In the Land of Water Sprites

Interesting Facts

• The book is a satirical novella where the author uses the fictional world of kappas to critique Japanese society of his time.
• The protagonist finds himself in the world of kappas, encountering unusual and paradoxical social norms that reflect and mock human vices.
• Kappas in the book possess traits opposite to humans: they are born with full consciousness and can choose whether they want to live before being born.
• The work touches on themes of absurdity, alienation, and criticism of social institutions such as marriage, economy, and government.
• The book is written in the form of a diary, allowing the reader to delve deeper into the protagonist's experiences and reflections.
• Ryūnosuke Akutagawa uses kappas as a metaphor to explore human nature and social conventions.