3 Review(s)

Osamu Dazai (1909–1948), born Shūji Tsushima, is one of Japan’s most celebrated postwar authors, renowned for his raw, semi-autobiographical works that delve into themes of alienation, addiction, and existential despair. A brilliant but troubled writer, Dazai was born into a wealthy landowning family in northern Japan and briefly studied at Tokyo University’s French department, though he never graduated. His works, including No Longer Human (1948) and The Setting Sun, are considered masterpieces of modern Japanese literature, with No Longer Human being Shinchōsha’s second best-selling novel, behind Sōseki Natsume’s Kokoro. Dazai’s life was marked by multiple suicide attempts, culminating in his death by suicide at age 38, shortly after completing No Longer Human. His candid exploration of human struggles has made him a cult figure, particularly among younger readers, and his works have been translated into numerous languages, earning global acclaim in outlets like The Japan Times and The Atlantic.