Honobu Yonezawa recently did a Q&A on Twitter, so I took a look and roughly translated most of the questions and answers. Shoutout to polaristar for telling me about this, I’d never know otherwise.
You can find the original thread here: https://x.com/honobu_yonezawa/status/2026544155409920466
@Siesta3yade: How do you normally come up with tricks?
Yonezawa: I look out for the points of “What for” and “What do they want to hide”. Working backward from those points leads to the question “What do other people think was hidden?” If I can come up with a creative, insightful answer to that question, the route to the trick becomes visible.
@puritchi1and2: I’ve been a fan of Yonezawa-sensei since I bought “Case of the Summer-Exclusive Tropical Parfait” 20 years ago after being attracted by its title. Your works are full of humorous dialogue and beautiful expressions that make the scenes come to life, but do you get mistakes in phrasing pointed out by proofreaders
Yonezawa: I don’t get much feedback about phrasing at the proofreading stage. The manuscript itself undergoes extensive revisions, with corrections filling the galley proofs until they’re practically red, as much as time allows. The amount of feedback given for polishing the manuscript differs greatly depending on the publisher.
@takashi0909_: If Oreki and Kobato-kun came to blows, who would win?
Yonezawa: I don’t think they would get into a fight, but assuming that by some reason the two of them are standing in a boxing ring, Oreki would win by his reach and weight.
@hanano_wagami: I finished reading “The Bookmark and the Lie” yesterday. […] How do you decide on the books that appear in the series (Like “This book fits the story!”)?
Yonezawa: I normally choose books by deceased or foreign authors. If I choose a book that was written by a living author, it doesn’t change the story, but it might cause people to think, “In this universe, OO-san is still living,” which has effects on the meta level. But that is only a guideline to me.
@wcb6hOl9GE61187: Please tell me the favorite things of Kobato-kun and Osanai-san from the Shoshimin series! Also, if the two of them join a club, what kind of club do you think it would be?
Yonezawa: I don’t know what Kobato-kun’s favorite thing is. As for Osanai-san, she doesn’t have any particular preference for sweets, and thinks that they are all wonderful. Rather than joining a club, Kobato-kun would probably get into the student committee. For Osanai-san, it might a little awkward due to her height giving her a handicap, but basketball would be a good fit for her wide field of vision and quick reflexes.
@NYAOU_sama: I was greatly impacted by “Bottleneck” when I read it in middle school, and it is still one of my favorite books to this day. If you could go back to the past and change something, what would you change?
Yonezawa: I would want to stop sad things from happening.
@EnwHzm: Do you have any recommendations for a movie, place, or cafe?
Yonezawa: Knives Out 3 was interesting.
@mea_midnight2: Do you have a favorite light novel?
Yonezawa: I liked Yasuhiro Kawasaki’s “The Blue Flame”, Rokugo Maruni’s “Food Like Nothing Else Before!” and Kan Akiyama’s “Stars in the Planetarium”.
@tonjiru_konbura: Your works occasionally feature Nagoya, but are there any places in Nagoya that hold special meaning for you?
Yonezawa: Even as someone who likes Western-style buildings, Yōki-sō1 was a fun visit. Also, although some parts of Nagoya Castle are still under reconstruction, the ground’s overwhelming expanse and the moat’s depth are irresistible. The nodachi2 I saw at the Treasure Hall of Atsuta-Jingu was also unforgettable.
@yhL7i6Z8C8YMxHg: I’ve watched the anime for Shoshimin and Hyouka, and the heroines in those series really hit home with me. How do you craft the characters of these heroines?
Yonezawa: It is not just for the heroines, but usually when crafting a character, I carefully think about what they find important.
@sskaku_yey: What do you think is important when writing a story?
Yonezawa: Not distorting the form of the story, and not treating the characters carelessly. Characters are often treated carelessly by other characters in the story, but I believe that authors must not do that. After that, it would be not having mistakes in the sentences, I suppose.
@efOBoHmFyCFXURm: Did you actually think of the story for “Ashes at Dusk”?
Yonezawa: I imagined it to be something like Yasuyuki Ono’s “Path of Dreams”3. Though when I think about the production process for “Ashes at Dusk”, the completed product is probably not that close.
