journey under the midnight sun ending

Crime Fiction Lover

Journey Under the Midnight Sun by Keigo Higashion

Translated by Alexander O Smith — It’s no exaggeration to say that Keigo Higashino is a phenomenon in Japan. Popular and multi-award winning, he’s been putting out books steadily for the past 30 years, which means there’s a rich vein of potential translations to mine. Journey Under the Midnight Sun is a dark, convoluted tale, marked by Higashino’s characteristic sleight of hand.

The novel opens in Osaka in the early 1970s – Homicide Detective Junzo Sasagaki is taking a walk on his day off when he sees a group of police cars converge on an abandoned building. A group of children playing inside the building have found the body of a pawnshop owner, stabbed through the chest with a thin, sharp blade. Sasagaki’s investigation unearths more questions, and shines a light on some possible infidelities and family quarrels, but never reaches any conclusions. One of his chief suspects, the partner of a woman who the pawnshop owner visited on the day of his death, dies in a car crash soon afterwards. Though Sasagaki’s suspects there is more to the deaths, the case is abandoned. But Sasagaki never quite gives up on it.

There are several things that don’t sit right with him – several alibis are suspicious, and motives are hard to establish with any conviction. When the woman who the pawnshop owner was visiting the day he died is found dead in her apartment, in what looks like suicide, Sasagaki again feels something is amiss. However, the police focus on the wellbeing of her daughter Yukiho, newly orphaned, who leaves everyone who meets her with a distinct sense that she is older than her 12 years.

The narrative lurches forward repeatedly, and jumps between characters, making Journey Under The Midnight Sun hard to follow at times. Readers familiar with Higashino’s work will be waiting for the moment when the author shows his full hand, and the whole narrative comes together. In this case, you’ll have to wait a little longer than usual due to the sheer size of the novel. Journey Under the Midnight Sun is not only big in terms of its 500 pages, but also in complexity. Higashino’s strength is the way in which he tricks us into searching for a clue that’s sitting in plain sight the whole time. In Japanese, a language known for its indirectness, this is simple, and it’s no mean feat translating this into English without giving away too much.

Despite this, if you’re familiar with other books of Higashino ‘s in English you might find yourself frustrated by certain aspects here. For a start, the story is episodic in nature, perhaps due to the fact the original was serialised in a literary magazine. This leaves us grasping for links between chapters, which don’t become apparent until half way through. The timeline can be a struggle as well, with references to computer technology, video games, baseball and Japanese current affairs dropped in to hint at when the action is occurring. While you might be familiar with the bursting of the Japanese asset price bubble, or Super Mario Brothers, most of us probably don’t know when the Hanshin Tigers broke their title drought, or when the findings of the inquest into Minamata disease were handed down.

However the complexity of the timeline and the difficulty in following the references only serve to add to the other strength of Higashino’s work, which is shared with Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö in their Martin Beck novels. This is his ability to get into the heart of a specific time period, while simultaneously looking deep into the hearts of his characters. It makes Journey Under the Midnight Sun well worth reading.

A Midsummer’s Equation, with Detective Galileo from The Devotion of Suspect X, is due in early 2016. The author’s previous book, Malice , was one of our top books of 2014 and you’ll find more Japanese crime fiction here .

Little, Brown Print/Kindle/iBook £8.99

CFL Rating: 4 Stars

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Keigo Higashino - Journey Under the Midnight Sun

“keigo higashino again proves his mastery of the diabolical puzzle mystery with malice, a story with more turns, twists, switchbacks and sudden stops than a tokyo highway during golden week.”, no major spoilers.

I’m actually confused what to say about this novel. It is weird, disturbing but at the same time intriguing and definitely something which you won’t put down too easily.

I already got some glimpses into the Japanese way of life thanks to reading ‘Salvation of a Saint’ & ‘Devotion of Suspect X’ by the same author but this one provides an even more in depth knowledge about their weird sense of love, humour, friendship and almost everything else. I know this is a pure work of fiction but it’s such works of fiction only through which I was acquainted with so many different countries in different eras. Let me just say this, I would rather be in War torn Europe of the 20th century rather than modern day Japan. I was particularly shocked by what the school going teenagers did in the novel- would make our roadside romeos seem like Saints.

But then that also means that Keigo is one hell of an author who is making us see and feel the ugly side of things rather than painting just a rosy picture. Actually, no doubt about the author’s brilliance after having read 3 of his works. There wasn’t too much detective work involved in this one as such; it was more of a description of events over a period of 20 yrs and the obsession of a police detective to solve a seemingly unsolvable murder.

The climax was sudden and abrupt and left me wondering whether it was a happy ending or a sad one.

Many people won’t like this novel at all while others will love it.

Go for it if you want something off beat, can tolerate Japanese idiosyncrasies and prefer emotionally charged thrillers rather than action packed ones. (there’s plenty of weird action though)

Rating- A confused and liberal 4/5 .

Reviewed by:

Aditya singh.

Added 16th January 2018

More Reviews By Aditya Singh

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Journey Under the Midnight Sun by Keigo Higashino

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Plot- or character-driven? Character
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Plot- or character-driven? Plot
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"Journey Under the Midnight Sun" Characters Analysis

By Keigo Higashino

mystery | 539 pages | Published in NaN

Estimated read time: 8 min read

List of characters, role identification, character descriptions, character traits, character background, character arcs, relationships.

