Ayako Sono (1931~) was born in Tokyo. At the age of 23, her novel Enrai no Kyakutachi (Visitors from Afar), which she published in a literary magazine Mita Bungaku, was short-listed for the Akutagawa Prize. Apart from writing and speaking activities as a writer, she has been serving several official positions, including the chairman of The Nippon Foundation and a board member of the Japan Writers' Association She is also a devout Catholic, and received the Yoshikawa Eiji Cultural Prize for her Christian activities. Her spouse is the author, Shumon Miura.

1993 Imperial Award, Japan Art Academy Award