The writer Keigo Higashino, famous for his literature, died on July 23, 2026, at the age of 68. Among his most notable creations is the “Galileo” series, which features the award-winning “The Devotion of Suspect X”, awarded the 134th Naoki Prize. At the beginning of the year, in January, the animated film “The Guardian of the Camphor Tree” premiered, being the first adaptation of his work to the animated format.
A native of Osaka Prefecture, where he was born in 1958, Higashino obtained his degree in Electrical Engineering from Osaka Prefectural University and worked as an engineer before entering the literary world. His debut as an author came in 1985 with “After School”, awarded the 31st Edogawa Rampo Prize. A series of his works, including “The Secret”, “The Miracles of the Namiya Convenience Store” and “When the Prayer Curtain Falls”, as well as the popular series “Galileo”, have won over audiences not only in books, but also in television series, films and theatrical productions.
Higashino’s foray into the world of anime culminated with the release of “The Guardian of the Camphor Tree” in January. This was the first adaptation of one of his narratives into an animated film format. The direction was in charge of Tomohiko Ito, celebrated for works such as “Sword Art Online”, “Erased” and “HELLO WORLD”, with production by A-1 Pictures.
Additionally, the “Galileo Reading Play Series” was scheduled to present “The Galileo Reading Play Series: The Devotion of Suspect
The announcement of his death was made on July 27th through the official accounts of platform X, managed by representatives of the seven publishers responsible for his books. The official statement said: “He passed away in the early hours of July 23. We respectfully offer our deepest condolences and inform you of his passing.” Keigo Higashino left a vast legacy of 106 individually published works, from “After School”, in September 1985, to “Eternal Memory”, scheduled for release on August 5th. Publishers, via social media, urged readers to continue to enjoy his stories, stating, “We believe that the stories he created will continue to fascinate many readers. Please continue to enjoy Higashino’s novels.”
