Biography.guide
Home › People › Novelist › Kaoruko Himeno
Portrait of Kaoruko Himeno

Kaoruko Himeno

b. 1958

Japanese writer

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Kaoruko Himeno

Born 1958. Kaoruko Himeno is a Japanese novelist and writer.

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.

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. 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 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, 1990, , Shufunotomo, 1990, , Mainichi Shimbunsha, 1991, , Kodansha, 1992, , Mainichi Shimbunsha, 1995, , Bungeishunjū, 1997, , Kadokawa Shoten, 2003, , Bungeishunjū, 2005, (with Ebine Yamaji) , Fusosha, 2009, , Gentosha, 2013,

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Aoyama Gakuin University
Awards
Naoki Prize

People in Kaoruko Himeno's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Kaoruko Himeno's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Kaoruko Himeno?

Japanese writer

When was Kaoruko Himeno born?

Kaoruko Himeno was born on 27 August 1958 in Kōka-shi.

What is Kaoruko Himeno's occupation?

Kaoruko Himeno is a novelist and writer.

What nationality is Kaoruko Himeno?

Kaoruko Himeno is Japanese.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Kaoruko Himeno

· Wikidata: Q11447593

· DBpedia: Kaoruko Himeno

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kaoruko Himeno. https://biography.guide/kaoruko-himeno/

MLA: "Kaoruko Himeno." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kaoruko-himeno/.

Chicago: "Kaoruko Himeno." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kaoruko-himeno/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:12 UTC