Nisio Isin, stylized NisiOisiN to emphasize the palindrome, is the pen name of a Japanese novelist and manga writer. Born 1981. He attended and left Ritsumeikan University without graduating. In 2002, he debuted with the novel The Beheading Cycle (クビキリサイクル Kubikiri Saikuru), which earned him the 23rd Mephisto Prize at twenty years of age. He currently works with Kodansha on Faust, a literary magazine containing the works of other young authors who similarly take influence from light novels and otaku culture, and Pandora, the Kodansha Box magazine. He was also publishing a twelve volume series over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line; Ryusui Seiryoin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that this is the first time in the world two authors have done twelve volume monthly novel series simultaneously from the same publisher. In February, 2008, his novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases, which is based on the Death Note manga, was released in English by Viz Media. Del Rey Manga has already released the first and second volume in his Zaregoto series.