Banana Yoshimoto
Encyclopedia
is the pen name
of Mahoko Yoshimoto (吉本 真秀子 Yoshimoto Mahoko), a Japan
ese contemporary writer
. She writes her name in hiragana
.
, was born in Tokyo
on July 24, 1964. Along with having a famous father, the poet and critic Takaaki Yoshimoto, Banana's sister, Haruno Yoiko, is a well-known cartoonist
in Japan
. Growing up in a liberal family, she learned the value of independence from a young age.
She graduated from Nihon University
's Art College, majoring in Literature
. During that time, she took the pseudonym "Banana" after her love of banana flowers, a name she recognizes as both "cute" and "purposefully androgynous."
Despite her success, Yoshimoto remains a down-to-earth figure. Whenever she appears in public she eschews make-up and dresses simply. She keeps her personal life guarded, and reveals little about her certified Rolfing
practitioner husband, Hiroyoshi Tahata and son (born in 2003). Instead, she talks about her writing. Each day she takes half an hour to write at her computer, and she says, "I tend to feel guilty because I write these stories almost for fun." She keeps an on-line journal for her English speaking fans.
as one of her first major influences, and drew inspiration especially from his non-horror stories. As her writing progressed, she was further influenced by Truman Capote
and Isaac Bashevis Singer
.
Her debut novel, Kitchen, was a phenomenal instant success, with over sixty printings in Japan
alone. There have been two films made of the story, a Japanese TV
movie and a more widely released version produced in Hong Kong
by Yim Ho
in 1997. She won the 6th Kaien Newcomer Writers Prize in November 1987, the Umitsubame First Novel Prize, and then the 16th Izumi Kyoka Literary Prize in January 1988 for Kitchen.
Another one of her novels, Goodbye Tsugumi
, was also made into a movie in 1990, directed by Jun Ichikawa. The novel received mixed reviews.
Critics think that much of her work is superficial and commercial; her fans however, think it perfectly captures what it means to be young and frustrated in modern Japan
. Yoshimoto herself identifies her two main themes as "the exhaustion of young people in contemporary Japan
" and "the way in which terrible experiences shape a person's life." Her novels can be fun and escapist, but are always touched with traditional Japanese ideology. Her writing can be quite piercing, haunting, poignant, and darkly humorous all at once. Though critics believe her to be "lightweight," Yoshimoto unabashedly states that she aims to win a Nobel Prize for Literature. Despite her seeming confidence, it seems unlikely that she will ever be awarded the prize, however, as it is claimed that several members of the current Nobel committee have shown a dismissive stance towards Yoshimoto's comments.
Her works include 12 novels and seven collections of essays (including Pineapple Pudding and Song From Banana) which have together sold over six million copies worldwide. Her themes include love and friendship, the power of home and family, and the effect of loss on the human spirit.
In 1998, she wrote the foreword to the Italian edition of the book Ryuichi Sakamoto. Conversazioni
by musicologist Massimo Milano
.
Outside of Japan, she was awarded prizes in Italy: the Scanno Literary Prize in 1993, the Fendissime Literary Prize in 1996, the Literary Prize Maschera d' argento in 1999, and the Capri Award in 2011.
The Lake was longlisted for the 2011 Man Asian Literary Prize
.
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
of Mahoko Yoshimoto (吉本 真秀子 Yoshimoto Mahoko), a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese contemporary writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. She writes her name in hiragana
Hiragana
is a Japanese syllabary, one basic component of the Japanese writing system, along with katakana, kanji, and the Latin alphabet . Hiragana and katakana are both kana systems, in which each character represents one mora...
.
Biography
Yoshimoto, daughter of Takaaki YoshimotoTakaaki Yoshimoto
also known as Ryūmei Yoshimoto, is a Japanese poet, literary critic, and philosopher from Tokyo. He is the father of the famous Japanese writer known as Banana Yoshimoto and of the cartoonist Yoiko Haruno.-Early life:...
, was born in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
on July 24, 1964. Along with having a famous father, the poet and critic Takaaki Yoshimoto, Banana's sister, Haruno Yoiko, is a well-known cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Growing up in a liberal family, she learned the value of independence from a young age.
She graduated from Nihon University
Nihon University
Nihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
's Art College, majoring in Literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
. During that time, she took the pseudonym "Banana" after her love of banana flowers, a name she recognizes as both "cute" and "purposefully androgynous."
Despite her success, Yoshimoto remains a down-to-earth figure. Whenever she appears in public she eschews make-up and dresses simply. She keeps her personal life guarded, and reveals little about her certified Rolfing
Rolfing
Rolfing is a therapy system created by The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration and is a system whereby the alleged manipulation of the fasciae by specific methods is theorized to yield therapeutic benefit....
practitioner husband, Hiroyoshi Tahata and son (born in 2003). Instead, she talks about her writing. Each day she takes half an hour to write at her computer, and she says, "I tend to feel guilty because I write these stories almost for fun." She keeps an on-line journal for her English speaking fans.
