[1] She began writing in high school and won a number of awards for short articles submitted to women’s magazines.

After her graduation from high school, she moved to Tokyo and attended the Jissen Women's University, but was forced to drop out due to illness (tuberculosis (spondylitis)) after around 18 months.

Around this time, she also met fellow writer Fukada Kyūya, with whom she started to live as his common law wife.

Although they were living together as husband and wife, Fukada never officially registered the marriage with the city office due to strong opposition from his family over Yao's weak health.

This was followed by Jiro Buchin Nikki which was first serialized in Ginga from January to December 1947 and then published in book form the next year by Shinchosha.