The Life of Akutagawa Ryūnosuke

Akutagawa Ryūnosuke (born in Tokyo in 1892 – died in Tokyo in 1927) was a Japanese writer. He is widely regarded as the “Father of the Japanese short story”. He saw Natsume Sōseki as his teacher and idol, and his short story Hana (“The Nose”), attracted a letter of praise from Sōseki himself.

His later works, which include Kappa (1927) and Aru ahō no isshō ("A Fool's Life", 1927), incorporate references to his deteriorating physical and mental health.

On 24 July, 1927, he committed suicide through an overdose of barbital. He described his suicidal anguish in letters addressed to his friends.

The Akutagawa Prize, a literary award, was established in his memory by Akutagawa's lifelong friend Kan Kikuchi.

The Red Candle

The Red Candle

Niimi Nankichi

Original title: 赤い蝋燭 (Akai Rousoku)

Date of publication: November 15th 1936
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Original text

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A monkey that went from the mountains to a village to play picked up a single red candle. Red candles were not something you saw very often. And that is how the monkey mistook the red candle for fireworks.

The monkey carefully took the red candle and brought it back to the mountains.

The animals in the mountains were in an uproar. That was because no one, not the deer, not the boar, not the bunny, not the turtle or the weasel, not the tanuki or the fox, had ever seen fireworks. To think that the monkey would pick up such a rare thing!

”Oh my, how marvelous!”

”What a great thing you got!”

The deer, the boar, the bunny, the turtle, the weasel, the tanuki¹, and the fox were crowding around the monkey to take a look at the red candle.

”Be careful, don’t come too close. It could explode”, the monkey said.

Everyone jumped back in surprise.

And then the monkey told them about the noise fireworks made as they went off and how beautifully they spread in the sky. If it’s that beautiful, I want to see it, is what everyone thought.

”Then let’s launch it off tonight on the peak”, the monkey said. Everyone was very excited. They were looking forward to seeing it embrace the stars at night.

And then it was night. Everyone went up to the peak with hearts beating excitedly. The monkey had already fixed the red candle to a branch and waited for the others to come.

They decided it was time to launch the fireworks. However, a problem came up. That was, no one tried to light the fireworks. Everyone liked to see the fireworks, but no one liked fire.

So there were no fireworks. They decided to draw lots and let chance decide who would light the fire. The first one was the turtle.

The turtle gathered all its courage and approached the fireworks. But it could not light the fire. No, no. When reaching the fireworks, it pulled its head in and did not come back out.

They drew lots again, and this time it was the weasel’s turn. The weasel did better than the turtle. That was because it did not pull its head in. But the weasel was very nearsighted. And that is why it just stumbled around the candle.

Then the boar jumped out. The boar was a very brave beast. It actually managed to light the fire.

The surprise made everyone jump into the grass and cover their ears. Not just their ears, they also covered their eyes.

But the candle, unaffected, just burned quietly.

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^{1. A mammal native to Japan. Resembles a raccoon↩}

The Youth and Death

The Youth and Death

Akutagawa Ryuunosuke

Original title: 青年と死 (Seinen to Shi)
Date of publication: September 1914
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Original text

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     No backgrounds. Two eunuchs¹ appear while talking.
――Another six consorts² gave birth this month. And we don’t know how many dozens are pregnant.
――And no one seems to know the father.
――Not a single one of them. But that’s impossible, the consorts are located in the inner palace, where no man except for us can go. And yet there are consorts giving birth each and every month!
――Maybe there’s a man sneaking in.
――At first I thought so, too. But no matter how many guards we put out there, the childbearing won’t stop.
――Have you asked the consorts?
――That’s the weird thing. We asked a variety of questions, whether there was a man sneaking in and such. But they just say there are voices, but no figures to be seen.
――I see, that is indeed strange.
――It’s unbelievable. Anyway, that is all we know about the mysterious invader, so we need to think of measurements for their protection somehow. What do you think?
――I don’t have any good idea when you ask so suddenly, but it seems to be true that the man exists.
――Sounds right.
――Then how about we spread some sand on the floor? It doesn’t help if the man came flying, but if he enters on foot, there will be footprints.
――I see, what an excellent idea! Then we can follow those footprints to catch him.
――Well, let’s just try if it works.
――Yes, let’s. (They leave)

×

     Maids are spreading a large amount of sand.
――Well, we covered the whole floor in sand.
――There’s still room in that corner. (Throws sand)
――(They leave)

×

     Two young men are sitting in candle light.
B: It’s been a year already since we started going to that place.
A: Time flies. And up until last year we were so fed up with things like raison d’être or summum bonum.
B: By now I’m even forgetting about Ātman³.
A: I also bid the Upanishads⁴ farewell a long time ago.
B: If I remember correctly, we seriously reflected on a lot on topics like life and death back then.
A: Heh, we were only saying what came to our minds. And I don’t even know how much I’m thinking these days.
B: Is that so? I have never thought once about death or anything since then.
A: If you’re fine with that, then it’s alright.
B: I mean, isn’t it foolish to think about questions you’ll never have an answer for?
A: We’ll both die one day, though.
B: We won’t die for another year or two, I’m sure.
A: Who knows.
B: We might even die tomorrow. But if we worry about that, we won’t get anything interesting done.
A: I don’t think so. Maybe there is nothing as meaningless as the joy of not expecting your death.
B: Meaningless or not, I don’t think I need to expect death or anything.
A: But aren’t you living in deception, then?
B: That may be true.

