Osamu Dazai ​

Osamu Dazai was a Japanese author known for his melancholic and somber themes. He remains one of Japan’s most widely read and well-known novelists even decades after his death. Notably, he authored "No Longer Human" and "The Setting Sun".

Quick Facts ​

• Regarded as one of Japan's most important modern writers.
• Best known for his novel No Longer Human.
• His works have been adapted into films, manga, anime, and even stage plays.
• Had a profound influence on Japanese literature and popular culture.
• His life and his literature were marked by his battles with mental illness and suicide.

Background ​

Dazai Osamu was born in 1909 into an affluent family in Kanagi, a small town in northern Japan, present-day Goshogawara, Aomori. He was the eighth surviving child out of nine of his parents' children. He had a troubled family life marked by familial disputes and the suicide of his mother when he was learning at Hirosaki University. He aspired to be a writer from an early age and his writing career began when he published his first short story "Ressha" ("The Train") in 1923. His career had many stages, from involvement in leftist literary groups in the early 1930s, to his later writings that reflected his mental health struggles and battle with drug addiction. He wrote short stories, novels and essays, including "No Longer Human" and "The Setting Sun," which resonated with post-WWII Japanese society. He died at the age of 39 in what is considered a double suicide with a war widow, Tomie Yamazaki.

Writing Style and Impact ​

Dazai's writing style is characterized by its melancholic and confessional tone. His works often delve deep into human nature and struggles with existential themes. He is known for his autobiographical style and the tragic perspective of life portrayed in his novels. Despite his dark themes, Dazai's work is greatly admired for its emotive power and has had a profound influence on modern Japanese literature.

Notable Works ​

• No Longer Human (1948)
• The Setting Sun (1947)
• Schoolgirl (1939)
• Run, Melos! (1940)
• The Woman Who Had Two Navels (1944)