| architecture |
| calligraphy |
| ceramics |
| clothing |
| comics |
| gardens |
| lacquerwork |
| literature |
| movies |
| music |
| painting |
| poetry |
| sculpture |
| tea ceremony |
| television |
| theatre |
| weaponry |
| thematic routes |
| timeline |
| the site |
context: literature > modern
|
Ryunosuke Akutagawa 1892-1927
A follower/acolyte of Soseki, and a major intellectual figure. He wrote about lots of old and mythical subjects, producing over 150 short stories. He killed himself at 35, fearing his mind was going: his mother had been committed when he was a baby. Arguably Japan's major literary prize was named for him.
'Rashomon' was his first published story, in 1915: Soseki became his mentor after reading it; 'In A Bamboo Grove' came later, in 1922. These were merged into the great movie Rashomon by Akira Kurosawa.