Two Japanese novels up for prestigious CWA Dagger award
Akira Otani, left, and Asako Yuzuki (Photo of Otani provided by Kawade Shobo Shinsha and photo of Yuzuki taken by Toko Tanaka)
Amid the growing popularity of Japanese literature in Britain, two Japanese novels have made the final shortlist of six for the Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation.
'The Night of Baba Yaga' by Akira Otani and 'Butter' by Asako Yuzuki were named finalists for the prestigious award, the London-based Crime Writers' Association announced on May 29.
The winner will be announced on July 3.
Translated by Sam Bett, Otani's 'The Night of Baba Yaga' follows Yoriko Shindo, a fierce, mixed-race fighter who is forced to work as a bodyguard for the sheltered daughter of a yakuza boss.
Yuzuki's 'Butter' is a thriller that centers on Rika Machida, a journalist investigating Manako Kajii, a gourmet cook accused of seducing and murdering businessmen.
Translated by Polly Barton, the English edition of 'Butter' has sold more than 400,000 copies, surpassing its original Japanese edition and becoming a best-seller in Britain.
No Japanese author has ever won the CWA Dagger, although Hideo Yokoyama, Keigo Higashino and Kotaro Isaka have previously been shortlisted for the award.
Pierre Lemaitre, a renowned French author whose works have a strong following in Japan, is also among the finalists this year.
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