author
Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
1892–1927
A brilliant and restless voice of early modern Japan, he transformed old tales and sharp psychological insight into short stories that still feel vivid today. Best known in English for “Rashōmon” and “In a Grove,” he helped shape the modern Japanese short story.
1 Audiobook
Tales grotesque and curious
by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
About the author
Born in Tokyo in 1892, Ryūnosuke Akutagawa became one of the most influential Japanese writers of the Taishō period. He studied English literature at Tokyo Imperial University and began attracting attention while still young, especially with stories that reworked material from Japan’s past in fresh, unsettling ways.
Akutagawa wrote mainly short fiction rather than long novels, and his work is known for its precision, intelligence, and psychological depth. Stories such as Rashōmon, The Nose, and In a Grove helped establish his reputation, and his legacy remains so strong that Japan’s prestigious Akutagawa Prize was named in his honor.
His life was brief and troubled, and he died in 1927 at the age of 35. Even so, his influence has lasted far beyond his own era, reaching readers around the world through translation, film adaptation, and the enduring power of his storytelling.