the house reads "Morimura".

After Suzuki Yoko rang the doorbell, she saw a white-haired old man walking out with a cane.

He had just recovered from a serious illness, his face was haggard and his body was thin, but his eyes were firm, powerful, clear and bright.

"Master Morimura, I am Suzuki Yoko, the daughter of Yuhikaku Suzuki branch chief."

Suzuki Yoko bowed respectfully, "This is the dialect teacher you wanted to see."

"Mr. Morimura, I have long heard of your name."

Fangyan looked up and down at the old man in front of him.

He is known as one of the "Five Tigers of Japanese Mystery Literature" along with Takagi Akimitsu, Edogawa Ranpo, Sano Hiroshi, and Yokomizo Seishi. People like Shimada Shoji, Higashino Keigo, and Ayatsuji Yukito are just their juniors.

"Please come in and sit down. Please come in and sit down."

As he walked, Seiichi Morimura asked his wife to serve him tea.

Fangyan came to the living room, sat cross-legged on the tatami, and handed over a box of snacks in his hand. At the same time, he thanked him for his strong support and recommendation of his "The Village Postman" at the Akutagawa Ryunosuke Awards. Otherwise, he might not have won this grand prize and bonus.

"I'm trying to protect your work out of public interest."

Morimura Seiichi said, "I am very sure that your novel deserves the Akutagawa Prize, and this fact just proves that my vision is correct."

After the tea was served, Fangyan used tea instead of wine and toasted politely.

"The movie "Evidence," adapted from your mystery novel, was well received by the audience as soon as it was introduced to China."

"Really!"

Morimura Seiichi's eyes suddenly lit up, "It is really my honor to be loved by the Chinese audience."

Then, based on the movie "Witness", he took the initiative to talk about his representative works and creative career.

"That year, Seicho Matsumoto's mystery novels were very popular. After reading them, I suddenly realized that the content reflecting social issues could be expressed in the form of mystery novels."

"So in 69, I wrote my first social mystery novel, "The Blind Spot in the High Floor," which was about a hotel manager who was murdered in a secret room, which led to a series of murders. After that, it was out of control..."

"But compared to these novels, I think the most important work of my life is The Devil's Feast, which I completed last year."

"The devil's feast?"

At first it sounds like a horror novel, but after asking in dialect I found out that it is actually a reportage recording the infamous Unit 731.

Morimura Seiichi said seriously: "In order to obtain first-hand information, I went to Northeast China, the United States, and Japan, and interviewed a large number of survivors before writing this book."

Fangyan was in awe, vaguely guessing that the purpose of his inviting him by name must be related to "The Devil's Feast".

"Wait here for a moment."

Morimura Makoto nodded, stood up and walked towards the study. When he came back, he was holding a thick stack of books and materials in his hands.

Fangyan took it and looked at it. Having studied foreign languages ​​with Bai Ruoxue for so long, he could barely understand some of it.

Instantly, his eyebrows raised.

If I am not mistaken, "Black Sun 731", which has traumatized countless people's childhood, is most likely adapted from this novel.

"I originally planned to hand it over to you on the day your delegation arrived in Tokyo."

Morimura Seiichi said with some regret: "I didn't expect my body to be so useless. I was sick and hospitalized, so I had to resort to this method."

"Your novel and information are so precious!"

The dialect tone is full of admiration.

Seiichi Morimura hopes to publish it in China without any copyright fees.

Fangyan made a solemn promise and took extra care to put the novel and first-hand information into his briefcase for safekeeping.

"Drink tea, drink tea."

Seiichi Morimura did not continue to talk about serious topics, but instead talked about literature and detective novels.

"Teacher Fang also wrote a horror suspense novel recently." Suzuki Yoko said, "But it's not a mystery novel, it's a science fiction novel."

When Seiichi Morimura heard that a novel combined horror, suspense and science fiction elements, he became very interested: "Do you have it with you?"

"I was in a hurry this time so I didn't bring it with me." Fang Yan said, "I will definitely send it to you when the sample of the novel is out."

