After graduating from Iwakuni Girls' High School, Chiyo Uno (1897-1996) became a teacher. She debuted as a writer in 1921 with Shifun no kao (Painted Face), which won first prize in a competition sponsored by the magazine Jiji shimpo (Current Events). A pioneer entrepreneur, she became well known as a kimono designer and also as a woman of many loves: she was linked romantically to a number of famous artists including Seiji Togo. She died in 1996 of acute pneumonia.

1970 Women's Literary Prize, for Kofuku (Happiness)

1982 Kikuchi Kan Prize, for Ame no oto (The Sound of Rain)