Junko Takase (1988–) is a Japanese novelist whose fiction explores the subtle tensions of everyday life, particularly those found in workplaces, families, and personal relationships. Combining sharp observation with understated humor, she examines the unspoken expectations that shape contemporary society. In 2022, she won the 167th Akutagawa Prize for "Oishii Gohan ga Taberaremasu Yō ni" ("May We Be Able to Eat Delicious Meals"). Through the rituals of eating and office life, the novel offers a perceptive look at conformity, gender roles, and the quiet pressures of modern living.