A: Then you don’t need your current lifestyle. Aren’t you choosing a lifestyle to break that deception?
B: Anyway, I don’t feel like thinking anymore. No matter what you say, I have nothing else to do.
A: (Regretfully) If you say so.
B: Night has advanced while we were having our useless discussion. Let’s go.
A: Yes.
B: Then hand me the mantle that makes one invisible. (A hands it to B. When B puts on the mantle, he disappears. Only his voice remains.) Let’s get going.
A: (Puts on the coat. He, too, disappears. Voice only.) The night fog is emerging.

×

     Voices only. Darkness.
A’s voice: How dark it is.

B’s voice: I almost stepped on the hem of your mantle.
A’s voice: I can hear the fountains.
B’s voice: We’re already beneath the balcony.

×

     A large group of nude women are sitting, standing or sleeping. Dim light.
――They won’t come tonight, will they.
――The moon is hiding already.
――I hope they come soon.
――I’m in the mood to hear their voices.
――Just their voices was not enough.
――Right, you can feel them, too.
――It was scary at first.

――I was shaking all night long.
――Me too.
――But when we do, they tell us not to fret.

――Right, right.
――It was still scary.
――Did you give birth to his child?
――Quite a while ago.
――I wonder if he’s going to be happy about it.
――Such a cute child.
――I want to be a mother, too.
――Oh my, I don’t feel like it at all.
――Oh?
――Yes, isn’t it terrible? I just want to be spoiled by men.
――Oh well.
A’s voice: You still have your lights on tonight I see. Your skin is so beautiful, how it moves under that blue silk.
――Oh, there they are.
――Come here.
――No, come to me tonight.
A’s voice: You’re wearing gold rings and the like, I see.
――Yes, why?
B’s voice: It’s nothing. Your hair smells like jasmine, doesn’t it.
――It does.
A’s voice: You’re still shaking.
――I’m so happy.

――Come here.
――You’re going to her again?
B’s voice: Your hand is so soft.
――Please spoil me anytime.
――Take someone else tonight.
――Here. Good.
――Ah, ah.
     The women’s voices grow into vague moans and then disappear.
     Silence. Suddenly, soldiers with spears appear from somewhere. The soldiers’ voices.
――There are footprints!
――Here, too!
――There, that’s where they escaped!
――Don’t let them get away! Don’t let them get away!
     Disturbance. The women all shriek and run away. The soldiers look everywhere for footprints. The light goes out and the stage becomes dark.

×

     A and B appear while wearing the mantle. A man with a black mask comes from the other side. It’s slightly dark.
A and B: Who’s there?
Man: You two wouldn’t forget my voice, would you.
A and B: Who are you?
Man: I am death.
A and B: Death?
Man: There’s no reason to be so surprised. I have existed since long in the past. And I exist now. And I will continue to exist. Perhaps I’m the only one who can say ‘I exist’.
A: What did you come here for?
Man: Usually, there is only one thing I come for.
B: So that’s what it is. That’s what you’re here for.
A: Yes, exactly. I’ve been waiting for you. Now is the time to see your face. Come, take my life.
Man: (To B) Did you wait for me, too?
B: No, I didn’t wait for you or anyone. I want to live! Please let me live a bit longer! I’m still young. Warm blood still flows through my veins. Please, let me enjoy life a bit more!
Man: You know that begging has never stopped me.
B: (In despair) Do I really have to die? Do I really have no choice but to die?
Man: When you got old enough to understand, it was already the same as being dead. Be glad that you could praise the sun until now and consider that my goodwill.
B: It’s not just me. It’s the fate of every human to die one day once they’re born.
Man: That is not what I meant. You forgot about me until today, didn’t you. You lived without hearing my breath. You tried to live in nothing but joy by breaking all deceptions, but without realizing that that joy was itself nothing but a deception. Once you forgot about me, your soul started starving. Starving souls tend to yearn for me. By trying to avoid me, you invited me.
B: Aah.
Man: I am not the destroyer of everything. I give birth to everything. You forgot me, the mother of all. To forget me is to forget life. Those who forget life must die.
B: Ah! (Falls over and dies.)
Man: (Laughs) What an imbecile. (To A) No need to be scared. You can come closer.
A: I am waiting. I’m not a chicken.
Man: You wanted to see my face. Morning is dawning already. You can give my face a close look.
A: That’s your face? I never imagined it to be so beautiful.
Man: I did not come to take your life.
A: But I’m waiting. I’m a human who knows nothing but you. I’m useless even when I’m alive. So take my life. Cure my suffering.
Third voice: Don’t be stupid. Look closely at my face. You life was saved because you didn’t forget me. However, I don’t approve of everything you do. Look closely at my face. Do you understand your mistake? Whether you can live on now is up to your efforts.
A’s voice: It looks to me like your face is getting younger with every moment.
Third voice: (Quietly) It’s dawn. Come see this wide world with me.
     The man with the black mask and A can be seen leaving in the light of dawn.

×

     Five, six soldiers drag in the corpse of B. The corpse is nude and wounded in several places.

――From legends about Nagarjuna⁵――

（August 14th 1914）

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<sup>1. Servants or slaves who were castrated to be able to work in certain positions.↩
2. Mistresses, girls in a harem↩
3. A word/concept in Hinduism that describes the true self↩
4. Sanskrit texts that contain the core philosophy of Hinduism↩
5. A famous Buddhist philosopher (150~250 AD)↩</sup>