In "Journey Under the Midnight Sun," Ryo Kirihara and Yukiho Karasawa are the main protagonists. They are supported by a range of characters, including Yukiho's father, Kaga, Shinozaki, Komatsu, Yasuko Hanaoka, Shinji Togashi, Jun'ichi Aoyama, Rie Takemura, and Kazuki Hanaoka.

Ryo Kirihara: Ryo is a determined and intelligent detective. He has a strong sense of justice and is known for his relentless pursuit of the truth. He is highly observant and uses his deductive skills to solve complex cases.
Yukiho Karasawa: Yukiho is a mysterious and enigmatic woman. She is introverted and keeps her emotions concealed. Yukiho becomes the center of the story when her parents are murdered, and she becomes the prime suspect.
Yukiho's Father: Yukiho's father is a successful businessman. He is portrayed as a cold and distant person, who seems to have a hidden side to his personality.
Kaga: Kaga is a seasoned police detective who has a deep interest in solving cold cases. He is known for his analytical mind and attention to detail. Kaga becomes involved in the investigation of the murders connected to Yukiho and Ryo.
Shinozaki: Shinozaki is a journalist who becomes fascinated by the mysterious murders. He starts investigating the case independently and uncovers crucial information.
Komatsu: Komatsu is another journalist who works closely with Shinozaki. He provides valuable insights and supports Shinozaki in uncovering the truth.
Yasuko Hanaoka: Yasuko is a former classmate of Yukiho's father. She becomes an important character as her past connection to the murders is revealed.
Shinji Togashi: Shinji is a childhood friend of Yukiho. He plays a significant role in the story as his actions have a direct impact on the events that unfold.
Jun'ichi Aoyama: Jun'ichi is a detective who is initially investigating the murders. He is shown to be skilled but is overshadowed by Ryo Kirihara's abilities.
Rie Takemura: Rie is a close friend of Yukiho and provides emotional support during her difficult times. She is a caring and loyal character.
Kazuki Hanaoka: Kazuki is Yukiho's older brother. He is protective of his sister and tries to shield her from the harsh realities of the world.
Ryo Kirihara: Determined, intelligent, observant, relentless, justice-driven
Yukiho Karasawa: Mysterious, introverted, emotionally guarded
Yukiho's Father: Cold, distant, secretive
Kaga: Analytical, detail-oriented, experienced
Shinozaki: Curious, investigative, persistent
Komatsu: Supportive, insightful, dedicated
Yasuko Hanaoka: Connected, conflicted, secretive
Shinji Togashi: Influential, manipulative, conflicted
Jun'ichi Aoyama: Skilled, overshadowed, by Ryo Kirihara
Rie Takemura: Caring, loyal, supportive
Kazuki Hanaoka: Protective, caring, brotherly
Ryo Kirihara: Ryo comes from a family of police officers and has always been interested in solving crimes. He has a reputation for being one of the best detectives in the force.
Yukiho Karasawa: Yukiho had a difficult childhood, growing up with a distant father. She is deeply affected by the murders of her parents and becomes a central figure in the investigation.
Yukiho's Father: Yukiho's father is a successful businessman with a hidden past. He is known for his ruthless tactics in the business world.
Kaga: Kaga has a long history in the police force and has solved numerous cold cases throughout his career. He is respected by his colleagues for his dedication and expertise.
Shinozaki: Shinozaki is a journalist with a keen interest in uncovering the truth. His curiosity leads him to investigate the murders, even when the police seem to have given up on the case.
Komatsu: Komatsu is a journalist who joins forces with Shinozaki to dig deeper into the mysterious murders. He is known for his dedication and determination to uncover the truth.
Yasuko Hanaoka: Yasuko has a history with Yukiho's father and becomes entangled in the investigation as her connection to the murders is revealed.
Shinji Togashi: Shinji is a childhood friend of Yukiho and has a complicated relationship with her. His actions play a significant role in the events that unfold.
Jun'ichi Aoyama: Jun'ichi is a detective who initially investigates the murders. He is overshadowed by Ryo Kirihara's skills but remains dedicated to finding the truth.
Rie Takemura: Rie is a close friend of Yukiho and provides emotional support during her difficult times. She has a strong bond with Yukiho and is always there for her.
Kazuki Hanaoka: Kazuki is Yukiho's older brother and tries to protect her from the harsh realities of life. He deeply cares for his sister and does everything he can to keep her safe.
Ryo Kirihara: Ryo starts off as a determined detective who is focused on solving the case. Throughout the story, he faces numerous obstacles and challenges, but his determination never wavers. He grows as a character and learns to trust his instincts more, leading to the resolution of the case.
Yukiho Karasawa: Yukiho begins as a mysterious and emotionally guarded character. As the story progresses, her past and connection to the murders are revealed, forcing her to confront her own demons. She undergoes a transformation and becomes more open and vulnerable.
Kaga: Kaga starts off as an experienced detective who is intrigued by the cold case. He becomes more involved in the investigation and forms a partnership with Ryo Kirihara. Throughout the story, he becomes more personally invested in the case and develops a deeper understanding of the complexities involved.
Shinozaki: Shinozaki begins as a curious journalist who is fascinated by the murders. As he delves deeper into the case, he becomes more determined to uncover the truth. He faces personal risks and challenges but ultimately plays a significant role in solving the mystery.
Ryo Kirihara and Yukiho Karasawa: Ryo and Yukiho develop a complex relationship throughout the story. Ryo is determined to protect Yukiho and solve the case, while Yukiho is initially hesitant to trust him. Their relationship evolves as they work together to uncover the truth.
Yukiho Karasawa and Yukiho's Father: Yukiho's relationship with her father is distant and strained. As the story progresses, the true nature of their relationship is revealed, adding depth and complexity to their dynamic.
Shinozaki and Komatsu: Shinozaki and Komatsu have a professional relationship as journalists working together to uncover the truth. They rely on each other's strengths and support each other in their investigation.
Yasuko Hanaoka and Yukiho's Father: Yasuko's relationship with Yukiho's father is revealed to have a significant impact on the events of the story. Their connection adds layers of complexity to the overall narrative.
Shinji Togashi and Yukiho Karasawa: Shinji and Yukiho have a complicated relationship that plays a crucial role in the story. Their interactions shape the events and contribute to the overall mystery.
Jun'ichi Aoyama and Ryo Kirihara: Jun'ichi and Ryo have a professional relationship as fellow detectives. Although Ryo's skills overshadow Jun'ichi, they work together to solve the case.
Rie Takemura and Yukiho Karasawa: Rie is Yukiho's close friend and provides emotional support throughout the story. Their friendship is an important source of strength for Yukiho.
Kazuki Hanaoka and Yukiho Karasawa: Kazuki is Yukiho's brother and acts as her protector. He cares deeply for his sister and tries to shield her from harm.

