Wataya Risa

Born in Kyoto in 1984, she is currently studying at the School of Education of Waseda University. When she was in elementary school, her homeroom teacher gave her a “bankbook whose balance increased the more you read,” which sparked her love of literature. In 2001, at 17, she made a brilliant debut by winning the 38th Bungei Prize with the novel Install, written as an escape from entrance-exam pressures. Two years later, her full-length novel The Back I Want to Kick became a co-winner of Japan’s most prestigious literary honor, the 130th Akutagawa Prize, once again making her the youngest recipient in history.

Awards

• 2001 38th Bungei Prize
• 2004 130th Akutagawa Prize