[1] She moved to Tokyo and graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University, then worked part-time at a gallery so she could return frequently to Shiga Prefecture and help with her father's illness.
Himeno's novel Junan (受難, The Passion), a story about a woman in a convent who grows a talking face near her genitals after asking God for help, was published in 1997 and shortlisted for the Naoki Prize.
[5] In 2003 her novel Tsu, i, ra, ku (ツ, イ, ラ, ク, C,R,A,S,H), a story that follows young girls from second grade through first loves and sexual experiences, was nominated for the Naoki Prize.
[6] Tsu, i, ra, ku was later adapted into one segment of the 2005 anthology film female (フィーメイル) starring Kyōko Hasegawa.
[10] Himeno was exercising at the gym at the time of the announcement and had to rush to the press conference in her tracksuit, which she joked about with reporters in her interviews.