Ichiyō Higuchi

Biography

Natsuko Higuchi (Japanese: 樋口 夏子, Hepburn: Higuchi Natsuko; 2 May 1872 – 23 November 1896), known by her pen name Higuchi Ichiyō (樋口 一葉), was a Japanese writer during the Meiji era. She was Japan's first professional woman writer of modern literature, specializing in short stories and poetry, and was also an extensive diarist. Her portrait was used on the 5000 yen banknote in Japan.