Natsume Sōseki (夏目 漱石), born Natsume Kinnosuke (夏目 金之助), was a celebrated Japanese novelist, best known for his novels Kokoro, Botchan, I Am a Cat, Kusamakura, and his unfinished work Light and Darkness. Beyond his novels, he was also a distinguished scholar of British literature and a prolific writer of haiku, kanshi poetry, and fairy tales. His contributions to literature have made him an iconic figure in Japan, often regarded as the greatest writer in modern Japanese history. His influence extends far beyond his lifetime, profoundly affecting generations of Japanese writers. From 1984 until 2004, his portrait graced the front of the Japanese 1000 yen note, cementing his status as a national treasure.