In "Journey Under the Midnight Sun," the characters are intricately woven into the story, each playing a significant role in the overall narrative. Their relationships, backgrounds, and character arcs contribute to the suspense and mystery that unfolds throughout the book.

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Journey Under the Midnight Sun

Journey Under the Midnight Sun explained

(also published in English as Under the Midnight Sun ) [1] is a mystery novel written by Keigo Higashino , first serialized in the monthly novel magazine Subaru from Shueisha from January 1997 to January 1999. The entire volume was published in August 1999 and became a bestseller.

During the serialization, the novel was at first written as a series of short stories representing chronological snapshots of the overall plot line. Higashino modified its structure to make it a single coherent story before publishing it as a single volume. As of November 2005 the book had sold 550,000 copies. However, its sales quickly picked up after the first episode of the adapted TV series was aired. By January 2006 its sales had broken a million. Its sales exceeded 2 million in December 2010.

The novel attracted adaptations, including a stage drama in 2005, a Japanese TV series in 2006, a Korean motion picture in 2009, and a Japanese motion picture in 2010.

Novel summary

The story begins in 1973, with the death of an Osakan pawnbroker, Yosuke Kirihara, under strange circumstances. The investigation, headed by officer Junzo Sasagaki, gradually uncovers Fumiyo Nishimoto, a mother struggling to make ends meet and one of his customers, and her boyfriend Tadao Terasaki, as prime suspects. However, the Osakan police are unable to definitely prove their involvement, and both are eventually found dead; Fumiyo dies in an accidental gas leak in her house, and Terasaki dies in a traffic accident. The story primarily concerns itself with the effects of this incident on two people: Ryoji Kirihara, the pawnbroker's son, and Yukiho Nishimoto, Fumiyo's daughter. The novel avoids directly revealing the two's thoughts to the reader, instead preferring to reveal information second-hand through the viewpoints of multiple other supporting characters whose lives intersect to form a complete picture of the story's events.

Ryoji ends up growing into a moody, sullen and cynical youth who gets involved in a number of shady dealings, such as housewife prostitution rings, computer game bootlegging, hacking corporate programs, and wiretapping. He is shown to be resourceful and intelligent, easily manipulating people into doing what he wants. The novel strongly suggests that he commits multiple murders, including Isamu Matsuura, a former employee of his father's shop who he assists in a videogame bootlegging scheme. These murders force him to assume fake names and run from the police.

Yukiho is adopted by a relative of her father's (changing her last name from Nishimoto to Karasawa) and matures into a beautiful upper-class woman, attracting the attention of multiple men and achieving success in different fields, such as stock trading and opening up a successful clothing store chain. However, many people connected to her suffer from incredible misfortunes, and several characters in the narrative note that there is a hidden dark side to Yukiho hidden beneath the surface.

Throughout the story, Sasagaki shows up multiple times, unable to let go of the unresolved murder and determined to find the truth, even after the case passes the statute of limitations . Twenty years after the incident in 1992, he is finally able to piece together the truth: Fumiyo Nishimoto was prostituting her daughter to Yosuke Kirihara in order to pay the bills, explaining the interest displayed by Yosuke towards the family in the beginning of the story. Ryoji, who was Yukiho's friend, became suspicious after seeing her with his father and followed them to an abandoned building, where he witnessed Yosuke molesting her. In his grief, he killed his father with a pair of scissors. In turn, Yukiho killed her mother by drugging her with sleeping pills and causing a gas leak in her house. Ryoji and Yukiho then developed a close relationship of some sort in order to cope with their grief, using their talents to achieve success and ruthlessly disposing of anyone who got in their way.

