Nobuo Kojima (1915~2006) was born in Gifu. He studied English literature at the Tokyo Imperial University. He is one of authors of ‘Dan-san no Shinjin (The Third Generation of postwar writers),' and was a pillar of Japan's literary world, along with Shusaku Endo and Shotaro Yasuoka. He received several literary prizes, including the Akutagawa Prize in 1954 and Tanizaki Jun'ichiro Prize in 1965. In 1994, he became a Person of Cultural Merit. He awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star in 2004.

1954 Akutagawa Prize, for American School

1965 Tanizaki Jun'ichiro Prize, for Hoyo Kazoku (Embracing Family)

1982 Noma Literary Prize, for Wakareru Riyu (Reason for Parting)

1997 Yomiuri Literary Prize, for Uruwashiki Hibi (Beauteous Days)