Mitsugu Saotome (1926-2008) was born in Manchuria. After the 2nd World War, he studied with Shugoro Yamamoto and published novels in magazines and newpapers. In 1989, he won Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Prize for Aizu Shikon (The Warrior Spirit of Aizu), which consists of 21 volumes in total.

1968 Naoki Prize, for Kyojin no Ori (The Cage of Traveler)

1989 Yoshikawa Eiji Prize, for Aizu Shikon (The Warrior Spirit of Aiizu)