Mieko Kanai


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

Biography

Mieko Kanai was born in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, November 3, 1947. Her father died when she was six years of age. She has a sister who is a painter and illustrator.
Kanai 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

Selected works

  • "Homecoming"
  • "The House of Madam Juju"
  • "Rotting Meat"
  • "Portrait of Mother and Child"
  • "Rabbits"
  • "The Shoreless Sea"
  • "The Acacia Knights"
  • "Platonic Love"
  • "The Word Book"
  • "Mirror in the Water"
  • "Writing Classrooms"
  • "Inside a Bright Room"
  • "Medicine Pills"
  • "Oh, Tama!"
  • "Indian Summer"
  • "Love Taiheiki"
  • "Mild Vertigo"
  • "Stepping on Soft Soil"
  • "2 or 3 Things I Know about Them"
  • "The Girl in the Rumor"
  • "Piece of Cake and Twice Told Tales"
  • "A Star is Born"

Translated works