Mystery Day (Misuteri Kinenbi)

What Is Mystery Day?

October 7 is Mystery Day in Japan. It marks the death of American writer Edgar Allan Poe, considered the father of the detective story, who died on October 7, 1849, at the age of 40. Poe's detective C. Auguste Dupin, who solves crimes through observation and reasoning, became the model for the fictional detective and influenced countless others, including Sherlock Holmes. It is a day to enjoy the fun of solving mysteries.

The Beginning of Detective Fiction

"The Murders in the Rue Morgue," published by Poe in 1841, is considered the world's first detective story.

• A locked-room puzzle: The story involves a crime in a room locked from the inside and is said to be the origin of the "locked-room mystery."
• Detective and narrator: The pairing of a brilliant detective and a friend who narrates his exploits was later carried on by Holmes and Watson.
• The three Dupin stories: Dupin appears in three works: "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt," and "The Purloined Letter."

Poe and Japanese Mystery Fiction

Poe's influence can clearly be seen in Japanese mystery fiction.

• Edogawa Rampo's name: The pen name of Edogawa Rampo, considered the father of Japanese detective fiction, is a play on "Edgar Allan Poe."
• "The Two-Sen Copper Coin": Rampo's debut work (1923) centers on breaking a code and shows the influence of Poe's "The Gold-Bug," a classic of cipher fiction.
• The Edogawa Rampo Prize: Founded in 1954 with a donation from Rampo, the prize is still known as a gateway for new mystery writers.

Mystery Trivia

• Knox's Ten Commandments and Van Dine's Twenty Rules: In the 1920s, mystery writer Ronald Knox published his "Ten Commandments" of detective fiction, and S. S. Van Dine published "Twenty Rules for Writing Detective Stories." They are still discussed as rules for a fair contest of wits between author and reader.
• Red herring: A false clue meant to distract readers is called a "red herring." It is a good reminder, when reading news or ads, to ask whether an eye-catching detail is pulling your attention away.
• The Edgar Awards: The Mystery Writers of America's awards for the best mystery works are named the "Edgars" after Poe.
• Murder mystery games: In these interactive games, participants play characters and try to identify the culprit. Dedicated venues and events have been increasing in Japan in recent years.
• Poe's mysterious death: Poe was found delirious on the streets of Baltimore and died a few days later. The cause of his death remains unclear, making the author's own death a mystery as well.

Ideas for Mystery Day

• Read Poe's short stories "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" or "The Purloined Letter." They are short enough to finish in an evening.
• Read a short story by Edogawa Rampo and look for similarities with Poe.
• Try a puzzle game or escape room with friends or coworkers.
• Treat a small problem at work as a "mystery" and gather clues to figure out its cause.

A Day to Enjoy Solving Mysteries

Mystery Day on October 7 is a day to enjoy the pleasure of deduction that Poe created more than 180 years ago. The great detectives who followed — from Dupin to Holmes to Rampo's creations — still entertain readers today. On a long autumn night, why not pick up a mystery and enjoy the thrill of the moment when everything falls into place?