Osamu Dazai

Osamu Dazai was a Japanese novelist and author who emerged at the end of World War II as the literary voice of his time. His dark, wry tone perfectly captured the confusion of postwar Japan, when traditional values were discredited and the younger generation nihilistically rejected all of the past. His works are considered modern-day classics and have influenced many contemporary writers and artists. He was also a prominent member of the Buraiha (Decadent School) movement, which expressed the disillusionment and moral decay of the postwar society. Dazai was born as Shuji Tsushima, the eighth surviving child of a wealthy landowner and politician in Kanagi, a remote corner of Japan at the northern tip of Tohoku in Aomori Prefecture. He was brought up mostly by his aunt and the family's servants, as his father was often absent and his mother was ill. He developed an interest in literature and Edo culture, and began writing and publishing his own works while studying at Hirosaki University. He was also influenced by the suicide of his idol, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, and attempted to kill himself several times throughout his life. Dazai moved to Tokyo in 1933 and became involved in the literary circles of the city. He joined the Shinchōsha publishing company and worked as a journalist and editor. He also married twice and had four children, but he was notorious for his affairs and alcoholism. He wrote prolifically during the war and postwar periods, producing some of his most acclaimed works, such as The Setting Sun (1947), which depicts the decline of the Japanese aristocracy, and No Longer Human (1948), which is a semi-autobiographical account of his alienation and despair. He also wrote many short stories, essays, and fairy tales, often drawing from his personal experiences and observations. Dazai's life ended tragically when he committed suicide with his lover, Tomie Yamazaki, by drowning themselves in the Tamagawa Canal in Tokyo, just a few days before his 39th birthday. His body was found on June 19, 1948, the same day as his birthday. He was buried at the Zenrin-ji Temple Cemetery in Mitaka, Tokyo. His death shocked and saddened his fans and fellow writers, and he became a legend in Japanese literature. His works have been translated into many languages and adapted into various media, such as films, anime, manga, and video games. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential Japanese writers of the 20th century.