Kazue Asai (浠亠åÂÂæÂÂ; January 25, 1943 â September 6, 1992), known by her pen name Agata Hikari , was a Japanese novelist and translator. She won several awards throughout her career, but was best known for her Noma Literary Prize-winning novel .
Hikari was born in Tokyo, Japan on January 25, 1943. Her father was a police officer. She attended Waseda University, but dropped out and became a copywriter. After fifteen years of marriage, she divorced and began writing fiction in 1982. Hikari also worked as a translator.
Hikari's first publication was , a novel which won the in 1982. Her next few works, , , and were all runners-up for the Akutagawa Prize. Uhoho Tankentai was adapted into the film House of Wedlock. Her 1986 won the Noma Literary Prize. Her 1988 was nominated for the Yamamoto Shà «gorà  Prize. Many of her works were also nominated for other awards. Her works frequently included themes of divorce, family relationships, and life as a woman.
Hikari died on September 6, 1992, of stomach cancer.