Keigo Higashino’s Posthumous Novel ‘Eien no Kioku’ Tops Billboard Japan Book Hot 100 With Record-Breaking Points

Keigo Higashino’s final literary work, Eien no Kioku (loosely translated as “Eternal Memory”), has ascended to the pinnacle of the Billboard Japan Book Hot 100, capturing the No. 1 spot on the chart dated August 13.

Arriving shortly after the revered mystery author’s passing on July 23 at age 68, the posthumously published novel commanded overwhelming momentum across brick-and-mortar retailers and social channels. The title amassed an astounding 16,394 points in its debut frame—marking the highest single-week point tally ever recorded by a novel in the chart’s history. It eclipse the previous milestone set by Uketsu’s Hen na Chizu (Strange Maps), which tallied 11,566 points upon entering at No. 1 in November 2025.

The comic rankings also witnessed significant movement. Eiichiro Oda’s ONE PIECE Vol. 115 vaulted from No. 17 to No. 2 following its digital distribution launch, seizing the top spot in the e-book metric while sustaining a No. 13 position in physical bookstores more than a month after its physical release. Yuto Suzuki’s SAKAMOTO DAYS Vol. 28 secured an impressive entry at No. 3, placing second across both physical retail and digital formats. Meanwhile, the climactic 38th volume of Yuki Tabata’s decade-long epic Black Clover captured the No. 4 overall spot, landing third in both print and digital metrics.

Elsewhere on the tally, all 37 volumes of Hiroya Oku’s celebrated sci-fi thriller GANTZ populated the charts between No. 14 and No. 51, propelled by a sweeping discount campaign across premier digital book platforms. Additionally, Shohei Manabe’s Kujo no Taizai (Sins of Kujo) Vol. 17 debuted comfortably at No. 21.

The Billboard Japan Book Hot 100 delivers a comprehensive assessment of domestic reading trends by amalgamating physical bookstore purchases, digital sales, library loans, streaming/subscription interactions, and social engagement. Below is the official top 10 breakdown for the tracking window of August 3–9.

(Metrics in parentheses reflect top-20 standings for physical sales, e-commerce, e-books, subscriptions, and social buzz, respectively.)

1. Eien no Kioku – Keigo Higashino (1 / 5 / – / – / 1)
2. ONE PIECE Vol. 115 – Eiichiro Oda (13 / – / 1 / – / –)
3. SAKAMOTO DAYS Vol. 28 – Yuto Suzuki (2 / 19 / 2 / – / –)
4. Black Clover Vol. 38 – Yuki Tabata (3 / – / 3 / – / –)
5. Akane-banashi Vol. 23 – Takamasa Moue, Yuki Suenaga (6 / – / – / – / –)
6. Nigejozu no Wakagimi (The Elusive Samurai) Vol. 26 – Yusei Matsui (8 / – / 10 / – / –)
7. Isekai Izakaya “Nobu” (Alternate World Bar “Nobu”) Vol. 22 – Natsuya Semikawa, Virginia Nitohei, Kururi (5 / – / – / – / –)
8. Hinatazaka46 Kaho Fujishima 1st Photobook: “Kajitsu no Hohaba” – Kaho Fujishima (9 / 2 / – / – / –)
9. Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) Vol. 17 (Manga Edition) – Hyuuganatsu, Nekokurage, Ikki Nanao, Touko Shino (4 / 18 / – / – / –)
10. WITCH WATCH Vol. 27 – Kenta Shinohara (18 / – / – / – / –)

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