was a Japanese writer from

Hokkaido is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel. The la ...

. 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 The ...

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

Early life

Shigekane was born in

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 sixth-largest city in Japan, the second-largest port city after Yokohama, 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 ancie ...

. In 1946 Shigekane was baptized as a

Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...

, 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 t ...

'', 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 bestsellers 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 his ...

's nominated story ''

Hear the Wind Sing is the first novel by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. It first appeared in the June 1979 issue of ''Gunzo'', and in book form the next month. The novel was adapted by Japanese director Kazuki Ōmori in a 1981 film distributed by Art Theatre Gu ...

'', 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 as ...

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 film, theatre production and distribution company. It has its headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. Outside of Japan, it is best known as the producer an ...

released a film adaptation of ''Yama ai no keburi'' titled ''Itoshiki hibi yo'', starring

Rino Katase is a Japanese actress. She won the Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 11th Japan Academy Prize for '' Gokudō no Onnatachi 2'' and '' Yoshiwara Enjō''. Filmography Film * '' Gokudō no Onnatachi'' film series (1986–1999) * ''Yoshiwar ...

and

Masami Shimojō was a Japanese film and stage actor. He appeared in more than 100 films. Career Hoping to become a film director, Shimojō traveled to Tokyo in 1935 but ended up joining a theater troupe, debuting on stage in 1936. He made his film debut in 194 ...

. 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