Jakucho Setouchi (瀬戸内 寂聴 Setouchi Jakuchō, born May 15, 1922), formerly Harumi Setouchi (瀬戸内 晴美 Setouchi Harumi), is a Buddhist nun, writer and activist.
Setouchi was born in Tokushima. She attended Tokyo Woman's Christian University and graduated with a degree in Japanese Literature. After a love affair with one of her husband's students, she left her house and got an official divorce to leave for Tōkyō and pursue a writing career.
Setouchi's first literary award reception for Kashin was criticized as pornography. Upon being awarded the Women's Literary Prize for Natsu no Owari, she proved herself as a writer. She has also received one of Japan's more prestigious literary awards, the Tanizaki Prize for her novel Hana ni Toe in 1992. In 1973 she took up Buddhist vows and became a Buddhist nun at Chūsonji Temple in Hiraizumi, Iwate prefecture and received her name Jakuchō.
Setouchi is famous for translating The Tale of Genji from old Japanese to modern Japanese.