Works
Yoshimoto began her writing career while working as a waitress at a golf-club restaurant in 1987. She names American author Stephen KingStephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
as one of her first major influences, and drew inspiration especially from his non-horror stories. As her writing progressed, she was further influenced by Truman Capote
Truman Capote
Truman Streckfus Persons , known as Truman Capote , was an American author, many of whose short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and the true crime novel In Cold Blood , which he labeled a "nonfiction novel." At...
and Isaac Bashevis Singer
Isaac Bashevis Singer
Isaac Bashevis Singer – July 24, 1991) was a Polish Jewish American author noted for his short stories. He was one of the leading figures in the Yiddish literary movement, and received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1978...
.
Her debut novel, Kitchen, was a phenomenal instant success, with over sixty printings in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
alone. There have been two films made of the story, a Japanese TV
Japanese media
The communications media of Japan include numerous television and radio networks as well as newspapers and magazines in Japan. For the most part, television networks were established based on the capital contribution from existing radio networks at that time...
movie and a more widely released version produced in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
by Yim Ho
Yim Ho
Yim Ho is one of the most famous Hong Kong directors of the 1980s, and a leader of Hong Kong New Wave.He began his career in television production making television programs for RTHK, then became a film director in 1980....
in 1997. She won the 6th Kaien Newcomer Writers Prize in November 1987, the Umitsubame First Novel Prize, and then the 16th Izumi Kyoka Literary Prize in January 1988 for Kitchen.
Another one of her novels, Goodbye Tsugumi
Goodbye Tsugumi (novel)
Goodbye Tsugumi （TUGUMI) is a novel written by Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto Goodbye Tsugumi （TUGUMI) is a novel written by Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto Goodbye Tsugumi （TUGUMI) is a novel written by Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto (吉本ばなな）in 1989 and translated into English in 2002 by...
, was also made into a movie in 1990, directed by Jun Ichikawa. The novel received mixed reviews.
Critics think that much of her work is superficial and commercial; her fans however, think it perfectly captures what it means to be young and frustrated in modern Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Yoshimoto herself identifies her two main themes as "the exhaustion of young people in contemporary Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
" and "the way in which terrible experiences shape a person's life." Her novels can be fun and escapist, but are always touched with traditional Japanese ideology. Her writing can be quite piercing, haunting, poignant, and darkly humorous all at once. Though critics believe her to be "lightweight," Yoshimoto unabashedly states that she aims to win a Nobel Prize for Literature. Despite her seeming confidence, it seems unlikely that she will ever be awarded the prize, however, as it is claimed that several members of the current Nobel committee have shown a dismissive stance towards Yoshimoto's comments.
Her works include 12 novels and seven collections of essays (including Pineapple Pudding and Song From Banana) which have together sold over six million copies worldwide. Her themes include love and friendship, the power of home and family, and the effect of loss on the human spirit.
In 1998, she wrote the foreword to the Italian edition of the book Ryuichi Sakamoto. Conversazioni
Ryuichi Sakamoto. Conversazioni
Ryuichi Sakamoto. Conversazioni is a book by Massimo Milano. It features interviews between Milano and Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, who talks about his peculiar philosophy of life, his multi-directional approach to music, his classical training, new musical trends and the interaction of his...
by musicologist Massimo Milano
Massimo Milano
Massimo Milano is an ethnomusicologist, critic and sound experimentalist. Member of "A.I.STU.GIA" and of the International Jury of the Down Beat Annual Critics Poll , he has been editor-in-chief of the monthly magazine "Finis Terrae" , for which he interviewed Zimbabwe's musical...
.
Awards
Banana Yoshimoto was awarded the 39th edition Best Newcomer Artists Recommended Prize by the Minister of Education in August 1988 for Kitchen and Utakata/Sankuchuari. In March 1989, Goodbye Tsugumi was awarded the 2nd Yamamoto Shugoro Literary Prize. In 1994 her first long novel, Amrita, was awarded the Murasaki-shikibu Prize.Outside of Japan, she was awarded prizes in Italy: the Scanno Literary Prize in 1993, the Fendissime Literary Prize in 1996, the Literary Prize Maschera d' argento in 1999, and the Capri Award in 2011.
The Lake was longlisted for the 2011 Man Asian Literary Prize
Man Asian Literary Prize
The Man Asian Literary Prize, founded in 2007, is an annual literary award given to the best novel by an Asian writer, either written in English or translated into English, and published in the previous calendar year...
.