The translation of “ Rashōmon ” here given was first published in the English study magazine, Eigo Seinen , in 1920, three years after Akutagawa published the original in his first book. “ Lice ” was published in the same magazine in 1921. I am grateful to the magazine for permission to republish them in this volume. I am once more grateful, too, to my very sympathetic Japanese colleagues, whom I have always used freely when, from time to time, dictionaries and my own imagination have failed me. And finally I am grateful to the author, whom, though his days of seeing and hearing are over, I here address as would a Japanese: Akutagawa Ryūnosuke, at last I am publishing the book I started with your approval years ago. May you find it pleasing.
Glenn W. Shaw
Osaka, June 10, 1930.