Factbook

A Dynamic Compendium of Interesting Japanese Literary and Publishing Facts

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Creative Writing

Banana Yoshimoto chose the pen name banana as it was gender neutral

[UPDATED: 2-22-2018]

Banana Yoshimoto, one of the most internationally recognised contemporary female Japanese writers established her career in 1988 with her debut novel Kitchen, which was nominated for various prizes, instantly putting her on Japan’s literary map. She wrote the novel while working as a waitress in a golf club.

She chose her pen name while at college before graduation choosing banana to replace her given name Mahoko as she liked banana flowers and thought the name was memorable, “cute”, and “purposefully androgynous.”

She comes from a very creative family. Her father Taaki Yoshimoto (1924-2012) was a well-known poet and literary critic and her sister is a well-known cartoonist.

Banana Yoshimoto chose the pen name banana as it was gender neutral Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan

More Facts:

Two Japanese authors have won the Nobel Prize in Literature[UPDATED: 10-10-2017]
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Japanese folk tales contain stories of time travel & shape-shifting animals[UPDATED: 2-12-2018]
- TOPICS:
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Japan’s first magazine, Seiyo-Zasshi, was launched in October 1867[UPDATED: 2-21-2018]
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The Book of Tea, published in 1906, provides guidance on how to appreciate not just tea, but Japanese literature and all that is pure and refined[UPDATED: 2-23-2018]
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Japan’s most expensive book was published in 1984 with a retail price of US$17,000[UPDATED: 1-5-2019]
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The Akutagawa Prize has had some major controversies[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]
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Factbook

Banana Yoshimoto chose the pen name banana as it was gender neutral

Two Japanese authors have won the Nobel Prize in Literature[UPDATED: 10-10-2017]

Japanese folk tales contain stories of time travel & shape-shifting animals[UPDATED: 2-12-2018]

Japan’s first magazine, Seiyo-Zasshi, was launched in October 1867[UPDATED: 2-21-2018]

The Book of Tea, published in 1906, provides guidance on how to appreciate not just tea, but Japanese literature and all that is pure and refined[UPDATED: 2-23-2018]

Japan’s most expensive book was published in 1984 with a retail price of US$17,000[UPDATED: 1-5-2019]

The Akutagawa Prize has had some major controversies[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

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