 In 1927, while continuing to write, Nagai was hired as an editor for "Bungeishunjū".During this time, he helped to lay the foundations for the Akutagawa and Naoki Prizes, created in 1935, and later became a member of the screening committee.In January 1934, through the introduction of the wife of author Kubota Mantarō, Nagai married the daughter of Kume Masao, by whom he had two daughters.