Japan's master storyteller Ryunosuke Akutagawa wrote more than 150 short stories. Widely regarded as "the Father of the Japanese short story," he blended modern sensibilities with timeless themes to profound effect. This new anthology offers the most comprehensive collection of Akutagawa's work ever published in English. It features fresh translations of his most celebrated stories alongside many lesser-known and never-before-translated pieces.

Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927) is one of the biggest names in Japanese literature, recognized for his mastery of the short story form. He was a contemporary of Osamu Dazai, Jun'ichiro Tanizaki and Soseki Natsume. In the West, he is best known for his short story In a Grove, adapted by Akira Kurosawa in his award-winning movie Rashomon. Many of his stories highlight a fascination with supernatural and transformational phenomena while others have vivid historical backdrops and display influences from classic Japanese and Western fiction. In 1927, at the age of 35, he killed himself.

If you have any questions, please call The Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email events@japansociety.org.uk.

Free for members of The Japan Society

Book available from Bookshop.org, Waterstones, and Amazon (translated by Richard Medhurst)
Japanese version available here and here