Mieko Kanai


Mieko Kanai is a Japanese writer, poet, and literary critic.

Biography

Kanai's father died when she was six years of age. She has a sister who is a painter and illustrator.
She graduated from Takasaki Girls' High School in 1966. The following year, Kanai's short story Ai no Seikatsu was nominated for the Osamu Dazai Prize.
In 1968, Kanai released two short stories: Umi no Kajitsu, which was retitled as Shizen no Kodomo, and "Eonta". Both were well received. The same year, Kanai was awarded the Gendaishi Techou Prize for poetry. Her first poetry collection, Madamu Juju no ie was published in 1971.
In 1970, Kanai's short story Yume no Jikan was nominated for the Akutagawa Prize.
Kanai has built a reputation as an "abstract" or "surrealist" author.

Awards

1968 - Gendaishi Techou Prize for poetry
1979 - Izumi Kyoka Prize for Puratonteki ren’ai
1988 - Women's Literature Prize for Tamaya

Translated Works