Morimura Seiichi nodded in satisfaction, and then listened to him talk about "The Ring" in a concise manner. The more he listened, the more interesting it became:
"Your novel has a bit of a perverse flavor."

"Degenerates?"

Fangyan was very surprised.

Yoko Suzuki explained that this is one of the genres unique to Japanese mystery novels.

Japanese mystery novels are currently divided into three genres.

There are three types: the social school that focuses on "reflecting the contradictions and problems of social reality", the traditional school that focuses on "deducing and solving puzzles", and the abnormal school that focuses on "weird atmosphere and abnormal plots".

"The transformation school, like the traditional school, focuses on solving puzzles."

Seiichi Morimura continued, "But the difference is that the absurd school absorbs elements such as gods and demons, curiosity, perversion, and science. The content is mostly gloomy and terrifying, absurd, and has many exaggerated descriptions that are not suitable for children. It is very bloody, perverted, dark and weird..."

Fangyan turned his head and asked in a low voice: "Yangzi, is it really that perverted?"

"Yes, definitely not an ordinary pervert."

Suzuki Yoko nodded repeatedly, "But don't worry, Mr. Fang, you are definitely not a pervert."

Fangyan rolled his eyes in annoyance and said, "Of course I'm not a pervert!"
"But fortunately, this unorthodox school of thought has now completely declined." Morimura Seiichi sighed.

Ever since Matsumoto Seicho founded the "social school", many mystery novelists have been unable to escape the shadow of the social school.

Therefore, the social school is also known as the "Kiyori Curse" and has always been the largest school in the Japanese reasoning world!
"Master Morimura, what about the New Orthodox School?"

Fangyan asked the question he had wanted to ask just now.

Morimura Seiichi couldn't help but say in surprise: "I didn't expect Fangyan-kun also knew about the New Orthodox School!"

"It's just hearsay." Fangyan laughed.

"To talk about this new orthodox school, we have to start with Shimada-kun's "Astrology Murder Magic"."

Seiichi Morimura tells the story.

Ever since Soji Shimada won the Edogawa Ranpo Award for "The Astrology Murder Magic" a few years ago, he has been determined to break the "Seizhang Curse" and founded a mystery club at Kyoto University, raising the banner of "New Orthodox School", but it has not actually received mainstream recognition.

Just like when Misty Poetry first came out, it did not receive recognition from the mainstream poetry community, but instead was suppressed and excluded.

"Why is this so?"

Fangyan took a sip of tea.

While pouring tea, Makoto Morimura commented, "Because the new orthodox school abandons the reality of society, it excessively pursues unexpected, interesting, and stimulating puzzles in completely fictional stories. It is neither reasonable nor logical, and is completely unrealistic and fanciful, but it is quite popular among young people."

“It may have something to do with the environment.”

Fangyan said that young people have no sense of crisis and have not experienced the beatings of society, so they naturally like to pursue pleasure and sensory stimulation. They can neither understand nor are interested in the human nature and contradictions involved in social novels.

Morimura Seiichi was stunned at first, then he slammed the table.

Fangyan and Suzuki Yoko looked at each other in confusion.

"That makes sense!"

Seiichi Morimura said that this generation of young people born in the 60s and 70s, whether readers or writers, have not experienced the days when social mystery was popular, nor have they experienced the complex and chaotic period of social turmoil, so they do not have much interest in social mystery novels.

"No wonder my father said that."

Suzuki Yoko said softly: "In recent years, social reasoning has also begun to decline."

Fangyan smiled and said, "My teacher once told me that realism will never go out of date. I believe that social reasoning based on real problems will also never go out of date."

Morimura Seiichi praised, "Mr. Fangyan, how is the development of your Chinese suspense and mystery novels?"

"not bad."

To put it euphemistically, Chinese detective novels have a long history. Our ancestors were wealthy, and there were many detective novels in ancient times.

The most popular one is "Three Heroes and Five Gallants", also known as "The Cases of Judge Bao". As for now, contemporary mystery novels are still in the bumpy road, developing slowly.

"So, do you plan to write a pure mystery novel, Fangyan?"

Morimura Seiichi held up his teacup and said, "If there is, I would be very happy to write a preface for you."

(End of this chapter)