Eiji Yoshikawa (吉川 英治, Yoshikawa Eiji, August 11, 1892 – September 7, 1962) was a renowned Japanese historical novelist. Known for his revisions of older classics, Yoshikawa was greatly influenced by works like The Tale of the Heike, Tale of Genji, Water Margin, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which he retold in his own unique style. For instance, he took the original 15-volume manuscript of Taiko and retold it in a more accessible tone, reducing it to two volumes.

Despite most of his novels not being original works, Yoshikawa produced a vast amount of literature and rekindled interest in historical narratives. His contributions to literature earned him the Cultural Order of Merit in 1960, the Order of the Sacred Treasure, and the Mainichi Art Award, shortly before his death from cancer in 1962.

Yoshikawa's efforts have cemented his place as one of Japan's greatest historical novelists. He continues to be celebrated for his ability to breathe new life into classical tales, making them accessible and engaging to modern audiences.