Hiroko Oyamada

Oyamada was born in Hiroshima and remained there throughout her student years, graduating from Hiroshima University in 2006 with a degree in Japanese literature. After university, Oyamada changed jobs three times in five years, and this experience inspired her debut novel, Kōjō (Factory), which was awarded the 42nd Shincho Prize for New Writers in 2010. After her debut, Oyamada worked part-time as an editor at a local magazine, but quit after marrying a co-worker.