Yukio Mishima

Born Kimitake Hiraoka, Yukio Mishima adopted his famous pen name to conceal his writing from his family. His literary output was immense, ranging from novels and plays to essays, often exploring themes of identity, sexuality, and death, with a distinct blend of traditional Japanese aesthetics and modern Western influences. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature three times, making him one of Japan's most celebrated and debated literary figures.

Mishima was also a fervent nationalist, concerned with what he saw as the degradation of traditional Japanese values post-WWII. He even formed his own private militia, the Tatenokai (Shield Society), dedicated to upholding the samurai spirit and the Emperor's divinity. This perhaps explains why his final act wasn't to finish another masterpiece, but to stage a dramatic, failed coup attempt at a military base, followed by a public seppuku.

Needless to say, his "Jew Score" on the identity and origin fronts is a resounding zero. His Kvell-worthiness, however, is a fascinating conundrum. While his literary genius is undeniable, his extreme political views and the theatrical nature of his demise might make one kvel with a slight tremor, perhaps even a kvetch. Still, a Nobel-nominated oeuvre is nothing to sneeze at, even if the author ended his career with a sword.