Uketsu's Masked Mystery: Inside 'Strange Buildings'

Japanese author Uketsu published 'Strange Buildings' as his third book in the 'Strange' series, a 384-page crime fiction novel that has captivated readers with its blend of architectural mystery and psychological darkness. The author remains one of contemporary Japan's most intriguing literary figures, maintaining an almost complete veil of anonymity in an era of author visibility.

Uketsu's personal brand is unlike any mainstream author. He appears in public wearing a white papier-mâché mask, black bodysuit, and uses a voice changer during any public communication. This theatrical approach to anonymity reflects his background before literary success: he was working at a supermarket when he began posting surreal videos online, gradually building an audience fascinated by his unconventional artistic vision. Today, only approximately 30 people reportedly know his true identity.

'Strange Buildings' stands as the third installment in Uketsu's 'Strange' series, following 'Strange Pictures' and 'Strange Houses' (though it's also catalogued as the second book in the Strange Houses sequence, reflecting the series' complex architecture). The novel's structure revolves around eleven distinct cases—each exploring a different building or residential structure—that are intricately connected by a central, overarching mystery.

The narrative backbone involves Hikura Homes, a corporation specializing in residential design that serves as the dark thread binding all eleven cases together. This architectural company becomes the focal point through which readers encounter the novel's various crimes and mysteries. Two central characters guide readers through this labyrinth: Tatsuyuki Iimura, a forensic cleaner whose work puts him in contact with crime scenes, and Kurihara, described as a draughtsman with detective-like investigative qualities.