虚（うつろ）の王

by Seishū Hase

新田隆弘は鬱屈をため込んでいた。かつては渋谷で伝説のチームと言われた“金狼”の元メンバーも、今ではヤクザの下っ端。兄貴分の命令で高校生が作った売春組織を探っていた隆弘は、中心人物の渡辺栄司に辿り着く。さして喧嘩が強そうでもない、進学校に通う色白の優男。だが、栄司は仲間を圧倒的な恐怖で支配していた。いったい何故。隆弘が栄司の全く異質な狂気に触れたとき、破滅への扉が開かれた――。

497 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2013

About the author

Hase Seishu ((馳 星周) is the pseudonym of the Japanese yakuza-crime novelist Toshihito Bando (坂東 齢人). His pen name is based on the Chinese name of the director Stephen Chow (Director of Kung Fu Hustle) Chow Sing-chi(周星馳) written backward then rendered in Japanese.

Bando graduated with a BA from Yokohama City University in 1987.

A few of his novels were adapted into Asian films, such as The City of Lost Souls and Sleepless Town, in 2000 and 1998, respectively.

Some of his novels were adapted into films, such as Fuyajo or 'Sleepless Town' (1998) directed by Chi-Ngai Lee, and 'The City of Lost Souls (2000) Directed by legendary Yakuza crime filmmaker Takashi Miike.

Bando also oversaw the stories for the blockbuster sega video games Yakuza and Yakuza 2, but had no evolvement in later installments in the series.