@hougakuzuki2015: If Osanai Yuki and Chitanda Eru went to the same school, do you think they would be friends?
Yonezawa: They might become friends, but if Osanai gets into trouble, she wouldn’t get Chitanda involved, so Chitanda might feel that there is some distance between them. If Chitanda finds out about any sort of trouble, she would definitely try to lend a hand, but whether Osanai accepts it depends on the nature of the problem.
@iY0ZtX4fZXSrkbq: During the question corner for “Even Though I’m Told I Now Have Wings”, you said that the gags that appear in the book were thought up on the spot by yourself, but please tell me your favorite gag. Personally, my favorite is “The thunder hit him just like that!”4
Yonezawa: It’s not exactly a joke, but when Matsukura Shimon goes to the toilet in “The Bookmark and the Lie”, he sends an email saying, “I’m off to protect the dignity of humanity.” I found that to be especially quirky.
@YuyaVMC: I take entrance exams next year, but I’m not sure about which school to aim for. If you could, please tell me what you were looking out for while selecting a university!
Yonezawa: When it was time for me to choose a university, the war in Yugoslavia started, and I’m not sure why, but I thought about gaining some hints to understand that war from university education. At that time, the internet was still underdeveloped, so it was frustratingly difficult to figure out which particular teacher you should go to in a school to learn about a topic.
@makonovel: I absolutely love the aftertaste of reading “The Bookmark and the Lie”. Is there a secret technique to leaving a lingering impression on readers’ hearts?
Yonezawa: I can’t think of any secret technique. I write mysteries, so incidents happen, and even when the truth is unraveled, the circumstances don’t end up being back to normal. It’s possible that the lingering impression is due to something being lost.
@sakura__start: Do you have any characters that are a projection of yourself?
Yonezawa: No, there are no such characters. I probably never think of wanting to write myself into a story.
@kw6140667563907: I work as a doc tor in a general hospital, so usually when a hospital scene appears in a story, I often think, “It wouldn’t happen like this,” and start to lose interest. However, the medical settings that appear in your novels are very realistic and I can read them without feeling that there is anything wrong. How do you go about doing your research?
Yonezawa: I believe there are many instances in my novels where the related professionals think, “It doesn’t work like that,” but reading this makes me feel relieved. For example, for the fracture in Winter-Exclusive, I was able to access multiple papers about what treatment should be selected for fractures in minors, so I reference these kinds of materials.
@K_K_tenkai: Have you ever felt like a phony connoisseur5?
Yonezawa: I’ve never thought of myself as a connoisseur, so I’ve not felt like a phony connoisseur.
@haruno_hizasi07: I’ve just received a bookstore gift card, so I thought of buying a book written by Yonezawa-sensei, but all of them are so interesting that I can’t narrow it down. Which one do you want me to read first?
Yonezawa: It’s difficult to choose one, but… speaking objectively, if you’re looking for a novel, “The Samurai and The Prisoner” is my representative work. If you’re looking for something else, I’ve written quite a bit about my favorite books in “Yonezawa Bookstore”. I hope this will be helpful.
@kinomiya_zer0: What do the four main characters of the Hyouka series most like to cook?
Yonezawa: I don’t really know. Oreki and Ibara would probably cook a meal from whatever they find in the fridge. Chitanda and Fukube would want to cook something that requires a recipe, but both of them would be able to cook something delicious.
@sau5006: I especially enjoyed “Kings and Circuses”6 because it allowed me to imagine the turmoil in Nepal, which I had no connection and knowledge about. Did you go to Nepal while writing this novel? Also, what do you look out for when depicting the setting and backdrop of a story?
Yonezawa: No, I didn’t go to Nepal. The thing I look out for is picking out common knowledge (what people find important, what is necessary for daily life, etc.) that differs from that in Japan, as much as possible.
@keiko1024abo: What kind of novels would Oreki-san read, and what kind of music would he listen to?
Yonezawa: Oreki Houtarou’s Bookshelf is available, so please check that. As for music, I don’t think there were any scenes that revealed his taste in music.
