Natsume Sōseki was a Japanese novelist who is widely considered one of the most important Japanese fiction writers of the Meiji era. Born in 1867 in Tokyo, Sōseki studied English literature and later became a professor at Tokyo Imperial University. He achieved fame with his novels such as "I Am a Cat" and "Kokoro", which often explored themes of alienation, modernity, and the clash between traditional and Western values. Sōseki's works have had a lasting impact on Japanese literature and continue to be studied and admired worldwide.