Mieko Kanai was born in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, November 3, 1947.
The following year, Kanai's short story Ai no Seikatsu ("Love Life") was nominated for the Osamu Dazai Prize.
[1] In 1968, Kanai released two short stories: Umi no Kajitsu ("The Fruit of the Sea"), which was retitled as Shizen no Kodomo ("Children in Nature"), and "Eonta" (Ontology).
The same year, Kanai was awarded the Gendaishi Techou Prize for poetry.
In 1970, Kanai's short story Yume no Jikan ("Time of Dreams") was nominated for the Akutagawa Prize.