Towards the novel's end, Sasagaki is able to obtain evidence linking Ryoji to Matsuura's death. The police wait for him to appear at the opening of Yukiho's second shop on Christmas Day, and discover he is one of the employees dressing up as Santa Claus. Cornered, Ryoji runs to the top of the building and jumps to his death. When asked, Yukiho denies knowing him.

The son of the victim killed 19 years ago, Ryoji's eyes have been dark and emotionless since the childhood incidence. He loathes getting close with other people. He started to get involved in shady businesses like housewife prostitution rings and game bootlegging when he was a student. He is a very astute man who possesses professional software skills. He loves to use vintage scissors of his since childhood and is very good at paper cutting . (The English translation by Alexander Smith renamed him Ryo Kirihara for reasons unknown.)

A stunning beauty, Yukiho is the daughter of one of the suspects of the pawnshop homicide 19 years ago. A primary school student then, she lived a poor life with her mother. Her mother died in an accident shortly after the murder. Afterward Yukiho was adopted by Karasawa, received a good education, and turned into an upper-class lady with manners and elegance. Her academic grades were excellent, causing a lot of envy. People close to her often fall prey to misfortunes.

An officer in the Crime Investigation Unit of the Osaka Prefectural Police , Junzo was in charge of the investigation of the pawnshop incidence. Over the years of investigation, he grew suspicious of the mysterious events befallen on people close to Yukiho and Ryoji; he has been investigating them since. He likes Seven Stars cigarette s very much.

An officer in the Crime Investigation Unit of the Osaka Prefectural Police, Hisashi was also investigating the pawnshop incidence. He rose through the ranks of the police force in the following 19 years. He is Junzo's coworker as well as his relative.

The owner of the "Kirihara" pawnshop and Ryoji's father, Yosuke was killed 19 years ago. He cared about his son very much. He discreetly had some unusual sexual interests...

Mother of Ryoji, Yaeko became the owner of the pawnshop after her husband died. After the pawnshop was closed due to mismanagement, she opened a small cafeteria. Yaeko knows she is not a responsible mother to Ryoji.

The store manager of the "Kirihara" pawnshop, Isamu knows a lot of secrets about the Kirihara family. He later approaches Ryoji as a broker of unauthorized game software.

Mother of Yukiho, Fumiyo was seen by the police as a suspect in the pawnshop incidence. Soon after the murder, she died from a gas leakage at home. The truth, however, is much darker...

Yukiho's distant relative, Reiko adopted Yukiho after her mother died. She is very strict in teaching Yukiho to behave like a lady.

Ryoji's secondary schoolmate, Yuichi was secretly photographing Yukiho.

Ryoji's secondary schoolmate, Fumihiko had photos about a secret of Ryoji's mother Yaeko. He was later set up and became the suspect of another crime.

Yukiho's university schoolmate, Eriko had a short romantic relationship with Shinozuka Kazunari started by his proposing. She was kidnapped mysteriously later and separated with him. She respected and depended on Yukiho a lot during university days but later became distant. Years later she got married with an ordinary worker. She holds a complex and doubtful attitude toward Yukiho.

Yuki Izumisawa as childhood Ryoji
Mayuko Fukuda as, (childhood Yukiho before adoption)
Tetsuya Takeda as
Atsuro Watabe as
Takashi Kashiwabara as
Mitsuru Hirata as
Yumi Asō as
Kotaro Tanaka as
Keisuke Koide as
Kei Tanaka as
Hiroyuki Onoue as
Kaoru Yachigusa as
Kaoru Okunuki as
Chihiro Otsuka as
Momoko Kurasawa as
Seina Kasugai as
Shun Shioya as
Hitomi Satō as
Michiko Kawai as
Kimiko Yo as
Naomi Nishida as
White Night (Korean film, 2009)
Into the White Night (Japanese film, 2011)

External links

Official Site (Japanese TV Series)

Notes and References

English edition: Journey Under the Midnight Sun (London: Little, Brown, October 2015), ISBN (print) 978-1-4087-0411-0, (e-book) 978-1-4055-1680-8; American edition: Under the Midnight Sun (New York: Minotaur Books, November 2016), ISBN (print) 978-1-250-10579-0, (e-book) 978-1-250-10580-6.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License . It uses material from the Wikipedia article " Journey Under the Midnight Sun ".

The Haptic Room

To touch is to experience, but to feel is to live

Journey Under the Midnight Sun

Stepping into the world of “Journey Under the Midnight Sun” by Keigo Higashino. I felt like I was on a path veiled in shadow, with only the faintest of light to guide me. The story, rooted in a grim discovery in Osaka in 1973, unfolds. Not as a conventional mystery but as a profound exploration of the human condition. It stretched over two decades of intertwined lives and hidden truths.

“When you wander in the dark too long, you start to see things that aren’t really there.”

