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Short Fiction

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About this book

An unusually long nose becomes a source of embarrassment, ingenuity and social comedy in a story by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa. In the passage from “The Nose,” the Naigu has tried several remedies and longs to test another while pretending to be indifferent. His disciple brings back a doctor's advice from Kyoto, and their attempt to shorten the nose involves an elaborate and awkward experiment using hot water from the temple bathroom.

The collection presents Japanese fiction in English translation. This episode combines detailed physical comedy with a precise account of the Naigu's conflicting feelings. His careful hints, his disciple's sympathy and the practical details of their procedure give readers a close view of how private shame shapes ordinary conversation. Those interested in comic character studies can follow the tension between a person's outward dignity and the wishes he struggles to conceal.

About the author

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927) was a Japanese writer regarded as the father of the Japanese short story. Japan's premier literary award is named in his honor; his tale 'In a Grove' inspired the film Rashomon.