Jakucho Setouchi

Jakucho Setouchi (Setouchi Jakuchō (瀬戸内 寂聴), May 15, 1922 - ) is the Buddhist nun, writer and activist formerly known as Harumi Setouchi (Setouchi Harumi (瀬戸内 晴美)).

Biography
Setouchi was born in Tokushima in 1922. She attended Tokyo Woman's Christian University and graduated with a degree in Japanese Literature. After a love affair with one of her husband's students, she left her house and got an official divorce to leave for Tōkyō and pursue a writing career. Setouchi's first literary award reception for Kashin was criticized as pornography. Upon being awarded the Women's Literary Prize for Natsu no Owari, she proved herself as a writer. She has also received one of Japan's more prestigious literary awards, the Tanizaki Prize for her novel Hana ni Toe in 1992. In 1973 she took up Buddhist vows and became a Buddhist nun at Chūsonji Temple in Hiraizumi, Iwate prefecture and received her name Jakuchō.

Setouchi is also famous for her translation of the Tale of Genji.

Prizes

 * 1962 Women's Literature Prize for Natsu no Owari
 * 1992 Tanizaki Prize for Hana ni Toe
 * 2001 Noma Prize in literature for Basho