Shiba Ryotaro, one of Japan's most popular authors, was born in Osaka in 1923.He graduated from Osaka University of Foreign Studies, where he studied Mongolian and served in the Imperial Japanese Army during the World War II, as did many other students.
After the war he worked as a newspaper reporter and began to write novels, mainly based on Asian history.
　By writing historical novels he embarked on a lifelong exploration of people and events in Japanese history, trying to establish how a nation's course is set. In 1959 he received the Naoki Prize for 『Fukuro no shiro』 (The Owl Castle)and entered into the group of popular novelists.
　His many works, which often provide new interpretations of the turbulent times of the Meiji Restoration, have had enduring success with Japanese readers. He was named a member of the Japan Art Academy in 1981, cited as a Cultural Merit in 1991, and conferred with the Order of Culture in1993.
　After his sudden death in 1996, to continue his cultural works, the Shiba Ryotaro Memorial Foundation was established by his wife, Fukuda Midori. The foundation set up the Shiba Ryotaro Prize and Fellowship, and opened the Shiba Ryotaro Museum in 2001.

■His main works
『Ryoma ga yuku』 『Sakanoue no kumo』 『Kaidou wo yuku』 『Kukai no fukei』 『Nanohana no oki』 etc.

■Books translated into English
『Drunk as a lord』 『The Last shogun』 『Kukai the Universal』 『To you who live in the 21st century』 etc.