2 Quotes & Sayings By Taeko Watanabe

Taeko Watanabe was born in Tokyo in 1933. She began writing at the age of sixteen, and her first story was published in 1954. During this time she also became a painter and a critic. In 1967, she published her first novel, which marked the beginning of a long career for Taeko Watanabe Read more

She continued to write novels both in Japanese and in English. After the success of her novel "Sanshiki," she wrote a series of novels which were later adapted into Japanese films. For twenty years she lived a private life far from the public eye, but from 1972 to 1981 she wrote several essays for "Chuukai" magazine, which brought her into contact with ordinary people who had been affected by the war.

In 1981 she published her autobiography, "Koisuru Kioku," which was translated into English as "Memoirs." The book became an immediate bestseller and served as an inspiration to many women who had experienced difficulties during World War II. Her work has been translated into eighteen languages and is considered a classic in Japan.