What’s Up With Anime’s Obsession With Osamu Dazai?

Highlights

• Anime and manga frequently pay homage to Osamu Dazai, a troubled Japanese literary figure with a unique life story and dark themes.
• Dazai’s works, like “No Longer Human,” reflect personal struggles with mental health, suicide, and identity in a post-war Japan setting.
• The upcoming anime “Isekai Shikkaku” reimagines Dazai in a fantasy world, exploring his complex character through humor and unconventional storytelling.

Osamu Dazai was a Japanese author known for his dark and introspective works that were heavily influenced by his personal experiences and the rapidly changing cultural, political, and economic landscape of post-war Japan. Many of his stories dealt with themes such as mental health, identity, happiness, and fidelity. His highly individualistic approach to life and work made him a controversial figure.

Ahead lies text with numerous mentions and portrayals of topics relating to mental health, suicide, substance abuse, and neglect, among others, which may prove disturbing for some readers. Proceed with discretion.

As a gaming enthusiast and avid anime fan, I can’t help but notice the intriguing fascination with the Osamu Dazai character in anime, particularly in shows like “Bungo Stray Dogs.” This captivation is further amplified as one upcoming anime title transports us to a whole new realm – isekai. So, I can’t help but wonder: why is Osamu Dazai such a beloved figure in the anime community?

Who Was Osamu Dazai?

A Troubled Japanese Literary Legend

Osamu Dazai, originally named Shūji Tsushima, hailed from a wealthy family in Kanagi Prefecture. Born in 1909 as the second youngest of eleven siblings to a landowner and politician, Dazai’s upbringing was privileged. His family was among the four wealthiest in the prefecture. However, Dazai’s father became deeply engrossed in politics during this period.

In the autumn of 1930, Dazai made the decision to leave Tokyo Imperial University unexpectedly and elope with a geisha named Hatsuyo Oyama. This impulsive act led to his expulsion and disownment by his family. Nine days after their elopement, Dazai and a 19-year-old woman named Shimeko Tanabe were found dead at a beach in Kamakura in an apparent double suicide, but only Dazai survived. In November of that year, he legally married Hatsuyo Oyama and began his association with the Japanese Communist Party. However, it was required of him to conceal his political leanings and focus on his academic pursuits instead. The 1930s marked a fruitful period for Dazai as an author; this was when he adopted the pen name “Dazai Osamu” for the first time and wrote his groundbreaking 1933 novel, “Ressha” (Train), which is renowned for its personal-fiction style.

Dazai’s Declining Health

The Waning Years

As a gamer, I’d rephrase it like this: In March 1935, I attempted to take my own life but survived only to face another challenge – acute appendicitis. Hospitalized and hooked on morphine for rehabilitation, I fought against addiction for an entire year. Sadly, during my treatment, my wife had an affair with my closest friend, Zenshirō Kodate. Heartbroken, we both tried to end our lives together but survived. We eventually divorced, and I married a middle school teacher named Michiko Ishihara. Due to a severe case of TB, I was spared from being drafted for World War II. After the war, I reached great success with my publication of “Shayō” (The Setting Sun), based on the diary of a devoted fan, Shizuko Ōta. In 1947, we had a child together, and by then, I was deeply consumed by alcohol and poor health. Seeking solace, I met and abandoned my family for a widow named Tomie Yamazaki. In 1948, we wrote “No Longer Human,” a quasi-autobiographical novel about self-destruction, which became a Japanese classic. We ended our lives together by drowning that same year.

The Impact of Dazai

A Cultural Giant

Dazai’s literary impact was significant despite his brief and disrupted existence during the post-war era. By this period, he was regarded as the representative voice of his time due to his unique ability to encapsulate the perplexity of an era marked by the rejection of tradition in favor of Western modernization. Known for his biting wit and dark humor, Dazai’s work also contained elements of side-splitting comedy. What truly distinguished him as a writer went beyond the diverse range of subjects he tackled; it was his innovative use of possessive pronouns in narration that allowed him to seize control of a story while simultaneously resonating with readers. A substantial portion of Dazai’s oeuvre is deeply personal, reflecting his experiences, perspective, and, of course, his melancholy.

As a devoted fan of Osamu Dazai’s literary works, I’ve noticed a distinct thread of darkness that weaves its way through his oeuvre. This somber undertone can be attributed to the author’s own personal struggles and the tumultuous cultural, political, and economic shifts taking place in post-war Japan.

Dazai In Anime and Manga

A Recurring Figure

If you’re interested in discovering more about Dazai and his literary contributions, the 2009 “Aoi Bungaku (Blue Literature)” series offers a great introduction. This collection pays homage to Japanese literature by transforming the works of notable authors like Dazai, Akutagawa, Sо̄seki Natsume, and Ango Sakaguchi into animated adaptations. “No Longer Human,” which is deeply inspired by Dazai’s own experiences, is narrated from the viewpoint of a character named Ōba Yōzō, and covers episodes 1 through 4. The series boasts an impressive list of collaborators, including Takeshi Obata, the illustrator of “Death Note,” manga author Tite Kubo of “BLEACH” fame, and Takeshi Konomi, creator of “Prince of Tennis.” Essentially, “Aoi Bungaku” is an anthology that brings Dazai’s works to life in a visually engaging manner.

In the 2007 comedy “Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei,” produced by SHAFT, there is a character named Nozomu Itoshiki who frequently considered suicide as a response to minor inconveniences. The suicidal disposition of this character and the title’s inclusion of the word “Sayonara” could be an allusion to Dazai’s incomplete novel, “Goodbye.” Notably, Nozomu’s backstory mirrors that of Dazai’s, and his favorite book is “No Longer Human.” The portrayal of Dazai in “Bungo Stray Dogs,” where characters possess names and supernatural powers based on literature, is a widely recognized tribute to the author. However, the upcoming Summer 2024 title “Isekai Shikkaku” could potentially join the ranks of famous homages.

Summer 2024: Isekai Shikkaku

How Does This New Anime Reimagine Dazai?

In the intriguing series Isekai Shikkaku: Osamu Dazai, Banned from Another World, the renowned 20th century author, Osamu Dazai, is unexpectedly transported to a fantasy realm. This transition is orchestrated by “Truck-kun,” an enigmatic entity known for summoning individuals to this alternate dimension.

Dazai’s enigmatic character piques the viewer’s interest once more, marking a rare occasion in a long time. The integration of Dazai into an isekai story doesn’t clash with the author, who was renowned for using fiction as a means to explore real-life concerns. For something that appears so overused, Dazai becomes an unpredictable factor. It is Hiroshi Kamiya’s exceptional voice acting that truly brings his complex character to life. In the premiere episode of “Isekai Shikkaku,” every attempt at suicide by Dazai is depicted – from the double-suicide with “Sacchan” to his failed hangings and overdoses. It is highly plausible that Sacchan represents Tomie Yamazaki, with whom Dazai drowned on his birthday in 1948. The fascination with Dazai in anime stems from a blend of morbid curiosity, his ceaseless yearning for death’s embrace, his striking vivacity towards his craft, the intriguing imperfections in his life, and the vast body of work he left behind.

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2024-07-14 20:34