was a Japanese writer from

Hokkaido is the list of islands of Japan by area, second-largest island of Japan and comprises the largest and northernmost prefectures of Japan, prefecture, making up its own list of regions of Japan, region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō fr ...

. She won the

Akutagawa Prize The is a Japanese literary award presented biannually. Because of its prestige and the considerable attention the winner receives from the media, it is, along with the Naoki Prize, one of Japan's most sought after literary prizes. History Th ...

in 1979, and her work has been adapted for film.

Early life

Shigekane was born in

, Japan on March 7, 1927. Her father worked for a mining company. Throughout her childhood she had problems with her hips dislocating, requiring multiple surgeries to address and providing experience that she would later incorporate into her story ', about a child with similar problems who has a troubled relationship with her mother. The family later moved to

Fukuoka is the List of Japanese cities by population, sixth-largest city in Japan and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since ancient times. ...

. In 1946 Shigekane was baptized as a

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

, and the next year she married her husband, with whom she subsequently had three children.

Career

After raising her children Shigekane started taking writing courses. In 1978 she published her first story in a literary journal, with ''Sui-i'' appearing in ''

Bungakukai is a Japanese monthly literary magazine published by Bungeishunjū as a oriented publication. History and profile The first version of ''Bungakukai'' was published from 1893 to 1898. The founders were the first generation romantic authors in ...

'', and received her first nomination for the

, for her story ''Baby Food''. The next year Shigekane was nominated again for the Akutagawa Prize and won, becoming one of only six women to receive the prize in the 1970s. Her story ', about a diligent crematorium worker, was chosen over

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese writer. His novels, essays, and short stories have been best-sellers in Japan and internationally, with his work translated into 50 languages and having sold millions of copies outside Japan. He has received numerous awards for hi ...

's nominated story '' Hear the Wind Sing'', which the committee considered to be too imitative of American literature to be awarded the Akutagawa Prize. Later that year

Bungeishunjū is a Japanese publishing company known for its leading monthly magazine '' Bungeishunjū''. The company was founded by Kan Kikuchi in 1923. It grants the annual Akutagawa Prize, one of the most prestigious literary awards in Japan, as well a ...

published a collection of Shigekune's stories that included the title story ''Yama ai no keburi'', ''Miesugiru me'', and two other stories. Shigekane wrote several more novels after winning the Akutagawa Prize, including the 1980 novel ', about a woman who conforms to the expectations of those around her, and the 1986 novel ', about a bank worker whose new bride develops a fatal tumor. In 1985

Toho is a Japanese entertainment company that primarily engages in producing and distributing films and exhibiting stage plays. It is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. ...

released a film adaptation of ''Yama ai no keburi'' titled ''Itoshiki hibi yo'', starring Rino Katase and Masami Shimojō. Shigekane died of cancer on August 22, 1993.

Recognition

* 1979: 81st

(1979上)

Film and other adaptations

* ', 1985

Works

Selected works in Japanese

* ',

, 1979, * ', Bungeishunjū, 1980, * ',

Chuokoron-Shinsha is a Japanese publisher. It was established in 1886, under the name . In 1999, it was acquired by The Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings, and its name was subsequently changed to Chūōkōron-shinsha. Profile The company publishes a wide variety of mater ...

, 1986,

Works in English

* "The Smoke in the Mountain Valley", trans. John Wilson and Motoko Naruse, ''Mississippi Review'', 2012

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shigekane, Yoshiko 1927 births 1993 deaths 20th-century Japanese novelists 20th-century Japanese women writers Japanese women novelists Writers from Hokkaido Akutagawa Prize winners