In Osaka, 1973, a body was found in an abandoned building. The police never caught the killer nor the motive for the murder. The story then moves on to Ryo, the son of the murdered man, and Yukiho, the daughter of the main suspect, were the ones who are most affected by the crime.

Want to read this book? Click here .

From the outset, Ryo and Yukiho, children bound by the aftermath of a crime. They emerged as figures of deep intrique and complexity. Higashino has this unique way of drawing you into their lives, making you feel every bit of their anguish and longing. I found myself rooting for them. I want them to find some semblance of happiness. This is a sign of compelling character development that Higashino masterfully lays out.

Ryo and Yukiho’s relationship, scarred and shaped by tragedy, evolved in a way that kept me tethered to the pages. Higashino’s skill in character development is something. Even after the last page, I found myself still wrapped in the afterglow of their story.

If you expect this as a straightforward detective book, then you will be disappointed. Higashino doesn’t just ask “whodunit” but goes into the “why.” The real beauty of this novel lies in its exploration of the impacts. Not to mention, the intricacies of the relationship that central to the mystery.

Rating Journey Under the Midnight Sun

Among Higashino’s books, “Journey Under the Midnight Sun” shines the brightest for me. Its blend of nuanced character arcs and unexpected plot twists is nothing short of brilliant. His writing carries you through the narrative, and you will find yourself consumed by the mystery and human drama.

The concept of midnight sun – something constant but elusive – perfectly captures the story. It is a narrative that goes into a quest for truth in a realm where it seems as distant as the sun at midnight. More than a mystery, I feel this book is an introspective look at human nature, and our search for understanding.

Rating this book a solid 5 out of 5, I’m not just drawn to its storytelling power, but for its ability to resonate with human emotions and mystery that refuses to be solved neatly.

Feeling intrigued and ready to dive into the mystery of “Journey Under the Midnight Sun”? Click here.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Author: Mia

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A Japanese book you should read: Journey Under The Midnight Sun

Book review by Matt S.

Have you heard of Higashino Keigo? If not, you’ve not delved deeply enough into Japanese crime fiction writing. Higashino has published something like 66 novels (and that doesn’t count his many short story collections), and of those, some 20 have been turned into television series’ or film. His work has been published in eight languages, though, of course, he remains incredibly niche outside of Japan, because western audiences like their crime fiction to be more Law and Order-flavoured. I’ll leave you to figure out if I think that’s a positive reflection on western tastes.

Putting aside that digression, if you’re a fan of crime writing, you really owe it to yourself to read Higashino. On that note, Journey Under The Midnight Sun is the place to start. It’s a sprawling book (most of Higashino’s novels are not in excess of 500 pages like this one), but while that might seem long by standard expectations for the crime genre, there’s a very good reason for it.

Journey Under The Midnight Sun isn’t really about the detective process, see. There are various “detectives” that try and piece together what’s going on over the course of the narrative (whether they be with the police, private investigators, or normal people), but the story isn’t focused on figuring out whodunnit. Rather, it’s about giving the reader pieces that slowly form a picture of crime and villainy. It’s obvious that something’s up with certain characters within the first 100 pages. By the 250 page mark you know without a shadow of a doubt that two particular characters are at the centre of it all. However, just what “it all” looks like, how it’s coordinated, and the machinations with which these two characters operate is where the mystery lies and there are some real surprising moments in the book, right through to the end, as the revelations come.

Indeed, there’s one particularly shocking revelation which manages to turn these two into sympathetic characters. They’re still the villains, but in other ways they are also victims. The villainy isn’t a mystery. How they were victimised is, and that’s a pretty neat reversal of how crime fiction generally works. Generally we know who the victims are, and how they were victimised, and the goal of the audience is to follow along with the plot to try and work out who the villains are. Those kinds of stories have become so common that it has become easy to pick. Here, though, I wasn’t able to pick how the final revelations fell into place with this book, and that’s perhaps because the structural expectations of the genre have been reversed within it.

In general, Journey Under The Midnight Sun is a structurally fascinating book. Though the story is almost entirely focused on these two characters, we only ever get to experience them, in passing, through the eyes of the medley of characters that get caught up in their machinations. It’s how Higashino maintains the mystery, with each new character offering a couple of new insights into what’s going on, but it’s all one step removed, and only ever contributes to one elaborate jigsaw puzzle. For the longest time the picture simply doesn’t form. It is almost frustrating because, again, Journey Under The Midnight Sun is a very long book, but the delayed gratification in finally understanding the full picture is all the more worthwhile for it.

Unlike many other Japanese crime fiction greats such as Kirino Natsuo and Nakamura Fuminori , there’s nothing particularly literary about Higashino’s writing style. In fact, one of the reasons that I suspect TV and film producers regularly turn to Higashino is because his work is remarkably easy to translate directly into visual media. With efficiency and minimal embellishment, Higashino describes conversations, events, and results, without any particular desire for philosophical digressions or genre-bending. The author claims to be most heavily inspired by authors such as Matsumoto Seicho and Edogawa Ranpo , and that heritage is evident in his own work. Journey Under The Midnight Sun is a long read, but a highly accessible one that is particularly undemanding of the reader.

