by Shiro Hamao
Hamao is known in the history of Japanese detective fiction for his focus on the limits of justice under the modern legal system. His shorter works tended to focus on the psychological motives behind the crime rather than the puzzle of ‘whodunnit?’ and often used themes of perverse sexuality to illustrate the blind spots of the law. Hamao was extremely tall and ‘thin as a crane’ according to his friend and fellow writer Yokomizo Seishi, but despite his imposing appearance and intimidating social position, surprisingly approachable and ‘friendly enough to cure my shyness’.
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