Yasushi Inoue (1907?1991) worked as a journalist and literary editor for many years, beginning his prolific career as an author in 1949 with the novel Bullfight, which won Japan's prestigious Akutagawa Prize. He went on to publish fifty novels and 150 short stories, both historical and contemporary, becoming one of Japan's major literary figures. In 1976 Inoue was presented with the Order of Culture, the highest honour granted for artistic merit in Japan.

J. Martin Holman is a literary translator, professor, puppeteer, and puppet theater director. His Japanese translations include Yasunari Kawabata's The Old Capital, Palm of the Hand Stories, and The Dancing Girl of Izu.