With that being said, as a genre work, Journey Under The Midnight Sun is written beautifully. Characters are distinct and interesting, and while descriptions are efficient, they’re not minimalist – Higashino is a great short story writer and knows how to paint a picture at rapid pace. There also a touch of the neo-noir to the book, which helps build atmosphere and tone. For example, the reason that we know that one of the two protagonists is a villain is because she’s written up in a particularly femme fatale manner: “She was pretty, he had to admit, with very delicate features. But there was something else, too. There are thorns in her eyes—that was the only way he could express it. For a moment, he thought she might have felt left out because he spoke to her friend first and not to her, but as she smiled, he realised the thorns were always there. A true lady would never have eyes like that.”

Though it’s not philosophical, the book is also a reflection on many of the more traditional elements in Japanese society. The traditional and heavily patriarchal design of the traditional Japanese family unit, for example. The highly protective attitude of Japanese businesses towards intellectual property (the book being set in the 80s, as software became an asset that Japanese law would subsequently protect). The bulk of the crimes being committed transgress these more traditional values – i.e. it’s the bad guys stealing software and the woman looking for a life beyond the role of housewife is the dangerous one – and in this way Journey Under The Midnight Sun skews in a generally conservative direction with the values that it espouses, though that’s by no means unusual for this particular genre, particularly when you consider that it’s borrowing so heavily from classical elements of the crime and noir tradition.

More to the point, though, Journey Under The Midnight Sun a fun, dynamic page-turner of a book. It’s an easy read, despite its bulk as a book, and paints vivid characters and a labyrinthine mystery. It’s always interesting when an author eschews the standard expectation that the “whodunnit” will be at the centre of the book. Here, there’s no real question about that. All the questions here are the “why’s”, and I would suggest that those are more interesting questions to ask, anyway.

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Higashino Keigo is the best

Introduction to Higashino Keigo and his books

My review for Journey Under the Midnight Sun

Score: 8/10

This is probably one of the most controversial works of Keigo Higashino. There are two major points of controversy in the book. Firstly, the two main characters, Ryo and Yukiho, both had a terrible childhood. After they grow up, Yukiho desperately wants to live a wealthy and well-respected life. In order to achieve her target, she manipulates and ruins the lives of many others, with Ryo as her accomplice. Many readers, including myself, feel a sense of both pity and hatred towards Yukiho. Her acts are despicable and cannot be justified with her childhood experience. However, on the other hand, Keigo Higashino also shows us how she is constantly haunted by her past experience, that even after she has received everything she wanted, she is still unhappy and would probably never be happy. This is the biggest controversy of the story, but also the best part of the story, that Higashino shows us how a victim of fate has eventually turned into someone who inflicts pain on others.

Another major controversy revolves around the relationship between Ryo and Yukiho. In contrast to the previous controversy, which the author has revealed too many cruel details of how Yukiho’s personality is shaped, Higashino decides to leave the relationship between Ryo and Yukiho in an ambiguous state and gives very little psychological descriptions on what do the two characters think about their relationship. Ryo is clearly obsessed with Yukiho, but we do not know if it is only infatuation, or something deeper and sincerer than that. On the other hand, Yukiho seems to be manipulating Ryo for her own purpose. However, when the moment when Ryo died is also one of the rare moments that Yukiho expressed her sadness. Personally, I think there can be many interpretations of their relationship, and that sense of ambiguity has actually made the book even better.

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Journey Under the Midnight Sun by Keigo Higashino

Translated by alexander o smith with joseph reeder..

Reviewed by Gill Davies

This is the first novel I’ve read by Keigo Higashino – indeed, my first Japanese crime novel – and despite having a War & Peace experience with the unfamiliar names, I enjoyed it very much and look forward to reading more novels by this author. Journey Under the Midnight Sun was first published in Japan in 2002 and now appears in a smooth translation by Alexander O. Smith with Joseph Reeder. It opens with the discovery of a corpse in an abandoned building in Osaka and at first seems to be a traditional police procedural, as we encounter the lead detective, Sasagaki, and observe the early stages of the investigation. Then at the end of Chapter 1, as the investigation comes to a halt with no solution, everything changes. The next few chapters focus on Yukiho, daughter of one of the possible suspects, as she moves from elementary school in a poor run-down part of Osaka to new home and high school, moving a little up the social ladder, to college and a new life. For much of the remainder of the novel, Yuhiko is the focus, even when she isn’t actually present. The lives of all the characters seem to be touched by her, often in quite tangential, threatening or mysterious ways.

Thus, a murder mystery is introduced then almost forgotten, while a sequence of strange and dark events bubbles under the surface of a narrative about new then recurring characters.

The detective and the original crime don’t reappear for 270 pages but hints and connections begin to build into a hazy picture. The plotting is ingenious and unusual in that we aren’t caught up with the original mystery, as in a whodunnit, but instead held by new characters and situations. When the detective does re-appear he sidles into the lives of the characters in the same way that they were introduced and re-introduced. It emerges that he is still preoccupied with the initial crime and is pursuing hunches as well as slight clues in order to get a resolution. This is in fact what the reader has been doing for around 200 pages of the novel since Sasagaki was left behind after Chapter 1. One of the characters speaks of his life as being lived “under a midnight sun” and the strangeness of that phrase chimes with my reading experience – there’s a flatness to the narrative voice but underneath it is mystery, darkness, menace. It’s a slow burner: the steadily-moving plot introduces new situations, periodically returning to characters from the early section, but not resolving the puzzle until the very last pages (of a long novel). Each chapter is followed by a time interval and the introduction of new characters, the original crime is alluded to, overlaid with events which may or may not be connected. We slowly realise that behind some of the key events there seem to be two of the young, lower-class characters that we encountered early on.

