Yumiko Kurahashi (1935-2005) was born in Kochi. In 1960, while studying French Literature at Meiji University, she won an internal prize with Parutai (Partei). This novel gathered attention when one of the judges and literary critic, Ken Hirano, mentioned in Mainichi Shimbun's literary review section. Then it was published in a literary magazine and nominated for the Akutagawa Prize. She also translated children's books, including Shel Silverstein's The Missing Piece and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's Le Petit Prince.

1960 Women's Literary Prize, for Parutai (Partei)

1962 Tamura Toshiko Prize, for Parutai

1987 Izumi Kyoka Prize, for Amanon-koku Okanki (The Record of Travel to the Land of Amanon)