See also 宮部 みゆき (Japanese language profile) and 宮部美幸 (Chinese language profile).
Miyuki Miyabe (宮部みゆき Miyabe Miyuki) is a popular contemporary Japanese author active in a number of genres including science fiction, mystery fiction, historical fiction, social commentary, and juvenile fiction. Miyabe started writing novels at the age of 23. She has been a prolific writer, publishing dozens of novels and winning many major literary prizes, including the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize in 1993 for Kasha and the Naoki Prize in 1998 for Riyū [The Reason] (理由). A Japanese film adaptation of Riyû, directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, was released in 2004.
Always a pleasure to read about the supernatural tales that Lady Ah Jin listens to. She doesn't judge the verity of whether it happened, but listens without judgement. To the speaker of the tale, that is the version of the truth, which they truly experienced. . She then makes her own judgement after the event, and relates to her own life experiences. It's a journey of growth. . The tales, while scary, involves Yokai, ghosts, and demons. But there is always a human side to it, always an explanation for why something has happened. It's not so much for the shock factor, but rather a melancholy tale of life's struggles, regrets, grievances, injustice.