Yasunari Kawabata was a Japanese novelist and short story writer whose spare, lyrical, subtly-shaded prose works earned him the 1968 Nobel Prize in Literature, marking him as the first Japanese author to receive the prestigious award. His literary contributions have enjoyed broad international appeal and continue to be widely read and acclaimed.

Alongside other distinguished Japanese literary figures of the 20th century such as Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, Osamu Dazai, and Yukio Mishima, Kawabata stood out. He was particularly noted for his friendship and mentorship to Yukio Mishima. His recognition extended beyond national borders, making him the first Japanese and the second Asian to be honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature, following Rabindranath Tagore.