One of the reasons I enjoyed this novel so much was its Japanese setting, established in allusions and contextual detail rather than long descriptive passages. Indeed, it’s worth reading just to get a picture of an era in which post-war Japan was transformed in the rapid social and technological change after the 1960s. It covers almost 20 years from the initial crime in 1973 to its resolution, moving between a run-down Osaka to the Tokyo of the economic miracle almost up to the point of the economic crash of 1990. (The plot mirrors this rise and fall.) I imagine that the way in which Higashino takes us through the 1970s and 80s must be intriguing for Japanese readers too. He presents a generation growing up and leaving behind traditional Japanese customs, becoming more Americanised. They drink coffee, smoke light cigarettes, watch baseball, eat in French restaurants, consume American films and TV, obsess about computer games and hi-tech gadgets. The plot is actually tied in to changes in the economy like the rise of computing technologies, electronics and pharmaceuticals, high-end boutiques, and economic bubbles.

Alongside the detailed picture of a changing society the novel gives us intimate vignettes of the characters, at home and at work, including their feelings and relationships. It’s quite an achievement to have a broad social picture emerging from the details of multiple characters’ everyday lives. Even the characters who – we gradually realise – are implicated in the earlier crime, and continue to act in criminal and often brutal ways, remain interesting and even sympathetic. The portrait of everyday life ranges from the poorest who are near to starvation, unable to pay rent to the salarymen and the business world, and the very rich. I found the representation of women especially interesting. Some of the families have only one parent; female characters often live alone or with difficult partners. Traditional attitudes to gender roles, work and marriage are explored – women in particular seem to be emerging from some of the traditional constraints and expectations. There seems to be more social as well as gender mobility – at least in this young, metropolitan milieu. An intriguing picture, then, of Japanese society in the later 20th century along with mystery and tight plotting with a satisfying resolution that makes human as well as narrative sense.

Keigo Higashino, Journey Under the Midnight Sun (Little Brown, 2015). 978-1408704110, 539pp., paperback.

BUY via affiliate links: Bookshop.org or Blackwell’s

Journey Under the Midnight Sun by Keigo Higashino

One-Sentence Summary: The death of a pawnbroker drives two young people to dark and sinister life.

Yosuke Kirihara, a pawnbroker, was found dead by a kid at an abandoned construction site. Before his death, Yosuke visited one of his customers, Fumiyo Nishimoto, leading detective Sasagaki, wondering whether there had an affair. The police had been suspecting Fumiyo, but later she died due to gas leakage at home, which was still a mystery until the end. The case was left unsolved without finding the killer and a large sum of money. Four years later, an old photo emerged from the classmate of Yosuke's son, Ryo Kirihara. Will this photo be the answer to the case?

The story expands to the life of Ryo and Fumiyo's daughter, Yukiho Nishimoto, from their lives in high school until their adulthood. There were so many coincidences and unfortunate events surrounding their life involving their classmates and friends. It's not easy to find any relations between both of them as they look like two strangers without any connections to each other, but they had been working together throughout their lives in a hideous manner. There were so many coincidences and unfortunate events in their lives. Meanwhile, detective Sasagaki has been following the unsolved murder case for almost twenty years.

Despite the confusion due to the lacking of transition stage and too many characters involved in the story, I found the writer's idea is unconventionally brilliant. It keeps pushing the readers to continuously pursue the truth with detective Sasagaki. It's just getting darker and keep readers wondering who Yosuke's murderer is. The entire story mainly focuses on the life of the young people, and the reader is wondering how their lives related to Yosuke's death. There weren't many hints can be extracted by the readers because the writer left the truth until the last page. There were so many plot twists throughout the story. It can be anything beyond our imaginations because the writer is telling another unrelated account which the reader can't connect the dots to the main plot.

ISBN: 9781405516808 (ebook) Number of Pages: 544 Rating: ★★★ (3/5) More reviews can be found on:

Goodreads: Journey Under the Midnight Sun by Keigo Higashino .
The Storygraph: Journey Under the Midnight Sun by Keigo Higashino .

Midnight Sun Ending, Explained

You know how they always say that life is short, that you should live before it leaves you? That becomes all too real when you have a rare genetic condition. With Scott Speer on the directorial chair, ‘Midnight Sun’ is a poignant and serene 2018 romantic drama movie that would leave you with a lingering numbness. While there have surely been better apples in the genre, this is not the kind of film that you will watch and forget.

The narrative follows gifted musician Katie Price whose darkened life takes a right turn when her childhood crush Charlie makes a charming appearance in her life. Katie suffers from a rare anomaly that does not allow her to go out in the sun. But her nights keep getting brighter as she runs awkward errands with Charlie. However, she chooses not to tell Charlie about her condition until it gets way worse.

