Akutagawa Ryunosuke

«Akutagawa Ryonosuke was born in Tokyo into a family which had lived for generations in the shitamachi district of Tokyo, famous for its cultural traditions. Shortly after Akutagawa's birth his mother, Fuku, became insane. His father, Niihara Toshizo, a dairyman, was not able to take care of his son, and Akutagawa was adopted by his uncle, Akutagawa Dosho, whose surname he assumed. In 1913 Akutagawa entered the Tokyo Imperial University, where he studied English, graduating in 1916 with a thesis on William Morris. Throughout his life, Akutagawa remained a voracious reader of the Western novels.»

«Akutagawa Ryonosuke was born in Tokyo into a family which had lived for generations in the shitamachi district of Tokyo, famous for its cultural traditions. Shortly after Akutagawa's birth his mother, Fuku, became insane. His father, Niihara Toshizo, a dairyman, was not able to take care of his son,...» (show all)