Beloved Children's Author Hideyuki Matsubara Passes Away, Fans Mourn the Legacy of 'Password Detectives'
Children's literature author Hideyuki Matsubara passed away on February 18, 2026, at the age of 76. Following this news, social media has been flooded with messages of nostalgia for his popular series, 'Password Detectives,' and tributes from readers who were deeply influenced by his work. The 'Password Detectives' series, published by Kodansha's 'Aoitori Bunko' imprint, captured the hearts of many elementary school students with its stories of young boy and girl detectives solving mysteries using computer communication. The engaging friendships between unique characters like protagonists Makoto and Mizuki, combined with clever puzzles that readers could enjoy solving alongside them, captivated children of the era. On social media, numerous posts vividly recall childhood reading experiences, with comments such as "So nostalgic! I read these!", "I loved them!", and "I devoured them during elementary school." Messages like ...