As China opens its movie and television industries to more foreign influences, a variety of viewing fare are being made available to Chinese viewers. One genre that was a recent hit in China is Korean Hallyu, best seen when “Descendants of the Sun” became a hit when shown over iQiyi.
Now, Chinese filmmakers would soon introduce Japanese detective fiction. Beijing News reported that studios in China have recently been purchasing copyrights to famous Japanese works which would be adapted to film.
As a result, there are several adaptations of the novels of Japanese mystery writer Keigo Higashino currently being produce. Among them is “The Devotion of Suspect X.” Adaptation rights were purchased by Enlight Media, while Taiwanese actor and singer Alec Su has been tapped to direct the upcoming movie. The novel had been adapted before by South Korean and Japanese filmmakers.
Meanwhile, Emperor Motion Pictures and the Wanda Group bought the copyright to “The Miracle in the Grocery Store” and would be shown in theaters in 2017, while a new movie company set up by Chinese director Jia Zhangke purchased the copyright to “Paradox 13.”
By July 8, Chinese audience would have a first sampling of Japanese detective fiction with the exhibition of “Edge of Innocence.” Desen International Media acquired the film rights from the book written by Soji Shimada. The story revolves around a 19-year-old man who falls in love with a young woman who killed his father in a traffic accident.
Crimefictionlover noted that because of the long commute hours, Japanese commuters love to read while riding the train. However, it pointed out that crime sections in Japanese bookstores usually offer formulaic murder series set on trains.
The website recommended the following novels as the top five Japanese crime fiction: “The Cage” by Kenzo Kitakata, “Inspector Imanishi Investigates” by Seicho Matsumoto, “Shinjuku Shark” by Arimasa Osawa, “The Tattoo Murder Case” by Akimitsu Takagi and “All She Was Worth” by Miyuki Miyabe.