Sōichi Kawagoe (1978–) is a Japanese novelist whose historical fiction focuses on people living through pivotal moments in Japanese history. Drawing on extensive historical research, he brings overlooked figures and forgotten episodes to life from fresh perspectives. He made his literary debut after winning the Matsumoto Seichō Prize in 2018 for "Tenchi ni Santari" ("Shining Across Heaven and Earth"). In 2020, he received the 162nd Naoki Prize for "Netsugen" ("Heat Source"), a novel set in Sakhalin and Hokkaido that follows Ainu people, Polish exiles, and others living on the margins of modern history, offering a richly layered portrait of cultural encounter and historical change.