In today's world, Chisako Wakatake has gained indisputable relevance. Whether as a protagonist of major changes, as an object of debate or as a historical reference point, Chisako Wakatake arouses widespread interest. Its impact extends beyond a specific area, influencing different aspects of daily life. In this article, we will further explore the role of Chisako Wakatake and its importance in the current context. From its origin to its evolution, including its implications, we will delve into a complete analysis that will allow us to better understand the scope of Chisako Wakatake and its relevance in today's society.
Chisako Wakatake | |
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Native name | 若竹 千佐子 |
Born | 1954 (age 69–70) Tōno, Iwate, Japan |
Occupation | Writer |
Language | Japanese |
Alma mater | Iwate University |
Genre | Fiction |
Notable works | Ora ora de hitori igu mo |
Notable awards |
Chisako Wakatake (若竹 千佐子, Wakatake Chisako, born 1954) is a Japanese writer. Her 2017 book Ora ora de hitori igu mo won the Akutagawa Prize and the Bungei Prize.
Wakatake was born in 1954 in Tōno, Iwate, Japan. She started writing while in school, but after graduating from Iwate University she worked briefly as a teacher, then married and became a housewife. While working at home Wakatake wrote occasionally and won a small local literary prize for a story she submitted, but she never seriously pursued a writing career. At the age of 55, after the death of her husband, she started writing full-time, drawing on her own experiences of age and loneliness.
Wakatake's first book, Ora ora de hitori igu mo (I'll Live By Myself), about a Tōhoku dialect-speaking widow coping with life alone after the death of her husband, was published in 2017. Ora ora de hitori igu mo won the 54th Bungei Prize, making Wakatake the oldest recipient of the award, at age 63. Shortly thereafter it also won the 158th Akutagawa Prize, making Wakatake the second oldest recipient of the award. After winning the Akutagawa Prize, Wakatake visited her hometown of Tōno, Iwate, where she received a local citizens' honor recognizing her for raising awareness of the town throughout Japan.
Critic Roland Kelts, writing for The Times Literary Supplement, has described the themes of Wakatake's work as "loneliness and repressed turmoil."
Wakatake lives in Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture.