The first Japanese author popularized in the West, Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927) restated old legends and medieval history in modernist psychological terms. A prolific writer of naturalistic "slice of life" short fiction, he produced 150 stories and novellas that address human dilemmas and struggles of conscience tinged with gothic darkness. Contributing to his mystique was his rapid mental decline and suicide at age the age of 35.

A Tokyo native, Akutagawa was born in the historic, multicultural Irifunecho district on March 1, 1892, to Fuku Niihara and Binzo Shinhara, a dairy merchant. He was named Niihara Ryunosuke in infancy to honor the family of his mother, the scion of an ancient samurai clan. After her mental deterioration when he was nine months old, he passed from the custody of his father, who was unable to care for him. His maternal uncle, Michiaki Akutagawa, adopted him, giving him the surname Akutagawa. Shaken by what...