Ring Author Koji Suzuki, Regarded as “The Stephen King of Japan”, Dies at 68
The Japanese writer was best known for his horror novels, namely the Ring series, which spawned a hit film franchise in Japan and beyond
by Alex Kaan 9 May 2026
Photo: Ryo Usami
Koji Suzuki passed away at a hospital in Tokyo on May 8th, as reported by The Asahi Shimbun. He was 68.
Suzuki was most known for Ringu (Ring). The best-selling 1991 novel spawned multiple film adaptations, including Ringu (1998) and its 2002 American remake, The Ring. The Naomi Watts-led thriller made nearly $250 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing horror films of all time.
Centring on a cursed videotape that kills its audience within seven days of viewing, the premise of Koji Suzuki’s Ring resonated with anxieties around the rapidly changing technological landscape in the 90s and 2000s. The 1998 film spearheaded a boom in J-horror, while the success of the Hollywood remake ushered in a series of American reimaginings of Asian horror films like The Grudge (2004) and Shutter (2008).
Toho
Initially writing in his spare time as a stay-at-home father to two daughters, the Japanese author published his first novel, Rakuen (Paradise), to critical acclaim in 1990. The romantic adventure story won the Superior Award at the Japan Fantasy Novel Awards. He saw sizable success with Ring, which, after gaining popularity through its paperback release, sold around half a million copies by January 1998. Following the success of Hideo Nakata’s 1998 film adaptation with Nanako Matsushima and Hiroyuki Sanada, the novel sold 1.5 million copies by July 2000.
The universe of Ring was further explored in Rasen (Spiral, 1995), Rupu (Loop, 1998), Bāsudei (Birthday, a 1999 short story collection), Esu (S, 2012), and Taido (Tide, 2013). These follow-up novels have likewise been adapted into feature films and television.
Toho
Suzuki also authored “Floating Water”, a short story that was adapted into Dark Water (2002)—by Ringu director Hideo Nakata—as well as the 2005 remake of the same name with Jennifer Connelly. He later won the 2012 Shirley Jackson Award for his cosmic horror novel Edge, beating out other finalists like Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl and Victor LaValle’s The Devil in Silver at the 2012 Shirley Jackson Awards.
Suzuki’s last novel, a plant horror story titled Ubiquitous, was published last year. It was the first of a planned tetralogy.