Results for "ryūnosuke akutagawa"

This collection of short stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa provides a glimpse into the complex nature of Japanese society during different periods of its history. The stories are often morbid, exploring themes of morality, madness, and death. However, they are also incredibly beautiful and imaginative, providing a unique perspective on the world. For anyone interested in Japanese literature or looking for a thought-provoking read, Rashomon and Seventeen Other Stories is an excellent choice.

"The Life of a Stupid Man" is a candid and introspective collection of short stories that delve into themes of existentialism, moral ambiguity, and the struggles of modern Japanese society. Akutagawa's writing style is both poetic and insightful, making his stories perfect for readers who enjoy deep philosophical musings. Despite the morbidity of the title, the book offers a wide range of emotions and will leave readers pondering about life long after finishing the last page.

This book is a must-read for fans of dark and atmospheric storytelling. Ryūnosuke Akutagawa masterfully weaves together tales of madness, murder, and obsession, taking readers on a journey through different settings and time periods. With each story, the author delves deep into the dark depths of the human psyche, exploring themes of depravity, violence, and desire. Akutagawa's writing is beautifully crafted and infused with a fantastical sensibility that transports readers into a world of chilling suspense and haunting beauty. Prepare to be enthralled by these sublimely original and brilliantly executed stories that showcase the talent of a true master of the form.

In Ryotaro Shiba's account of the life of Japan's last shogun, Perry's arrival off the coast of Japan was merely the spark that ignited the cataclysm in store for the Japanese people and their governments. It came to its real climax with the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1868, the event which forms the centerpiece of this book. The Meiji Restoration—as history calls it—toppled the shogunate, and brought a seventeen-year-old boy emperor back from the secluded Imperial Palace in Kyoto to preside over what amounted to a political and cultural revolution. With this, Japan's extraordinary self-modernization began in earnest. Coming to power just as the Tokugawa regime was suffering the worst military defeat in its history, Yoshinobu strongly suspected that the rule of the Tokugawas—the third and longest lived of Japan's three warrior governments - was swiftly becoming an anachronism. During a year of frenetic activity, he overhauled the military systems, reorganized the civil administration, promoted industrial development, and expanded foreign intercourse, with the farsighted aim of creating a unified Japan. Alarmed by these reforms, pro-imperial interests moved against him, precipitating the Boshin Civil War and the final defeat of the shogunal armies. To the surprise of his enemies, Yoshinobu capitulated. It was this surrender of authority at a crucial point that made the transfer of sovereignty relatively peaceful. He then retired to Mito and lived quietly for the rest of his life, studying the new art of photography. Ennobled a prince in the new European-style nobility of the Meiji era, he died in 1913.