Ichiriki Yamamoto was born in Kochi Prefecture in 1948. After graduating from the Electronics Course of Setagaya Industrial High School in Tokyo, Yamamoto held a variety of jobs before winning the All Yomimono Award for Best New Writer in 1997 for his debut novel Soryu. In 2002, he received the Naoki Prize for Akane Zora. He has authored numerous other books and series, including Sonryo-ya Kihachiro Shimatsu Hikae, Keyaki Shigure, Daikon, Zeni-uri Saizo, Kanjiki Hikyaku, Gin Shari, Togi-shi Takichi, Isuzu Naru, Ninjo-ya Yokocho, Kujira-gumi, Yatsu-hana Goyomi, Otafuku, Benkei Hikyaku, Senryo Kanban, Beni Kemuri and the John Mung series.