@naramusin: When you are writing, how much of the plot is set in stone? Also, how well does the writing go according to plan?
Yonezawa: I tend to refine the plot as much as possible. If I cut corners here, I’ll run into bugs between sections, where it is impossible to reach the truth from a particular point. When I write mysteries, I make it so like the story passes through checkpoints, so it doesn’t stray so far away from the plot that it becomes unmanageable.
@CN16LW1J275q9HR: Where and when would you like to time travel to?
Yonezawa: I can go anywhere, but a time period when aspirin exists would be ideal.
@fu0HVOHaBa3155: I love the Shoshimin series, and I regularly make pilgrimages to the lands of Gifu, but when you go near that area, is there any place that you always make a point to visit, or is there any place that you would recommend?
Yonezawa: To tell you the truth, I’m not very familiar with the northern region of Gifu City, where the anime is set. The place I normally go to is Chiyoho Inari Shrine (or known locally as Ochobo-san), though it might be difficult to get there without a car.
@ginmaruai18: I’ve come to love mysteries because of Hyouka, and I’m grateful that I came into contact with works like “The Poisoned Chocolates Case” and “The Nine Mile Walk”. Could you recommend another mystery novel by a foreign author?
Yonezawa: How about “The Will and the Deed” by Ellis Peters?
@keisyoryaku: What is your favorite period of time?
Yonezawa: When I’m thinking of what to write next.
@ahtagarice: I found the books recommended in “Yonezawa Bookstore” to be very interesting, like “Houko-en”, “Tales of the Sedori Baron” and “Invisible Cities”. Could you recommend more translated novels that were not featured in “Yonezawa Bookstore”?
Yonezawa: Taking into account the books you mentioned, and books not in “Yonezawa Bookstore”… you might be looking for stories with a touch of dilettantism7. How about “The Immortal” by Jorge Luis Borges?
@ami_0606__: I absolutely love “Incite Mill”! Please tell me your favorite scene!
Yonezawa: Thank you. I quite like the first night which the characters spend in their rooms with no locks, as well as the discussion that occurs right after the main character enters the prison.
@tansankonnnyaku: Do you have a personal motto, or a favorite proverb?
Yonezawa: It is “When one has no character, one HAS to apply a method.”8
@vinegar_ukiuki: Do you instantly start reading books that you’ve been looking forward to?
Yonezawa: If I put it off, the book will end up in a big box of books in my mind labeled “to read some day”, so I do want to start reading immediately.
@f1nW6AlMuC1S83E: I was deeply impressed when I read Bottleneck during my school days. Could you tell me what triggered the idea for that story?
Yonezawa: I don’t really remember. When I was attending driving school to get a regular driving license, there was a gap between classes, so I was walking around the area, when the idea came to me.
@Pandaman_Yukuri: What do you reference when coming with character names? I’d like to know what sparked the idea behind the names Tougaito and Juumonji.
Yonezawa: Names that ended with “gaito” were common in my hometown, so I based Tougaito off that. Juumonji is associated with Chitanda, and I thought of coming up with multiple names that begin with a number. If I’m writing about a story in a particular region, I check if there are any unique family names there.
@Sue43534077: Among all your works, including short stories and novels, which of them made you feel, “This turned out great,” when you finished writing them? Also, please tell me what drinks Osanai-san usually takes to pair with sweets.
Yonezawa: I had very little time before the deadline for “Rice Offering”, so I was surprised by how well it turned out. As for Osanai, she doesn’t seem to fixate on pairings, though she probably wouldn’t pair sweets with a sweet drink (like cocoa or chai).
@seianyu: I really enjoyed “Mangan”. How did you come up with such a story?
Yonezawa: Thank you. I remember staying at cafe all the way until it closed at 12 midnight trying to come up with an original answer to the question, “What do people want to hide?”
@west_2nd: If you were in a situation where you spend one week with a heroine from one of your stories, who would you most want to choose, and who wouldn’t you want to choose?
Yonezawa: I don’t really think of them as heroines, but students would have their parents be worried, so I wouldn’t choose them. It depends on the situation, but I won’t be able to communicate with Haaru Enma from “Broken Keel” so there would be no misunderstandings, and her strong survival skills would be reassuring.
