Kenji Nakagami (1946-1992) was born in Wakayama. He moved to Tokyo after graduation from high school, and joined the literary coterie magazine Bungei Shuto where he published novels, poems and essays. In 1975, he won the Akutagawa Prize, for Misaki (The Cape), the story of which set in his hometown, Shingu-shi.

1975 Akutagawa Prize, Misaki (The Cape)

1977 Ministry of Education Award for Art, for Karekinada (The Kareki Sea)