Anzai Atsuko

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In this Japanese name, the family name is Anzai.

Atsuko Anzai (安西 篤子, Anzai Atsuko^?) is a Japanese woman novelist in Showa and Heisei period Japan. Anzai has concentrated her efforts on stories set in China with historical themes, or on contemporary stories based on traditional Chinese motifs.

[edit] Biography

Anzai was born on August 11, 1927 in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture. She moved to Kanagawa prefecture with her family as a child, graduating from high school in Yokohama. Anzai lived for a period of time in Germany and China during her childhood.

She turned to literature after she married; the noted author Nakayama Gishu agreed to take her on as a student. She formed a literary criticism group called Namboku ("North-South") in 1953, where authors could support each other as well as review each other's work. In 1964, her novel Chanshaoshi no hanashi was awarded the prestigious Naoki Prize.

In 1993, her novel Kurouma was awarded the Japan Women Writer's Award.

She currently resides in Kamakura, Kanagawa.