Takashi Atoda (born 1935) is a Japanese novelist and essayist renowned for his mastery of the short story. After graduating from Waseda University, he worked as a librarian at the National Diet Library while pursuing a literary career, making his debut with "Love from the Refrigerator" in 1978. His fiction is distinguished by its blend of mystery, psychological insight, irony, and black humor. He received the Mystery Writers of Japan Award in 1979 for the short story "Visitor," the Naoki Prize for the collection "Napoleon Mania," and the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for Literature in 1995 for "The New Tale of Troy." He is also widely admired for his accessible introductions to classical literature and mythology. His best-known work, "Napoleon Mania," is a collection of short stories that showcases his wit, inventive storytelling, and keen observations of the unexpected complexities of everyday life.