Ariyoshi Sawako was one of the most widely read novelists of postwar Japan and one of the most influential authors in sparking public debate on the social issues--such as care for the elderly, the shifting status of women in Japanese society, and the effects of mounting pollution--that she brought to the forefront through her fiction. Because of prejudice against women authors (and against those who are too popular with readers), some of the most prestigious literary prizes of her country eluded her. Yet Ariyoshi's ability to generate interest in problems that had previously been ignored assures her a prominent position among writers of modern Japan. She had a remarkable facility as a storyteller and was often hailed for bringing the qualities of a well-constructed narrative into her writings. In addition, Ariyoshi was both student and practitioner of the theatrical arts, and she adapted many of her novels for...