@sodai33: What is your favorite ingredients for miso soup?
Yonezawa: Thinly sliced fried tofu that has been drained of oil, and Julienned radish.
@w_san: Do you come up with the English titles for the Classics Club series? Also, do you know the song “Can Little Birds Remember”?
Yonezawa: I think of the English titles on my own. I don’t know that song.
@zrn7SBPxiGsecdl: Please tell me about the progress for the Classics Club series.
Yonezawa: Decisions regarding what to publish and when are made by the publisher, so I’m unable to answer questions about unannounced publications.
@suuk3k: Are there any books you’ve read recently that you found interesting or left a lasting impression?
Yonezawa: “Touchuuzu” by Masamitsu Miyagitani.
@Kyo_mu_404: I’ve just finished reading “The Credit Roll of the Fool”, and I’m hooked on the Classics Club series. I plan to read “The Kudryavka Sequence” next, and I’d be happy if you could tell me some points to look out for so that a first-time reader like myself can enjoy it more!
Yonezawa: There are no particular points to look out for, and I’d be happy if you read it as it is.
@Jinkai_chan: What is the most effective training you’ve had that allowed you to become a professional author?
Yonezawa: I wouldn’t call it training, but I started writing a novel in a loose-leaf notebook when I was in middle school, and finished it when I became a high school student.
@latis_205: How do you come up with the speech patterns of each character?
Yonezawa: I write while considering their personalities and what they would say.
@am0200oki: Do you often play mahjong? What group do you normally play with?
Yonezawa: I’ve only played once in real life. I got a “Kokushi musou”9.
@takap_Cathpalug: What was the tastiest dessert you’ve had in 2026?
Yonezawa: A pudding in a curry shop.
@ice2001c: I want to go to Gifu some day. Please recommend me some foods there!
Yonezawa: In autumn, the Japanese sweets shops in Ogaki sell kuri kinton sprinkled with white kidney beans. They are delicious.
@Ameharu0: If you could, please tell me if there are any plans for the continuation of the Classics Club series! Alternatively, I’d like to ask if there’s a character from the stories you’ve written so far that you particularly like!
Yonezawa: Whether there is a continuation depends on the publisher’s decision, so I cannot give you an answer for the first question, though I would be happy if I were given a chance to write a continuation. I don’t have a particular favorite character, but Haaru Enma from “Broken Keel” was the prototype for characters when I was an amateur, so it feels like I’ve known her for a long time.
@katten_blink88: Have you decided on the birthdays of other Classics Club members besides Houtarou?
Yonezawa: I have decided on them, and I think I’ll mention them if necessary in future stories.
@neko_mecchasuko: Your passages have a rhythm to them such that they feel good to read, and it is difficult to stop. What do you consciously focus on while writing?
Yonezawa: I make sure that appropriate sentence length is maintained, that there are no mistakes in subject-predicate relationships, naturally put a spotlight on the speaker, and make pauses when necessary.
@nagomino_iroha: Please recommend me a book!
Yonezawa: “Kyodenshuu” by Hikaru Okuizumi.
@xHioKax: Could you tell me if there are any actions you consciously do (methods to change your mood, for example) when you’re stuck during writing?
Yonezawa: I go outside and take a walk. It’s often the case where I agonize over something for half a day and solve it within five minutes of walking.
@fuca520130: What do you keep in mind while writing the lighthearted banter between characters and the humor-filled narrative?
Yonezawa: I believe that humor is something you’re born with. Humor isn’t indispensable for great writers, and I can’t think of any writers who developed their humor later in life.
@kon_chess: I really enjoyed “Bottleneck”. Do you get sad when you write?
Yonezawa: I don’t think I became sad, but I remember struggling and finding it difficult to write.
@jimajima72: Are there any stories set outside the Gifu Prefecture? Sorry for the amateur question.
Yonezawa: “Incombustible” is set in Gunma, “Bottleneck” in Ishikawa, “The Samurai and the Prisoner” in Osaka, “The Bookmark and the Lie” in Tokyo, “Kings and Circuses” in Nepal, and “The Broken Keel” in England.
