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Edogawa Ranpo's Real Name: Tarō Hirai
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Edogawa Ranpo (江戸川乱歩) 本名: Tarō Hirai (平井太郎)
Answer: Edogawa Ranpo's real name is Tarō Hirai (平井太郎). His pen name is a Japanese-sound tribute to Edgar Allan Poe.
Tarō Hirai was born on October 21, 1894, in Mie Prefecture. A fan of Western mystery writing, he chose the pen name 江戸川乱歩 because, said quickly in Japanese, "Edogawa Ranpo" sounds like "Edgar Allan Poe." The kanji also carry meaning: Edogawa is a Tokyo river, and 乱歩 suggests "rambling steps."
His 1923 story "The Two-Sen Copper Coin" helped launch Japanese mystery fiction. He created the detective Kogorō Akechi and the master thief Fiend with Twenty Faces. He founded the Mystery Writers of Japan, and the Edogawa Rampo Prize is still Japan's top award for mystery novels.
He died on July 28, 1965. Detective Conan's hero, Conan Edogawa, takes his surname from him.
FAQ
Why is he called Edogawa Ranpo? The name sounds like "Edgar Allan Poe" in Japanese.
Is Conan Edogawa named after him? Yes, Detective Conan's Edogawa comes from Edogawa Ranpo.