Soji Shimada

Soji Shimada is a Japanese mystery novelist widely credited as a leading figure in the revival of "honkaku" — orthodox, puzzle-driven detective fiction — in Japan during the 1980s. His debut novel, The Tokyo Zodiac Murders (published in Indonesian as Pembunuhan Zodiak Tokyo), is considered a landmark of the genre, presenting readers with an elaborate locked-room-style puzzle built around an astrological murder scheme.

Shimada's influence extends beyond his own novels: he has mentored and championed other mystery writers, helping shape the modern honkaku movement that continues to influence Japanese mystery fiction today.