Kono Mystery ga Sugoi!
An annual Japanese guidebook and ranking brand covering notable mystery fiction.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! is an annual Japanese mystery-fiction guidebook published by Takarajimasha. Its title translates approximately as “This Mystery Is Excellent!” and is commonly associated with the shortened name “Konomys.” The publication surveys mystery books released in Japan during the preceding year and presents a ranked selection, traditionally including a top ten list of recommended works. In addition to the rankings, the guide functions as a compact reference to current developments in Japanese mystery publishing, helping readers identify prominent novels and authors across the genre. The series began in 1988 under JICC Shuppankyoku, the publishing operation that preceded the later Takarajimasha imprint. The first edition was issued in December 1988. A 1989 edition followed in January 1990, after which the series continued with annual volumes, generally released toward the end of the calendar year or at the beginning of the following year. From the 1994 edition onward, the books were published by Takarajimasha, reflecting the corporate and imprint history of the publisher rather than a change in the guide's basic editorial purpose. The guide's annual numbering is based on the publication cycle and the year represented by each edition, rather than simply the calendar date on which the physical book appeared. For example, the 2017 edition was published in December 2016 and reviewed books from the preceding period. This convention gives the series a year-end reference role in the Japanese book market: readers, booksellers, publishers, and mystery enthusiasts can use the latest volume to compare critical or community opinion about recent releases. Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! occupies a recognizable position within Japan's network of genre rankings and literary recommendation books. It is related in format and audience to other annual or retrospective guides such as Honkaku Mystery Best 10 and Tozai Mystery Best 100, but its identity is centered on a recurring annual selection of contemporary mystery fiction. The brand is therefore best understood not as a conventional publishing house or a single fictional property, but as a recurring editorial product line whose value comes from curation, ranking, discoverability, and continuity across editions. The available reference material documents editions from 1988 through 2017. It does not establish the current publication status, present editorial staff, official website, ownership beyond the publisher, or the criteria and voting process used for every edition. Those details should therefore not be inferred. Within the documented period, the brand's principal offering remained the annual Japanese-language guidebook, with each volume providing a new ranked snapshot of the mystery-fiction field.
History
Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! was launched in 1988 as a Japanese annual guide to mystery fiction. The inaugural volume, Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! 1988, was published by JICC Shuppankyoku in December of that year. A subsequent 1989 edition appeared in January 1990, and the series then continued through annual numbered releases. The publication's core editorial function was to identify and rank notable mystery books published in Japan during the preceding year, giving the guide a retrospective and forward-looking role for genre readers. The series initially appeared under JICC Shuppankyoku. Beginning with the 1994 edition, the publisher was listed as Takarajimasha, which continued the line thereafter in the documented bibliography. The transition is consistent with the publishing-house history represented in the edition records, while the guide's title, annual format, and concentration on mystery fiction remained stable. The books were normally released around the turn of the year. Although the edition number identifies a particular year, the physical publication date could fall in December of the previous year or January of the named year. This can be seen in the early sequence and in later volumes: the 2010 edition was published in December 2009, while the 2017 edition was published in December 2016. Each volume consequently serves as an annual review of the preceding Japanese mystery-fiction market rather than a strictly contemporaneous catalog. Across its documented run, the guide developed into a recognizable reference point for readers interested in Japanese detective and crime fiction. Its ranked lists help surface books and authors, while its continuity allows readers to compare the changing profile of the genre from year to year. The brand sits alongside other Japanese mystery rankings and guidebooks, including Honkaku Mystery Best 10 and Tozai Mystery Best 100, but is distinguished by its recurring annual product structure and broad mystery-fiction orientation. The available sources document editions from 1988 through 2017, including the transition from JICC Shuppankyoku to Takarajimasha and the uninterrupted-looking sequence of annual volumes after the launch period. They do not provide reliable information about individual editors, judges, voting mechanisms, sales, later editions, or current operating status. Accordingly, the documented history supports describing Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! as an annual guidebook brand published by Takarajimasha, but not assigning named executives or unverified current corporate details.
- 2017
Latest edition in the supplied reference record
[1]The 2017 edition was published by Takarajimasha in December 2016; it is the latest volume documented in the supplied reference material.
- 2008
Twenty-first documented edition
[1]The 2008 guide was published by Takarajimasha in December 2007 and formed part of the continuing annual sequence.
- 2000
Series enters a new decade
[1]The 2000 edition was published in December 1999, demonstrating the guide's established year-end release convention.
- 1994
Takarajimasha becomes the listed publisher
[1]The 1994 edition, released in December 1993, was published by Takarajimasha rather than JICC Shuppankyoku.
- 1991
Annual series resumes in the documented bibliography
[1]The 1991 edition was published by JICC Shuppankyoku in January 1991, continuing the numbered annual guide format.
- 1989
Second annual edition
[1]The 1989 edition was issued in January 1990 as the next documented volume in the series.
- 1988
First edition published
[1]JICC Shuppankyoku published the inaugural Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! guidebook in December 1988.
Products and positioning
A recurring Japanese reference and discovery guide for recent mystery fiction, combining annual rankings with genre-focused editorial coverage.
Publishing / reference book · 1988
Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! annual guidebook
A yearly Japanese-language guide to mystery fiction. Each edition ranks notable mystery books published in Japan during the preceding year, traditionally presenting a top-ten selection and related genre-oriented editorial material. The numbered volumes provide a recurring snapshot of the Japanese mystery market and are intended for readers seeking recommendations, rankings, and an overview of contemporary detective and crime fiction.
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