Akutagawa began writing short tales while still in university. His first published work was a translation of Anatole France's Balthasar in 1914. (1889). He started the literary journal Shin Shicho with his pals Kikuchi Kan and Kume Masao, where he published "Rashomon" (or "The Rasho Gate" in 1915). In 1920, Akutagawa won the prestigious Takaino Prize for his short story "Mumyô-kô no nai kôji" ("Not a Single Postage Stamp"). The following year, he committed suicide. Akutagawa wrote about one hundred stories in all, many of which are considered classics of Japanese literature. His work attracted attention from various critics and writers during his life time, including Osamu Dazai, who was a friend of Akutagawa's. When asked what he thought of "Rashomon", Dazai replied: "It's wonderful! I'm sure everyone will enjoy it!" After World War II, some of Akutagawa's friends and colleagues collected his works and published them under the title "Shin Akutagawa". This book became an instant bestseller and has never been out of print since its release in 1951. An anime film based on "Rashomon" was released in 1950. It was also a big hit at the box office.