Bella Thorne superbly acts against Arnold Schwarzenegger ’s son Patrick Schwarzenegger in the lead roles. The ending of the story is tragicomic, and with an adorable cast ensemble and a moving score into the mix, the formula is a real tear-jerker. By the time the credits roll onto the screen, you are left looking for some answers. If the final moments have rendered you speechless, let us try and give voice to your thoughts. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Midnight Sun Plot Synopsis

Katie Price lives a lonely life with her father, Jack Price. Katie is a moonchild with a rare genetic condition that does not allow her to go out into the sun. The condition is called Xeroderma Pigmentosum, or XP in short. From early childhood, Katie has had to stay locked in her home during the day. She has a best friend in bubbly Morgan and a childhood crush on a local boy named Charlie Reed. She would stare from her window as Charlie would skate by her house every day, wishing they could be together.

Katie’s dreams come true when on the night of graduation, Katie has a happenstance encounter with Charlie at the station. Katie freaks out and leaves as she has to arrange a funeral for her non-existent dead cat. But Katie leaves her diary behind, which would warrant another meeting with Charlie. In no time, they fall in love with each other. Katie is growing up, and her father cannot keep her confined anymore, while her condition progressively worsens. Thus, the film prepares the viewers for an inevitable destiny while reminding them of the value of life.

Midnight Sun Ending: Is Katie Dead or Alive?

Although Katie suffers from a rare genetic disorder that restricts her movements quite a bit, we remember Katie as this powerhouse of a person. Her health issues notwithstanding, she is a gifted musician with a heavenly voice. While her childhood was presumably spent in darkness, Katie’s life takes an animate turn when she meets Charlie. After an awkward beginning (where Katie comes up with a hilarious excuse to bid farewell to Charlie), they seem to hit it off quite well. As it turns out, Charlie falls in love with Katie from the very first encounter, and it is a match made in heaven. It is as if they are destined to fall in love with each other.

But she chooses to conceal her ailment from Charlie since she does not want to be seen as a disease but rather as a person. We empathize with her thinking, as some of us can only imagine what she has to go through. Her rare ailment lessens the life spans of the sufferers, and as Dr. Paula Fleming suggests to a devastated Jack Price, Katie’s days are numbered. Katie overhears the conversation and therefore chooses to live life to the fullest. On one of their night errands, Charlie takes her to her very first live concert. Outside the concert venue, Katie begins to hum and strum an enchanting tune, and people gather around her like bees attracted to a fragrant flower.

The night withers, and it’s morning before she knows it. Katie panics, and Charlie rushes her to a safe place. Charlie is clueless as he does not know about Katie’s ailment. Morgan gives him a rough idea, and Charlie gets to know the rest from the internet. She gets somewhat better and decides to break up with Charlie. But Charlie is not the kind of person who would escape. Together, they make the impossible possible. Charlie gives another shot at the swimming scholarship, and Katie records her first song in a studio. During the couple’s first kiss, Charlie asked Katie whether she would like to experience the sunset on a boat with him. Katie nodded to the proposal.

Towards the end, when Charlie is about to go out, Katie asks her father for permission to go on the boat with Charlie. After the mild protest, Jack Price agrees, and Katie sails out for her final voyage. The sun shines on her, and we see her smiling before the screen fades to white. In the post-script sequence, as her father empties the urn in the nearby lake, we become certain of Katie’s death. But hold your thought. Just as Charlie leaves for the swimming practice, ‘Charlie’s Song’ by Katie Price airs on the radio. This is the same song that Katie recorded in the presence of Charlie. Therefore, as long as her song lingers on, she is alive in the loving memory of her friends and her father.

Does Katie Arrange For Charlie’s Scholarship?

Charlie is a talented swimmer, but he can’t swim after an accident. At night, by the concert venue, they get undressed to take a dip in the chilled water on Katie’s insistence. With Katie by his side, Charlie feels like he can do everything. Charlie performs fairly well in the swimming qualifier. A little push from Katie makes him overcome his fear of swimming. When coming out of the pool, Charlie gets to know that the Berkeley coach is impressed. With Katie in his memory, Charlie moves forward with his life. But at the final moments, when Charlie comes around to give Jack a visit, Jack tells Charlie that Katie stayed in touch with the coach. Therefore, it is quite evident that Katie pulled some strings for Charlie so that he can grab that scholarship.

Is Xeroderma Pigmentosum a Real Disease?

In the movie, Katie suffers from a rare genetic anomaly called Xeroderma Pigmentosum , which is known by its abbreviation XP. You know how movies create fabricated realities, and some of you may be wondering whether the disease is real or not . In that case, we would be compelled to say that the condition is very much real. An ailment caused by an alteration in genetic codes, the rare condition affects one in a million. People suffering from XP are especially vulnerable to UV light, and long exposure to the sun can be fatal for them.

Due to the adversity, the moon children tend to have a shorter life expectancy. Much like Katie, every day is a gift for people who get diagnosed with this ailment. The condition usually occurs owing to a DNA modification in children born out of consanguine marriages (marriages between two people who are biologically close) but can be triggered by other dormant reasons as well. As of now, there is no known cure for the ailment.

Read More: Where Was Midnight Sun Filmed?

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