Honobu Yonezawa is a Japanese mystery novelist born in 1978 in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. His desire to write began early, and while studying literature at Kanazawa University, he started publishing his own works online. After graduating, he worked as a bookstore clerk while continuing to write, a period that led to his official debut in 2001 when his novel Hyouka received an honorable mention in the Kadokawa Gakuen Novel Award.

Yonezawa is best known as the original creator behind two prominent mystery series that have been adapted into popular anime and manga. The first is the Classic Literature Club series, which began with the novel Hyouka. This series is set in a high school in a fictional city based on Yonezawa’s hometown of Takayama and follows a group of students as they solve various mysteries. Hyouka was adapted into a 22-episode anime television series by Kyoto Animation that aired in 2012, and also received a manga adaptation drawn by Taskohna which began serialization in 2012.

The second major work adapted for the screen is the Shōshimin Series. The first novel in this series, Shunki Gentei Ichigo Tart Jiken, was published in 2004. This series, which follows two high school students who vow to live ordinary lives but find themselves drawn into investigating mysterious incidents, was adapted into the anime television series Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary. Produced by Lapin Track, the anime’s first season aired in 2024, with a second season following in 2025.

Beyond these two series, Yonezawa has authored a substantial body of work that includes numerous standalone mystery novels. Some of his notable titles include Sayonara Yōsei, Inshite Miru, Oreta Ryūkotsu, and Kokurōjō. His career is marked by significant critical acclaim and numerous awards. He won the Mystery Writers of Japan Award in 2011 for Oreta Ryūkotsu and received the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize in 2014 for his short story collection Mangan. His novel Kokurōjō earned him the Naoki Prize and the Yamada Futarō Prize in 2022, cementing his status as a leading figure in Japanese mystery fiction.

Yonezawa’s artistic identity is rooted in the mystery genre, often focusing on the intellectual puzzles of daily life and the complexities of young adult relationships. His work is characterized by intricate plotting and a focus on character-driven narratives. His significance in the industry extends beyond his literary awards; he has served on the selection committee for the Mysteries Rookie of the Year Award and was named one of Granta’s Best of Young Japanese Novelists in 2016. Through successful anime and manga adaptations, his work has reached a wide international audience.