Tsutomu Mizukami (1919-2004) was born in Fukui. After the second World War, he studied under Koji Uno, and made his author debut with Kiri to Kage (Fog and Shadow) in 1959.

1961 Naoki Prize, for Kari no Tera (The Temple of the Wild Geese)

1973 Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Prize, for Kitaguni no Onna no Monogatari (Tale of a North Country Woman) and Heisotsu no Tategami (The Serviceman's Mane)

1975 Tanizaki Jun'ichiro Prize, for Ikkyu

1977 Kawabata Yasunari Prize. For Teradomari (Temple Stay)