The story was first published in 1915 in Teikoku Bungaku. Akira Kurosawa's film Rashomon (1950), takes only its name and some of the material for the frame scenes, such as the theft of a kimono and the discussion of the moral ambiguity of thieving to survive, from this story. The plot of the film is based on Akutagawa's 1922 short story, "In a Grove," which is also in this collection.
Included stories:
In a Grove
Rashomon
Yam Gruel
The Martyr
Postscript
Kesa and Morito
