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Photo of Risa Wataya

Photo: Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy of Japan in Poland / CC BY 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Risa Wataya

Born February 1, 1984 (age 42). From Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Writer / novelist.

Writer from Japan

  • Kyoto Prefecture
  • writer
  • novelist

Born on February 1, 1984 in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, Risa Wataya is a writer and novelist. Risa Wataya is 42 years old as of 2026. Education on record includes Waseda University. Awards on record include Akutagawa Prize (2003), Kenzaburō Ōe Prize (2012) and Shimase Romantic Literature Prize (2019).

My Take

Winning the Akutagawa Prize at nineteen is the kind of debut that can swallow a writer whole - the story becomes the age, not the book. Wataya outlasted that. Keritai Senaka sold over a million copies, and she kept going, later taking the Kenzaburo Oe Prize and the Shimase Prize. Two decades on, she still answers only through the work.

This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.

1. Profile

Name (English)
Risa Wataya
Name (Japanese)
綿矢りさ
Reading
わたや りさ
Born
February 1, 1984 (age 42)
Origin
Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Occupation
writer / novelist
Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
Aquarius / Rat

2. Background

University
Waseda University

Awards & achievements

  • 2003 Akutagawa Prize
  • 2012 Kenzaburō Ōe Prize
  • 2019 Shimase Romantic Literature Prize

4. About this entry

Tags

  • Kyoto Prefecture
  • writer
  • novelist
Last updated

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 Risa Wataya born?

Born February 1, 1984 (age 42).

Where is Risa Wataya from?

Risa Wataya is from Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.

What does Risa Wataya do?

Risa Wataya works as writer, novelist.

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