Kyoufu no Toudai

A masterpiece of unconventional thrillers created during the rise of gekiga. This is a complete reprint of the kashihon edition published by Wakagi Shobo in 1958. The story unfolds on an island where a boy who successfully stowed away arrives—a graveyard of shipwrecks. The boy's father, the lighthouse keeper on this island, behaves mysteriously, leading to one mystery after another as events unfold around the lighthouse. This work comes from a period when the author, drawn to works by Edogawa Ranpo, was producing masterful mysteries like “Yottsu no Hanzai” in rapid succession. It's a fascinating piece where the author's wholesome humanism and humor shine through, yet also hints at a nihilistic edge.

(Source: Shogakukan, translated)