@Waveblack24: Do you have a favorite piece of stationery?
Yonezawa: Pentel EnerGel 0.5mm red.
@lotteorions31: Do you think you would get along well with any of the characters you’ve written?
Yonezawa: No, I don’t think so. There is an age gap with many of my characters, and those in my age group are too focused on their work, so I don’t think I would get along well with them.
@Omotakelabo: Who is your favorite character in the Shoshimin series?
Yonezawa: I don’t really have a favorite character, but I do think that Doujima Kengo has developed a lot in the three years of the story.
@r5ONqddRZp59774: Please tell me which of your works is your favorite!
Yonezawa: I wouldn’t call it my favorite, but if I had to choose a book that I was involved in, I would choose “Sekaido Bookstore” in which I compiled stories from all over the world. If I had to choose something I wrote, it would be “Case of the Spring-Exclusive Strawberry Tarts” or “The Bookmark and the Lie” after the Classics Club series.
@Acter_nemui: What do you eat when you’re starting to catch a cold?
Yonezawa: Miso soup filled with spring onions.
@scarlet56ak: Where do you usually get your ideas?
Yonezawa: I can’t really say. There are times when an idea naturally surfaces during some small talk, and there are times when I come up with something after agonizing about it late at night. One method isn’t strictly better than the others in coming up with quality ideas.
@Skosa_0: Are there no afterwords in the Shoshimin series?
Yonezawa: No, there are no afterwords, but the short story anthology “The London Scone Mystery” will be on sale from 30 April.
@mesrnb: Among whodunit, howdunit and whydunit, which do you think is the most important?
Yonezawa: I don’t think any of them are more important than the others. The story will usually come out differently depending on which one the spotlight is on. In the end, it’s more satisfying when the entire question “Who did what and why” is answered, but that isn’t always a must, I believe.
@amei022: Please tell me your favorite music!
Yonezawa: I don’t really listen to music, but when I was asked about music in the past, I gave a song that would fit each book in the Shoshimin series. super”shomin”car for Spring-Exclusive, Girl the Jap for Summer-Exclusive, Sad Song for Autumn-Exclusive, My Honey Dip for Winter-Exclusive.
@mi104yummy: What is Oreki-kun’s favorite food?
Yonezawa: I don’t know, but I don’t think he would hate a food without trying it first.
@Rabbit_Prisoner: Do you ever become fed up with your own writing? If so, how do you deal with that?
Yonezawa: Actually, I normally get fed up with what I write, but I think that there’s no helping it, and that’s the best I can produce for now. It’s enough for me if I can write a few lines in a work that I don’t get fed up by.
@hinata_anime4: When you were studying for entrance exams, what strategies did you use?
Yonezawa: I answered some problem sets I bought from the bookstore… that was all, I think. I taped some printing paper on my desk so I could write anything on it, and I did jot down a lot of notes there, but they weren’t helpful at all.
@aerile_sy: Since I read “Bottleneck” in middle school, I’ve gained a lot of strength from your novels. All of your works are interesting, and I love them all! As for the question, how do you face any bad memories that you have?
Yonezawa: I couldn’t face those memories, so all I could do was escape and wait for those memories to erode.
@ctwN5Hayrw1d9fz: I feel like I’ve heard from an audio commentary that the origin for Arekkusu Shrine’s name is Gundam NT-1 aka Alex from Mobile Suit Gundam 0080. Is that true?
Yonezawa: I’ve never watched Gundam, so that is not true.
@haruta_1333: Will there be a continuation of the Machi Tachiarai series?
Yonezawa: Decisions regarding what to publish and when are made by the publisher, so I’m unable to answer questions about unannounced publications.
@sof_729: Have you made any typos that caused you to go, “Damn, I messed up!”?
Yonezawa: I’ve made many typos, and all of them are deeply regrettable, so I’ll refrain from mentioning them here.
@Komeiji31051: What is your favorite musical instrument?
Yonezawa: I like flutes with a melancholy tone that are usually used in folklore.
@rara86801895: How often do you go back to your hometown?
Yonezawa: Due to certain circumstances, the reasons for going back has decreased, so I occasionally drop by when I’m doing research near the area.
