Hitomi Kanehara
Encyclopedia
is an award-winning Japanese
novelist.
drop-out since the age of 15, Kanehara pursued her passion for writing with the support of her father, Mizuhito Kanehara, a literary professor
and translator
of children's literature
. She was born and currently lives in Tokyo
.
She wrote her first novel Snakes and Earrings when she was 21. The novel won the prestigious Akutagawa Prize
(judged by acclaimed novelist Ryū Murakami
), going on to sell a million copies.
Hebi ni Piasu (Snakes and Earrings
); later that same year the novel won her the Akutagawa Prize
, one of the most prestigious literary awards in Japan
, making her and Risa Wataya
the youngest people ever to receive this honor.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
novelist.
Biography
A high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
drop-out since the age of 15, Kanehara pursued her passion for writing with the support of her father, Mizuhito Kanehara, a literary professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and translator
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
of children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
. She was born and currently lives 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...
.
She wrote her first novel Snakes and Earrings when she was 21. The novel won the prestigious Akutagawa Prize
Akutagawa Prize
The is a Japanese literary award presented semi-annually. It was established in 1935 by Kan Kikuchi, then-editor of Bungeishunjū magazine, in memory of author Ryūnosuke Akutagawa...
(judged by acclaimed novelist Ryū Murakami
Ryu Murakami
is a Japanese novelist and filmmaker. He is colloquially referred to as the "Maradona of Japanese literature".-Biography:Born as Ryūnosuke Murakami in Sasebo, Nagasaki on February 19, 1952...
), going on to sell a million copies.
Awards
In 2003, Kanehara was awarded the Subaru literary Prize(Syûeisya) for her novelNovel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
Hebi ni Piasu (Snakes and Earrings
Snakes and Earrings
is a novel written by the Japanese author Hitomi Kanehara in 2003, and it won the 2003 Akutagawa Prize for literature. It was translated into English by David Karashima. In 2007, a film-version directed by Yukio Ninagawa was released.-Synopsis:...
); later that same year the novel won her the Akutagawa Prize
Akutagawa Prize
The is a Japanese literary award presented semi-annually. It was established in 1935 by Kan Kikuchi, then-editor of Bungeishunjū magazine, in memory of author Ryūnosuke Akutagawa...
, one of the most prestigious literary awards 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...
, making her and Risa Wataya
Risa Wataya
is a female Japanese novelist from Kyoto.-Life:She rose to fame in 2003 upon receiving the Akutagawa Prize for her short novel Keritai Senaka , while at Waseda University. The prize was shared between Wataya and Hitomi Kanehara, another young, female author...
the youngest people ever to receive this honor.