Ryunosuke Akutagawa: Life, Legacy, and Tragic End

Ryunosuke Akutagawa (芥川龍之介, 1892-1927) is a name well-known among Korean readers, primarily due to the prestigious Akutagawa Prize (芥川賞), awarded to emerging writers in Japan. Established in 1935 by Kikuchi Kan (菊池寛), a high school classmate and literary peer of Akutagawa, the award is presented twice a year, in January and July. Notably, four Korean-Japanese authors have received this honor: Lee Hwa-sung (이회성, 1972), Lee Yang-ji (이양지, 1989), Yumi Lee (유미리, 1997), and Hyun-wol (현월, 2000). Each of their achievements was highlighted in interviews published by the Chosun Ilbo newspaper.

Lee Hwa-sung, the first Korean-Japanese writer to win the Akutagawa Prize, shared his thoughts in a March 12, 1972 interview with Chosun Ilbo's chief editor, Sunwoo Hwi. They conversed in Korean, with Lee expressing his belief that cultural identity is deeply intertwined with language, despite his upbringing in Japan.

Lee Yang-ji, who won the 100th Akutagawa Prize in 1988 while studying at Ewha Womans University, stated, "My love for my homeland blossomed through the gayageum and Korean dance."

Yumi Lee, the 116th recipient in 1996, reflected on her struggles with identity, saying, "I feel a lot of 'absence.' I find it hard to live in Korea because I cannot speak Korean, and I feel out of place in Japan as well. This sense of absence is reflected in my literature."

Hyun-wol, who received the 122nd award in 2000, described the unique position of being a Korean-Japanese, stating, "I am neither Japanese nor fully Korean; I am a special existence called 'Zainichi.' I aim to write works that explore universal human experiences through this lens."

Despite the accolades he bestowed upon others, Akutagawa never received an award during his lifetime. On July 24, 1927, a rainy day, he tragically took his own life at his home in Tabata, Tokyo, after overdosing on sleeping pills. His wife discovered him in distress around 6 AM, but he had already passed away. In a posthumously found letter titled "To an Old Friend," he wrote, "For the past two years, I have only thought about death," attributing his despair to a vague anxiety about his future.

Akutagawa was a brilliant student, graduating second in his class from the prestigious Tokyo Imperial University. He published his first novel, "Old Age" (老年), in 1914, and gained recognition with his acclaimed work "Rashomon" (羅生門) the following year. By 1927, he had written over 50 stories, with his works inspiring Akira Kurosawa's 1950 film "Rashomon," regarded as one of the greatest films in Japanese cinema.

Akutagawa was also a notable figure in colonial Korea, frequently mentioned in discussions about the Japanese literary scene of the 1920s. His death was reported simultaneously by both the Chosun Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo newspapers, with the latter highlighting a conflict with Kikuchi Kan as a potential motive for his suicide. In contrast, Chosun Ilbo attributed his death to the intensifying effects of his mental health struggles.

At Akutagawa's funeral, Kikuchi Kan delivered a eulogy, reflecting on the nature of his friend's chosen death and promising to care for Akutagawa's three sons. Akutagawa's legacy continues to influence literature and culture, both in Japan and Korea.