Travelling Cat Chronicles (Arikawa) - Author Bio

Author Bio
• Birth—June 9, 1972
• Where—Kochi, Japan
• Education—Sonoda Women's University
• Awards—Dengeki Novel Prize
• Currently—lives in Japan


Hiro Arikawa is a well-known Japanese "light novelist" (Japanese for young adult novels) who has published than a dozen books, including two series: "The SDF" (Self-defense forces) series and "The Library" series. Arikawa was born in Kochi, Japan and attended the Sonoda Women's University, a private women's college in Amagasaki, Japan.

Although considered a light novelist, Arikawa's books—from her second work onwards—have been published as hardbacks and stand alongside more literary works. Her 2006 light novel Toshokan Sensō (The Library War) was named as Hon no Zasshi's number one for entertainment for the first half of 2006, and came 5th in the Honya Taishō for that year, competing against standard adult novels. Two of her works were adapted to film in 2015 and 2016.

Arikawa won the 10th annual Dengeki Novel Prize for new writers for Shio no Machi (Wish on My Precious) in 2003, and the book was published the following year. It was praised for its love story between a heroine and hero divided by age and social status, and for its depiction of military structures.

Arikawa first came to the attention of English-language readers with her 2015 bestseller, The Travelling Cat Chronicles. The work was published in the U.S. in 2018 with solid reviews and brisk sales. (Adapted from Wikipedia. Retrieved 11/28/2018.)