is a Japanese writer. She has been nominated five times for the Naoki Prize and won the 150th Naoki Prize for her novel '. Two of her novels have been adapted for film.

Early life and education

Himeno was born in 1958 in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. She moved to Tokyo and graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University, then worked part-time at a gallery so she could return frequently to Shiga Prefecture and help with her father's illness.

Career

At age 32 Himeno made her fiction debut in 1990 with her comedic novel '. More novels and essay collections followed, including the 1991 essay collection ', the 1992 novel ', and the 1995 essay collection '. Himeno's novel ', a story about a woman in a convent who grows a talking face near her genitals after asking God for help, was published in 1997 and shortlisted for the Naoki Prize. ''Junan'' was later adapted into a 2013 film of the same name starring

Mayuko Iwasa is a Japanese former entertainer, model, and actress. She is represented by Platinum Production. Among numerous other television and film appearances, she played the lead role in the film adaptation of Kaoruko Himeno's novel '. Career Iwasa was ...

. In 2003 her novel ', a story that follows young girls from second grade through first loves and sexual experiences, was nominated for the Naoki Prize. ''Tsu, i, ra, ku'' was later adapted into one segment of the 2005 anthology film '' female (フィーメイル)'' starring

Kyōko Hasegawa is a Japanese model and actress. She is previously married to Haruichi Shindō, one of the members of the Japanese rock band Porno Graffitti. On May 30, 2009 she gave birth to a boy. On January 25, 2012 she gave birth to a girl. Appearances TV ...

. Her 2005 novel ' and 2010 novel ' were also nominated for the Naoki Prize in their respective years, but did not win. In 2009 Himeno collaborated with

manga artist A is a comic artist who writes and/or illustrates manga. As of 2006, about 3,000 professional manga artists were working in Japan. Most manga artists study at an art college or manga school or take on an apprenticeship with another artist be ...

Ebine Yamaji to create the book '. After being nominated five times for the Naoki Prize, Himeno won the 150th Naoki Prize for her semi-autobiographical 2013 novel '. Himeno was exercising at the gym at the time of the announcement and had to rush to the press conference in her tracksuit, which she joked about with reporters in her interviews.

Recognition

* 2014 150th Naoki Prize (2013下)

Film adaptations

* '' female (フィーメイル)'', 2005 * ', 2013

Works

* ',

Kodansha is a Japanese privately-held publishing company headquartered in Bunkyō, Tokyo. Kodansha is the largest Japanese publishing company, and it produces the manga magazines ''Nakayoshi'', ''Afternoon'', ''Evening'', ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' an ...

, 1990, * ', Shufunotomo, 1990, * ', Mainichi Shimbunsha, 1991, * ',

, 1992, * ', Mainichi Shimbunsha, 1995, * ', Bungeishunjū, 1997, * ',

Kadokawa Shoten , formerly , is a Japanese publisher and division of Kadokawa Future Publishing based in Tokyo, Japan. It became an internal division of Kadokawa Corporation on October 1, 2013. Kadokawa publishes manga, light novels, manga anthology magazines su ...

, 2003, * ', Bungeishunjū, 2005, * (with Ebine Yamaji) ',

Fusosha is a Japanese publishing company wholly owned by Fuji Media Holdings and part of the Fujisankei Communications Group. History Fuji TV established Living Magazine Co. , Ltd as a publishing business. In 1984, the company name was changed from Liv ...

, 2009, * ',

Gentosha is a Japanese publisher, headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. Gentosha publishes manga magazine ''Comic Birz'', Web comic magazines '' GENZO'', ''SPICA'', '' Comic MAGNA'', literary magazines '' Lynx'', ''papyrus'', as well as business magazine ''GOET ...

, 2013,

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Himeno, Kaoruko 1958 births Living people 21st-century Japanese novelists 21st-century Japanese women writers Japanese women novelists Naoki Prize winners People from Shiga Prefecture Writers from Shiga Prefecture