"Strange Tale of Pamorama Island" by Edogawa Rampo

A pulpy version of Raymond Roussel's "Impressions of Africa." Rampo is the Japanese link between a boy's adventure narrative and kinky sex takes. Rampo's take on the benefits of the Panaorama and the Utopian narrative. Also a crime novel of sorts.  A man takes on the identity of his rich dead brother and builds his perfect world on an island.  Including nude mermaids/women, scented air, beautiful plants, and stunning landscapes.  Probably the most anti-natural nature novel of all time.  It's up there with Huysman's "Against Nature."  The book makes interesting commentary on the nature of one's artistic vision over a specific landscape.  But with Rampo (as usual) its a twisted and dark vision of what life can be made -  and the sexual undertones are never far from the surface.    A brilliant book.  And for some reason, the translation of Rampo's name is spelled Ranpo.   So, if you are in a bookstore, look up both spellings.

"The Fiend With Twenty Faces" by Edogawa Rampo

Rampo's semi-insane boy's adventure novel. A master villain matches wit and skills with the greatest detective and his young assistant who is 10 years old.  Tokyo of the 30's is the landscape which can be compared to Fantomas' Paris.  The world is about to end or be changed, and Rampo dances on the grave of Tokyo.  Essential young adult literature.  

Edogawa Rampo's "Moju: The Blind Beast" plus Film by Yasuzo Masumura

Ah, such a perfect read while I am in Japan.  I first heard the name "Edogawa Rampo" from my wife who told me that his writings would give me a certain amount of pleasure.  And as usual (the wife is always right) she is correct.    Rampo is a pen-name, and if you say it really quickly, you will see that the name is based on Edgar Allen Poe.  Rampo's favorite writer, and truly his work is up there with the master.  Except he's more pulpy, more lurid, more...out there.

Rampo is the master of the field that is called "Erotic-Grotesque" in Japan.  A mixture of horror with sex.  And his short novel "Moju" is a perfect example of that genre.  The narrative is about a blind man who is obsessed with the gesture of touching woman with his 'skilled' hands, and then eventually killing them, and cutting them up in pieces.  He also has a genius in displaying his 'work' either by making sculptures made by human parts, or displaying the corpse or part of the corpse in rather imaginative ways.

Rampo goes for the throat, and what makes him so unique is that he has these amazing set-pieces, that is a combination of creepy, funny, but always filtered through the eyes of an aesthetic soul.  I can imagine his stories are not for everyone, but strange enough he has even written (god forbid!) 'young adult' adventures.  A low-rent Tanizaki, but with the brilliance of a B-film genius.   Rampo needs to be exposed to a larger readership in the West.  Hopefully we'll see more of his titles translated into English.

Down below is the film version of the novel, directed by Yasuzo Masumura.  Its a classic piece of Japanese cinema and I strongly recommend watching this film: