[1] She started writing while in school, but after graduating from Iwate University she worked briefly as a teacher, then married and became a housewife.

[2][3] While working at home Wakatake wrote occasionally and won a small local literary prize for a story she submitted, but she never seriously pursued a writing career.

[7] Shortly thereafter it also won the 158th Akutagawa Prize, making Wakatake the second oldest recipient of the award.

[6] After winning the Akutagawa Prize, Wakatake visited her hometown of Tōno, Iwate, where she received a local citizens' honor recognizing her for raising awareness of the town throughout Japan.

[8] Critic Roland Kelts, writing for The Times Literary Supplement, has described the themes of Wakatake's work as "loneliness and repressed turmoil.