Akutagawa, Ryunosuke: - Ryunosuke Akutagawa is often referred to as the "Father of the Japanese Short Story" due to his prolific literary output in the medium. Born in 1892, he was a contemporary of other major figures of modern Japanese literature, including Soseki Natsume and Junichiro Tanizaki. He is known for his inventive and playful language, as well as his pessimistic and satirical eye for social commentary, which can be seen in his most famous works: "Rashomon" (later adapted into a film by Akira Kurozawa), "A Nose," and "In a Grove." His literary success shadowed great personal depression and an infatuation