Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
Awards & Honours
0
Awards Won
2
Honours
1
Rankings
2
Records
While Akutagawa himself never won a major literary prize, his legacy is defined by the Akutagawa Prize, which is considered the highest honor for new writers in Japan. His story In a Grove indirectly led to the creation of one of the most celebrated films in cinema history, Rashomon, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1951. This film not only brought his work to a global audience but also influenced filmmaking techniques worldwide.
Honours & Distinctions
Akutagawa Prize
Japan's most prestigious literary award for new writers, established in his honor.
Portrait on the 500-yen note
His portrait appeared on the 500-yen note from 1951 to 1958, a rare honor for a writer.
Rankings & Lists
Greatest Japanese Writers
Records & Feats
First Japanese modernist writer to be widely translated into English
Akutagawa was among the first Japanese modernists to be translated into English, helping to introduce Japanese literature to the West.
Most prestigious literary award named after a writer
The Akutagawa Prize is Japan's most prestigious literary award, named in his honor, and has been awarded twice a year since 1935.