# Every No. 1 Japanese novel in "Kono Mystery ga Sugoi!" (1988–2026 editions)

Since 1988 Takarajimasha's annual guide "Kono Mystery ga Sugoi!" ("This Mystery Is Amazing!") has ranked the year's mysteries in a poll of writers, critics and booksellers. These are all the winners of its Japanese section, from the first issue to the 2026 edition, in order.

- 34 votes · 38 items
- Apr 12, 2026 · Misaki Okada
- https://even.best/en/l/5226/every-no-1-japanese-novel-in-kono-mystery-ga-sugoi-1988-2026-editions

## Top 38

1. **『新宿鮫』大沢在昌** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 1991 edition (published January 1991).
2. **『伝説なき地』船戸与一** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 1988 edition (published December 1988).
3. **『ミステリーズ』山口雅也** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 1995 edition (published December 1994).
4. **『満願』米澤穂信** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2015 edition (published December 2014).
5. **『私が殺した少女』原尞** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 1989 edition (published January 1990).
6. **『行きずりの街』志水辰夫** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 1992 edition (published January 1992).
7. **『砂のクロニクル』船戸与一** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 1993 edition (published January 1993).
8. **『OUT』桐野夏生** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 1998 edition (published December 1997).
9. **『レディ・ジョーカー』髙村薫** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 1999 edition (published December 1998).
10. **『奇術探偵 曾我佳城全集』泡坂妻夫** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2001 edition (published December 2000).
11. **『半落ち』横山秀夫** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2003 edition (published December 2002).
12. **『生首に聞いてみろ』法月綸太郎** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2005 edition (published December 2004).
13. **『容疑者Xの献身』東野圭吾** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2006 edition (published December 2005).
14. **『独白するユニバーサル横メルカトル』平山夢明** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2007 edition (published December 2006).
15. **『警官の血』佐々木譲** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2008 edition (published December 2007).
16. **『ゴールデンスランバー』伊坂幸太郎** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2009 edition (published December 2008).
17. **『64（ロクヨン）』横山秀夫** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2013 edition (published December 2012).
18. **『ノックス・マシン』法月綸太郎** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2014 edition (published December 2013).
19. **『たかが殺人じゃないか 昭和24年の推理小説』辻真先** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2021 edition (published December 2020).
20. **『爆弾』呉勝浩** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2023 edition (published December 2022).
21. **『不夜城』馳星周** (0 · ▲1 ▼1) — No. 1 in the 1997 edition (published December 1996).
22. **『屍人荘の殺人』今村昌弘** (0 · ▲1 ▼1) — No. 1 in the 2018 edition (published December 2017).
23. **『マークスの山』髙村薫** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 1994 edition (published December 1993).
24. **『ホワイトアウト』真保裕一** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 1996 edition (published December 1995).
25. **『葉桜の季節に君を想うということ』歌野晶午** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2004 edition (published December 2003).
26. **『悪の教典』貴志祐介** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2011 edition (published December 2010).
27. **『ジェノサイド』高野和明** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2012 edition (published December 2011).
28. **『王とサーカス』米澤穂信** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2016 edition (published December 2015).
29. **『medium 霊媒探偵城塚翡翠』相沢沙呼** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2020 edition (published December 2019).
30. **『黒牢城』米澤穂信** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2022 edition (published December 2021).
31. **『可燃物』米澤穂信** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2024 edition (published December 2023).
32. **『地雷グリコ』青崎有吾** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2025 edition (published December 2024).
33. **『失われた貌』櫻田智也** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — No. 1 in the 2026 edition (published December 2025).
34. **『永遠の仔』天童荒太** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — No. 1 in the 2000 edition (published December 1999).
35. **『模倣犯』宮部みゆき** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — No. 1 in the 2002 edition (published December 2001).
36. **『新参者』東野圭吾** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — No. 1 in the 2010 edition (published December 2009).
37. **『涙香迷宮』竹本健治** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — No. 1 in the 2017 edition (published December 2016).
38. **『それまでの明日』原尞** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — No. 1 in the 2019 edition (published December 2018).

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.