An Interview with Mieko Kawakami: An Owl Takes Flight at Dawn

Mieko Kawakami is one of the most critically acclaimed contemporary authors on the planet and perhaps the foremost contemporary female author hailing from Japan. Born in Osaka, Kawakami made her literary debut as a poet and published her first novella, My Ego, My Teeth, and the World, in 2007. Her books, translated into over 40 languages, are known for their poetic qualities, insights into the female body, and an immersion into the themes of ethics and modern society. Starting with her win of the Akutagawa Prize for Chichi to Ran and later with the International Booker Prize for Heaven and the National Book Critics Circle Award for All the Lovers in the Night, she has broken major domestic and international barriers, all while championing feminism through her work and life. Kawakami’s further works include Breasts and Eggs and Sisters in Yellow.

Mieko Kawakami will appear live at Japan Society conversation with Professor Amanda Seaman. This conversation will go through her career with an in-depth discussion of her major themes and books. It will be followed by a signing with the author.