Yonematsu Shiono was born in 1947 in Akita Prefecture. He graduated with a degree in applied chemistry from Tokyo University of Science. He travels Japan collecting oral histories from outdoor workers and craftspeople. He is a prolific literary author and has been nominated four times for the Akutagawa Prize. He also writes children’s picture books, and won the Japan Picture Book Award for “Natsu no Ike”. Yonematsu Shiono was in charge of the structure of the 2009 film, “Knut”. One of his current projects is recording and compiling oral histories relating to disappearing traditional culture and crafts.