Journey Under the Midnight Sun


Journey Under the Midnight Sun is a mystery novel written by Keigo Higashino, first serialized in the monthly novel magazine Subaru from Shueisha from January 1997 to January 1999. The entire volume was published in August 1999 and became a bestseller.
During the serialization, the novel was at first written as a series of short stories representing chronological snapshots of the overall plot line. Higashino modified its structure to make it a single coherent story before publishing it as a single volume. As of November 2005 the book had sold 550,000 copies. However, its sales quickly picked up after the first episode of the adapted TV series was aired. By January 2006 its sales had broken a million. Its sales exceeded 2 million in December 2010.
The novel attracted adaptations, including a stage drama in 2005, a Japanese TV series in 2006, a Korean motion picture in 2009, and a Japanese motion picture in 2010.

Synopsis

In order to protect his first love, Yukiho, the young boy Ryoji accidentally killed his father; and in order to protect Ryoji from being exposed, Yukiho also killed her mother who knew the truth and put the blame on her. The legal investigation period for this case is 15 years. In order to escape legal sanctions, the 11-year-old Ryoji and Yukiho made a promise that they would live like strangers for the next 15 years. Even if they would never meet in the future, even if they could no longer hold each other's hands, they would part today in order to move towards a new life. The boy who dedicated everything to love and the girl who responded with her life, two "cruel, lonely, pure" souls, depicted the "pure love" that lasted for fourteen years. They only hope to walk slowly hand in hand in the sun.

Characters

Primary roles

Ryoji Kirihara
The son of the victim killed 19 years ago, Ryoji's eyes have been dark and emotionless since the childhood incidence. He loathes getting close with other people. He started to get involved in shady businesses like housewife prostitution rings and game bootlegging when he was a student. He is a very astute man who possesses professional software skills. He loves to use vintage scissors of his since childhood and is very good at paper cutting.
Yukiho Karasawa
A stunning beauty, Yukiho is the daughter of one of the suspects of the pawnshop homicide 19 years ago. A primary school student then, she lived a poor life with her mother. Her mother died in an accident shortly after the murder. Afterward Yukiho was adopted by Karasawa, received a good education, and turned into an upper-class lady with manners and elegance. Her academic grades were excellent, causing a lot of envy. People close to her often fall prey to misfortunes.
Junzo Sasagaki
An officer in the Crime Investigation Unit of the Osaka Prefectural Police, Junzo was in charge of the investigation of the pawnshop incidence. Over the years of investigation, he grew suspicious of the mysterious events befallen on people close to Yukiho and Ryoji; he has been investigating them since. He likes Seven Stars cigarettes very much.

Secondary roles

Hisashi Koga
An officer in the Crime Investigation Unit of the Osaka Prefectural Police, Hisashi was also investigating the pawnshop incidence. He rose through the ranks of the police force in the following 19 years. He is Junzo's coworker as well as his relative.
Yosuke Kirihara
The owner of the "Kirihara" pawnshop and Ryoji's father, Yosuke was killed 19 years ago. He cared about his son very much. He discreetly had some unusual sexual interests...
Yaeko Kirihara
Mother of Ryoji, Yaeko became the owner of the pawnshop after her husband died. After the pawnshop was closed due to mismanagement, she opened a small cafeteria. Yaeko knows she is not a responsible mother to Ryoji.
Isamu Matsuura
The store manager of the "Kirihara" pawnshop, Isamu knows a lot of secrets about the Kirihara family. He later approaches Ryoji as a broker of unauthorized game software.
Fumiyo Nishimoto
Mother of Yukiho, Fumiyo was seen by the police as a suspect in the pawnshop incidence. Soon after the murder, she died from a gas leakage at home. The truth, however, is much darker...
Reiko Karasawa
Yukiho's distant relative, Reiko adopted Yukiho after her mother died. She is very strict in teaching Yukiho to behave like a lady.
Yuichi Akiyoshi
Ryoji's secondary schoolmate, Yuichi was secretly photographing Yukiho.
Fumihiko Kikuchi
Ryoji's secondary schoolmate, Fumihiko had photos about a secret of Ryoji's mother Yaeko. He was later set up and became the suspect of another crime.
Eriko Kawashima
Yukiho's university schoolmate, Eriko had a short romantic relationship with Shinozuka Kazunari started by his proposing. She was kidnapped mysteriously later and separated with him. She respected and depended on Yukiho a lot during university days but later became distant. Years later she got married with an ordinary worker. She holds a complex and doubtful attitude toward Yukiho.
Shinozuka Kazunari :
He is a leading executive of a major pharmaceutical company. He was a member of a social dance team with Yukiho during his college days.
Makoto Takamiya：Belongs to an electric parts manufacturing company. He is married to Yukio, whom he met when they were in the dance club. They ended up getting divorced because he had an affair.

Reaction

Journey Under the Midnight Sun has been widely praised for its complex and engaging story. Many reviewers admired how Keigo Higashino crafted a 20-year mystery, connecting multiple characters and events in surprising ways. The relationship between the two main characters, Yukiho and Ryo, was especially compelling. Their dark pasts and morally ambiguous actions made readers feel both sympathy and discomfort.
The novel has been described as a subversive and intricate psychological crime thriller, often compared to works by Stieg Larsson for its layered storytelling and long-term exploration of its characters' lives. It stands out for its focus on psychological profiles over traditional mystery tropes.
However, some critics found the story difficult to follow due to its many subplots and frequent timeline jumps. While some appreciated the detailed storytelling, others thought it was slow-paced and overwhelming. Yukiho’s character also divided opinions. Her transformation from a victim to a manipulator fascinated some readers, but others found her actions too unsettling to justify.
Despite these critiques, Journey Under the Midnight Sun remains celebrated as one of Higashino's most ambitious works. It renowned for its dark narrative, psychological depth, and exploration of the human capacity for both resilience and cruelty.

Background and cultural insights

Journey Under the Midnight Sun explores changes in Japanese society over several decades. It looks at themes like obsession, betrayal, and corruption. Higashino also shows how Japan was changing during this time, with new technology and shifting social norms. For example, the story mentions trends like manga and television, reflecting cultural shifts.
The bubble economy was a period of rapid growth driven by high asset prices and speculation, leading to a widening gap between the rich and the poor. The novel reflects this divide, as some characters thrive while others face ruin. Yukiho’s rise in society, despite her dark past, shows the ambitions and moral compromises associated with Japan's economic boom.

TV series

Cast