How to Pronounce Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

Meaning and Context

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa (芥川 龍之介), a seminal figure in modern Japanese literature, was a masterful short story writer whose brief but prolific career, spanning from his 1914 debut to his death by suicide in 1927, left an indelible mark on the literary world. Often hailed as the "father of the Japanese short story," Akutagawa's oeuvre is characterized by its profound psychological depth, meticulous historical settings, and exploration of complex themes such as morality, truth, and the darker facets of the human condition. His iconic stories, including "Rashōmon" (1915) and "In a Grove" (1922), which were famously adapted by Akira Kurosawa into the landmark 1950 film Rashomon, continue to be essential reading for students of Japanese fiction. Akutagawa's legacy is further cemented by Japan's premier literary award, the Akutagawa Prize, established in his honor in 1935 to recognize promising new authors. His work, a cornerstone of Taishō-era literature, remains a critical subject for literary analysis and a gateway to understanding the evolution of contemporary Japanese narrative style.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The name Ryūnosuke Akutagawa presents several common points of confusion for non-Japanese readers and typists. The primary challenge lies in the romanization of the long vowel in his given name. The correct spelling is "Ryūnosuke," with a macron over the 'u' (ū) indicating an elongated sound, often approximated as "Ryunosuke" or "Ryuunosuke" in its absence. Omitting the 'u' entirely to form "Rynosuke" is a frequent typo. For his surname, "Akutagawa" is standard, though occasional misspellings like "Akutagwa" (dropping the 'a') or "Akutagawaa" (over-extending the final vowel) occur. When writing in Japanese, his name is 芥川 龍之介. It is also worth noting that the title of his famous story is often mistakenly written in the film's title case as "Rashomon," whereas the original Japanese story title uses the elongated vowel: "Rashōmon" (羅生門). Attention to these diacritical marks is a hallmark of accurate literary reference.

Example Sentences

Akira Kurosawa's cinematic masterpiece, Rashomon, drew its central narrative premise from two of Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's most psychologically penetrating short stories.

Scholars often analyze Akutagawa's "The Hell Screen" as a terrifying allegory for the obsessive and self-destructive nature of artistic pursuit.

When recommending entry points to Japanese literature, many professors suggest starting with Akutagawa's collected stories due to their concise form and profound thematic depth.

Winning the Akutagawa Prize is considered one of the highest honors for a debut author in Japan, a testament to the enduring legacy of its namesake.

His story "In a Grove" masterfully deconstructs the concept of objective truth by presenting multiple, contradictory accounts of a single violent event.

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