Michiko Yamamoto

• Name — Michiko Yamamoto • Native Name — 古屋道子 • Pen Name — 山本道子 • Born — 4 December 1936 • Birthplace — Tokyo, Japan • Died — 29 January 2026 • Place of death — Chigasaki, Kanagawa, Japan • Occupation — Writer • Language — Japanese • Genre — * Fiction • Short story • Poetry • Notable Works — * "Mahō" • "Betei-san no niwa" • Mofuku no ko • Awards — * Shincho Prize for New Writers • Akutagawa Prize • Izumi Kyoka Prize for Literature

Yamamoto was born in Nakano, Tokyo and graduated from Atomi University in 1957. Her first three short stories, "Mahō," "Ame no Isu," and "Betei-san no Niwa" appeared in Shinchō magazine in March, July and November 1972 editions, respectively. "Rōjin no Kamo" was published August 1972 in the magazine Fūkei. These four stories were based on her experience living in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, where she had accompanied her husband in 1967. They later appeared in a collective issue. “Betty-san” became the title story for the English version, which was translated by Geraldine Harcourt and published in 1984 by Kodansha. She lived in Kamakura, Kanagawa with her husband. The couple had two grown daughters. Yamamoto died on 29 January 2026 at a hospital in Chigasaki, at the age of 89.