Kawabata Yasunari stands as one of Japan's most celebrated literary figures—and the first Japanese writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, which he received in 1968. His reputation rests on a distinctive style: spare, lyrical prose that works in subtle shades rather than bold strokes. Readers and critics alike have remained drawn to his novels and short stories for decades, and his work continues to circulate widely around the world.

Born 14 June 1899 and active as a writer for most of his life until his death on 16 April 1972, Kawabata developed an approach to storytelling that felt distinctly his own—economical with words but rich in atmosphere. His international reach is unusual for a twentieth-century Japanese author; he managed to resonate across cultures and languages in ways that kept his books in print and in conversation long after their publication.