novelraw Chapter 33 Don't use political correctness as a fig leaf!
Chapter 33 Don't use political correctness as a fig leaf!
Although Miyoshi Toru was the chairman of the Japan Mystery Writers Association at the time, he held a high position.
However, we should still show some respect to Takao Tsuchiya, a master of classic mystery.
After all, Professor Akimitsu Takagi and Professor Seishi Yokomizo are still alive. If I really anger the orthodox school of mystery, I might end up making things worse.
Takao Tsuchiya is really going to bring out the great surgeon Seishi Yokomizo!
At that point, I'm afraid I'll be lucky to escape with my life!
"Teacher Tsuchiya, what are you saying?!"
"It's as if I deliberately manipulated the competition and didn't invite a master of classic mystery to be a judge."
"However, as you also know, Professor Seishi Yokomizo's health problems are currently very serious, Professor Akimitsu Takagi is preparing a new book, and Professor Tetsuya Namikawa almost never participates in these kinds of things."
"Therefore, right now, the only one qualified to serve as a judge for the Edogawa Ranpo Award, especially one from the orthodox school, is you."
"It was only because the head of Kodansha insisted that we find a master of classic mystery to be a judge that we managed to find you first."
"You should know that the Japan Mystery Writers Association Award judges at the Kobunsha bookstore next door are all from the social commentary school; they couldn't get a single judge from the orthodox mystery school!"
Miyoshi Toru was able to become the chairman of the Mystery Writers of Japan because he had some skills. He put away his previous arrogant attitude and calmed down Tsuchiya Takao's anger with just a few words.
Because Takao Tsuchiya himself was well aware that, under the powerful impact of the "Kiyoshi Curse," traditional mystery fiction was indeed facing a talent gap.
That's why Takao Tsuchiya was so eager to promote Kyosuke Jo as the standard-bearer of the new era!
Even though, after writing only this one novel, "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders," Kyosuke Maijo turned to the social realism genre.
That can be considered as Maijo Kyosuke giving a breather to orthodox mystery!
As long as there is breath in this world, classic mystery will never die!
Standing on the stage, Takao Tsuchiya gently stroked the manuscript of "The Astrological Murder Mystery" on the table with his wrinkled hands, his heart filled with admiration.
Suddenly, I recalled my younger self, when I happily placed my manuscript on the desk of my idol, Edogawa-sensei, and Edogawa-sensei read it and couldn't stop praising me.
When he came to his senses, Takao Tsuchiya realized that it had happened almost thirty years ago...
Wiping away a few tears from the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, Takao Tsuchiya slumped into a chair as if he had used up all his strength, no longer as tough as before.
The heated argument then subsided into silence.
Despite their arguments over their own positions, Miyoshi Toru, Chen Shunchen, and Itsuki Hiroyuki all shared a pure desire to make the Japanese literary world better and better.
Seeing Takao Tsuchiya sitting in a chair like an old man, his eyes filled with tears, everyone felt a pang of sadness.
I don't want to make this "special Dragon Award" feel like a heavy farewell ceremony for classic mystery novels.
So the three of them could only turn their attention to the “culprit”, Gonda Manji, wanting him to explain what exactly he had been up to!
Gonda Manji hadn't expected his words to make the situation so awkward, so he could only give a wry smile and turn on the microphone.
"First of all, I want to apologize to everyone for my slip of the tongue just now. It was my lack of consideration that led to Denglong Award being in this situation."
Gonda Manji stood up, straightened his suit, and bowed to the four judges.
He then bowed deeply to the Kodansha audience below the stage.
After bowing, Gonda Manji slowly placed his hands on the two manuscripts in front of him and said:
"We are all employees of Kodansha, and I believe that you have all read these two books and have a clear understanding of which one is better."
"But why did I vote for Motohiko Izawa's *Sarumaru's Ghost Journey* when I clearly preferred Kyosuke Maijo's *The Tokyo Zodiac Murders*?"
"The reason is actually very simple: Motohiko Izawa's 'The Vision of Sarumaru' involves Japanese history, criminology, cryptography, folklore, and science fiction elements."
"It's truly remarkable that you can fit all this in while maintaining logical consistency. More importantly, it includes Japanese history and Japanese waka poetry!"
Gonda Manji glanced at the four judges not far away, a helpless, bitter smile on his face:
"Everyone was just discussing the decline of orthodox mystery novels, saying that orthodox mystery novels have entered a period of transition."
"But has anyone considered this? Besides Professor Chen Shunchen and Chairman Miyoshi Toru, are there any other well-known historical mystery writers in Japan?"
"Two years ago, Tsumabu Awasaka won the Japan Mystery Writers Association Award for his classic mystery novel, 'The Uncontrollable Toy'."
"But the last historical mystery novel to win the Naoki Prize was Chen Shunchen's *The Jade Lion Incense Burner*!"
"Leaving aside the fact that Professor Chen Shunchen's historical reasoning depicts Chinese history, even so, that happened a full eleven years ago!"
"You guys keep saying that classic mystery novels have declined, but at least their roots are still there!"
"This doesn't seem like historical deduction; the roots are dead, leaving only a hollow trunk that's stubbornly clinging on!"
Gonda Manji sighed heavily and pointed to the two manuscripts in front of him, continuing:
"Therefore, my attitude is very simple, because I clearly understand that even if Professor Maijo Kyosuke doesn't receive the 'Rising Dragon Award'."
"With his sharp and arrogant style, he will still debut as a writer and is very likely to leave an important mark on the history of Japanese mystery."
"But if Motohiko Izawa doesn't win the 'Rising Dragon Award,' there might never be anyone in Japan writing historical mystery novels about Japan again!"
Chen Shunchen and Miyoshi Tetsu's expressions turned somewhat grim upon hearing Gonda Manji's words.
Because neither of them realized that, compared to the already declining orthodox mystery genre, historical mystery had long since died out!
This is undoubtedly a fatal blow to these historical mystery writers!
As expected of a mystery critic, Gonda Manji's arguments not only captivated the other four judges on stage.
Many people in the audience began to whisper among themselves.
The reason is self-evident: the purpose of the Edogawa Ranpo Prize is to select writers who can influence future generations.
If we only consider style, resonance, temperament, trickery, and aftertaste, it is clear that Kyosuke Maijo's "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders" is the clear winner!
However, if we add it to Motohiko Izawa's name, it can preserve the shameless argument of the Japanese historical mystery school.
If nothing unexpected happens, then Motohiko Izawa will naturally win the "Ryusho" award and become a standard-bearer for historical mystery with "Sarumu Gensei".
Faced with this situation, not only Hideomi Uyama, but also the deputy editor-in-chief who discovered Kyosuke Maishiro disagreed!
Jiang Liu Meili, who relied on Mai Shiro Kyosuke's "A Bellflower" to completely make her magazine famous, found it completely unacceptable!
"Mr. Gonda Manji, stop fooling around!"
"Incompetence is incompetence; don't use political correctness as a fig leaf!"
"They said that to preserve historical reasoning, the Dragon Award should be awarded to Motohiko Izawa."
"How is this any different from using a tragic backstory to gain the judges' sympathy?!"
Jiang Liu Meili stood below the stage and pointed at Quan Tian Wanzhi on the stage, coldly questioning him!
The lights shone on Jiang Liumei, bathing her in a golden glow.
At this moment, she was like a goddess of justice wielding a sharp sword, about to confront the forces of evil, exuding a sacred and inviolable sense of justice from head to toe!