TOKYO The well-known Japanese science fiction writer Shinichi Hoshi died at the age of 71 from a lung inflammation, his family announced in Tokyo Monday. Hoshi was regarded as the Japanese pioneer of the science fiction short story, in which he took issue in a satirical manner with modern society. He made his debut in 1957 with Sekisutora and went on to write more than one thousand other tales.

Among his best-known works are Jinzo Bijin (Artificial Sunlight) and Youkoso Chikyu-San (Hello Mr. Earth). Hoshi won the Japan Mystery Writers Association Award in 1968. (DPA)