Note: This story was first published in June 1916 in the Tokyo Imperial University student magazine 新思潮, Shin shichō, "New trend of thought". The original Japanese title of this story, 酒虫, is transcribed as Shuchū in the Revised Hepburn notation (a sinicized pronunciation, from Mandarin jiǔ chóng), and means literally "liquor-worm", "liquor-bug". It is composed of 酒, usually read sake, "liquor, alcohol; sake" and 虫, mushi, "insect, bug; worm". This title refers to the Chinese liquor-spirit, who changes water into good wine, prevents drunkenness, and lives in the drinker's body.