Mikan（Mandarin Oranges）
【Masterpieces of Modern Japanese Literature㉔】
By Ryunosuke Akutagawa
Narrated by Nana Nagao
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A short story by Ryunosuke Akutagawa
“It was a cloudy winter dusk. I sat in the corner of a second-class carriage on an outbound train from Yokosuka, absentmindedly waiting for the whistle to signal departure. Unusually, the carriage—already lit by electric lamps—was completely empty except for me. Looking outside, I saw that even the dimly lit platform was devoid of the usual farewell figures. The only living presence was a small dog, confined in a cage, occasionally letting out sorrowful cries. The scene before me eerily mirrored my own state of mind at that moment. A deep, inexplicable fatigue and weariness filled my head, casting a dull, overcast shadow, much like the snow-laden sky above. I kept my hands buried in the pockets of my overcoat, too drained even to summon the energy to take out and read the evening newspaper tucked inside. Before long, the whistle blew, signaling the train’s departure.“
Author : Ryunosuke Akutagawa
Narrator : Nana Nagao
Produced by：Koé no Shoten
Special Thanks：Shigoto, Inc.
Listening Length：00:11:51
Release Date：2024/12/27
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
1892 –1927
Born in Tokyo, he graduated from the English Literature Department of Tokyo Imperial University. While still a student, he co-founded the third iteration of the literary magazine Shinshichō. His short story The Nose was highly praised by Natsume Sōseki, and the following year, he published his first short story collection, Rashōmon. Drawing inspiration from history and classical literature from both Japan and around the world, he wrote numerous works, including Hōkyōnin no shi（”The Death of a Christian”）, Toshishun（”Tu Tze-chun”）, Kappa, Haguruma（”Spinning Gears” or “Cogwheels”）, and Aru Ahō no Isshō（”A Fool’s Life” or “The Life of a Fool”）.