Shusaku Endo

Şusaku Endo was a Japanese author, renowned for his literary fiction novels. He was born in Tokyo in 1923 and was raised by his mother and aunt in Kobe. At the age of eleven, Endo converted to Roman Catholicism, making him a rare Japanese Catholic. His interest in French Catholic authors led him to major in French literature at Tokyo's Keio University, where he graduated with a BA in 1949. Later, he furthered his studies in French Catholic literature at the University of Lyon in France, from 1950 to 1953.

Endo's work often explores the theme of the failure of the Japanese to embrace Christianity. His novels have been translated into many languages, including English, French, Russian, and Swedish, attesting to his international appeal. Throughout his career, Endo received numerous prestigious Japanese literary awards, including the Akutagawa Prize, Mainichi Cultural Prize, Shincho Prize, and Tanizaki Prize. These awards recognize his significant contributions to Japanese literature and cemented his status as one of the most recognized authors and novelists during his time. Despite the challenges posed by World War II, Endo's passion for writing and lecturing in French Catholic literature persisted, making him a prominent figure in Japanese literature.