Mishima Yukio, given name Hiraoka Kimitake, was an author and playwright famous for his nihilistic post–World War II writings. Mishima’s first major work was a prose short story written for his school’s literary magazine. He later worked in the Finance Ministry, but exhausted himself writing at night, and so resigned during his first year. The popular success of his first novel, Kamen no kokuhaku (1948; tr. Confessions of a Mask, 1958), led to an intensive period of prolific writing. Later in life Mishima formed a private army to incarnate his extreme nationalistic views. He committed ritualistic suicide during an attempt by this army to convince the Japan Self Defense Forces to stage a coup to restore the emperor’s status. A literary award was named in his honor.
Historical dictionary of modern Japanese literature and theater. J. Scott Miller. 2009.