Photo: Popova Lyudmila / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Banana Yoshimoto was born in Bunkyō-ku, Tokyo, Japan on July 24, 1964. Banana Yoshimoto is listed as a short story writer, essayist and novelist. The age as of 2026 is 62. Education on record includes Nihon University. Recorded honors include Kaien Shinjin Bungakusho (1987), Izumi Kyōka Prize for Literature (1988), Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize (1989) and 3 more.
My Take
Banana Yoshimoto is one of those writers whose quietness is deceptive. From her debut Kitchen through decades of prizes spanning the Izumi Kyoka, Yamamoto Shugoro, and Tanizaki awards, she has kept writing about loss, loneliness, and the small tendernesses that hold people together. What impresses me is the longevity: sustaining critical acclaim across so many years and styles is far harder than a single breakout. Her global readership makes sense, because grief and healing translate across any border. I value her not for spectacle but for the gentle precision with which she names feelings most of us cannot.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Banana Yoshimoto
- Name (Japanese)
- 吉本ばなな
- Born
- July 24, 1964 (age 62)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Leo / Dragon
- Origin
- Bunkyō-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Occupation
- writer / short story writer / essayist / novelist
2. Background
- University
- Nihon University
Awards & achievements
- 1987 Kaien Shinjin Bungakusho
- 1988 Izumi Kyōka Prize for Literature
- 1989 Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize
- 1995 Murasaki Shikibu Prize
- 2000 Bunkamura Les Deux Magots Literature Award
- 2022 Tanizaki Prize
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Kitchen | — | |
| Notable work | NP | — | |
| Notable work | Shirakawa yofune o yobune | — |
4. Links
- Official sitehttp://www.yoshimotobanana.com/
- Xhttps://x.com/y_banana
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana%20Yoshimoto
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%90%89%E6%9C%AC%E3%81%B0%E3%81%AA%E3%81%AA
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q238970
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Banana Yoshimoto born?
Born July 24, 1964 (age 62).
Where is Banana Yoshimoto from?
Banana Yoshimoto is from Bunkyō-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
What does Banana Yoshimoto do?
Banana Yoshimoto works as writer, short story writer, essayist, novelist.
What is Banana Yoshimoto known for?
Notable works include Kitchen, NP, Shirakawa yofune o yobune.
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