Yukio Mishima

1925 - 1970

Yukio Mishima (1925–1970) was a prolific Japanese author, playwright, and actor. Known for his intense and controversial works that often dealt with themes of sexuality, death, and the samurai code, Mishima is considered one of the most important literary figures in 20th-century Japan. He is particularly renowned for his tetralogy "The Sea of Fertility" and his nationalist beliefs, which led to his infamous ritual suicide following a failed coup attempt in 1970.