@0307Yukiyuki: If you were to recommend a book to someone just starting to read mysteries, what would you recommend?
Yonezawa: Choosing a book is a task that takes up a full day, so unfortunately I cannot give you an answer right now. As a general suggestion, how about Christie? Her books have broad appeal and profound depth.
@mitsuba53429983: What are you favorite mysteries in your novels?
Yonezawa: If we’re talking about the mysteries themselves, I think “Those Who Know Something”, “How to Make Delicious Cocoa”, “The Reception Table is Right Over Here (in “Approximating the Distance between Two”), “Flower Shadow Handle” (in “The Samurai and the Prisoner”), and “Below the Cliff” are relatively appealing.
@0024to: How do you think of titles for your stories?
Yonezawa: There are many times when the working titles created before writing become the actual titles. When I’m struggling to decide on a title, I lay out dozens of paper cut to the size of a paperback’s spine and with title ideas written on them, and think about it.
@fox_platoon1: I’m curious about where you find the difficult vocabulary that Satoshi uses!
Yonezawa: I’m not sure if they’re difficult, but I liked reading proverb books and idiom storybooks as a kid, so it might be a result of saving up all that vocabulary from back then.
@paspa1027: What is a piece of music you often listen to nowadays?
Yonezawa: I’ve been recently listening to “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye”.
@niky7586: Please recommend a restaurant in Gifu.
Yonezawa: “Kaika-tei” is quite famous. Though I haven’t been there in a long time, so I’m not sure if the food there still tastes good…
@Rio314159: Please tell me what inspired you to become a writer and when you decided to pursue it!
Yonezawa: Rather than becoming a writer, I wanted to become someone who creates stories. As for when I started thinking about it as a profession… it was during the second or third year of middle school, I think.
@AY91656188: What is your favorite sightseeing spot?
Yonezawa: I used to like Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, but I’ve heard that it’s become very chaotic in recent years, so I’ve not gone there in a long time.
@yumenoisekaiii: “Case of the Winter-Exclusive Chocolate Bonbons” was very interesting, and is one of my favorite novels. Please tell me if there were any sweets that you wanted to eat (or actually ate) while writing. Thanks to Osanai-san’s influence, I’ve been eating a lot of cakes recently…
Yonezawa: I don’t really eat sweets while writing a novel, because it could get the keyboard dirty… But I have eaten kintsuba10 and kusa mochi11 while taking a break. There’s a good Japanese sweets store near my place.
@konataso464946: Could you tell me your favorite character in the Classics Club series? BY the way, mine if Irisu-senpai!
Yonezawa: I rarely come to like the characters I write. I just hope that everything works out for them.
@inunuwan_sippo: Do you like dogs?
Yonezawa: Depends on the type of dog.
@mutimutikassyo: I want to be killed by Osanai-san.
Yonezawa: Please stop.
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- A Japanese villa and gardens located in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, built for Itō Suketami (1878-1940), the president of the Matsuzakaya Company.
- A large, traditional Japanese sword used by samurai with a blade typically exceeding 35–60 inches (90–152 cm), making it significantly longer than a standard katana.
- A science fiction manga centered on a lonely high school girl who transfers to a rural school and forms an unlikely friendship with a ghost, exploring themes of isolation, connection, and the blurred lines between reality and dreams.
- Play on “thunder” and “three times (Sando)”, which sound similar in Japanese.
- Satoshi introduces himself as this to Chitanda in Volume 1 Chapter 1 of Hyouka.
- Second book of the Beruf series, of which “Goodbye Fairy”, the first book, is currently being translated.
- The superficial, amateurish, or dabbling engagement in an art, science, or field of knowledge, often lacking the rigorous skill or expertise of a professional.
- This comes from Albert Camus’ novel “The Fall”, and suggests that people lacking in internal integrity or moral strength rely on rigid systems, rules or formulas to navigate life.
- Also called “13 orphans”, it is a very rare winning hand that consists only of terminal tiles and honor tiles.
- Square-shaped dough filled with red bean paste.
- Made from mochi and leaves of Japanese mugwort. The leaves are kneaded into the mochi, giving it a vivid green color.