In 2003, two young female authors won the Akutagawa Prize — arguably the most important literary prize in Japan. One winner was 21-year-old Hitomi Kanehara for her novel "Snakes and Earrings" ("Hebi ni Piasu"); the other was Risa Wataya, who was only 19 at the time — the youngest winner of the prize at the time — for her novel "I Want to Kick You in the Back" ("Keritai Senaka").

I Want to Kick You in the Back, by Risa Wataya