The Nose

“The Nose” is a satirical short story by Japanese writer Ryūnosuke Akutagawa that explores themes such as The Self as the Source of Suffering and The Role of Irony in the Pursuit of Enlightenment. The story is loosely based on a 13th-century Japanese tale from the anonymously written collection Uji Shūi Monogatari. It was first published in the Tokyo Imperial University student magazine Shinshichō in January 1916 and was widely reprinted. The story follows Zenchi Naigu, a Buddhist monk whose preoccupation with his unusually large nose leads him to undergo a special procedure to shorten it, only to find that the transformation brings unforeseen consequences.

Known as “the father of the Japanese short story,” Akutagawa is best known for his short stories “In a Grove” (sometimes translated as “In a Bamboo Grove”) and “Rashōmon,” both of which inspired Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s famous 1950 film Rashōmon. The film—widely regarded as one of the best movies of all time—retells “In a Grove” while drawing upon “Rashōmon” for its title and frame scenes.

Akutagawa led a short but prolific life. He wrote more than 150 short stories and left a lasting legacy on both Japanese and world literature.