At the End of the Shadow of the Sun: The Life of Osamu Dazai (1909-1948)

At the End of the Shadow of the Sun: The Life of Osamu Dazai (1909-1948)

Osamu Dazai (real name: Shuji Tsushima) was a Japanese novelist known for his self-destructive lifestyle and relationships with women, which are strongly reflected in his works. Although born into a wealthy family in Aomori Prefecture, he led a life of debauchery and devoted himself to creative writing while repeatedly attempting suicide. She is one of the leading writers of the prewar and postwar periods, and her works "Ningen Shikkaku" and "Shayo," in particular, are still loved by many readers.

Dazai's works reflect his own experiences and feelings, and many of them deal with themes of self-denial and guilt. In particular, "Ningen Shikkaku" is said to be his last work, and the anguish of the protagonist Yozo overlaps with Dazai's own life itself. Despite its dark and despairing content, the work's wry narrative and irony give it a unique charm. He also excelled at depicting society and human relationships through the narratives of his female protagonists in works such as "Villon's Wife" and "Shayo.

His representative works include "Running Meros," "Tsugaru," "Shayo," and "Ningen Shikkaku. Running Melos" is a short story about a young man who runs because he believes in friendship, and is often used in textbooks. Tsugaru" is a travelogue-like work in which he explores his roots while traveling through his hometown of Aomori. Shayo (The Setting Sun) is a postwar work about the suffering of a fallen aristocrat, and is considered a representative work of postwar literature. In "Ningen Shikkaku (Human Disqualification)," the protagonist Yozo tells the story of his life filled with despair and loneliness, and is famous for the line, "I have lived a life full of shame.

Dazai had relationships with many women, and each time his life changed drastically. His relationships with women were closely linked to his self-destructive behavior and influenced his works. While at Hirosaki High School, he fell in love with geisha Koyama Hatsuya, but their relationship broke up due to family opposition, which was his first setback. While a student at Tokyo Imperial University, he became romantically involved with Shimeko Tabe, a waitress at a cafe, and attempted to commit suicide by drowning himself in the sea in Kamakura. Shimeko died and only Dazai survived, but this incident cast a dark shadow over his life.

In 1939, he married Michiko Ishihara, the daughter of a prominent family, and she continued to support Dazai as a chaste wife, but their marriage was not stable, and Dazai continued to have relationships with other women. 1941, a fan letter led to a relationship with Shizuko Ota, with whom he had a daughter (Haruko Ota). He wrote "Shayo" based on her diary, and his relationship with Shizuko is strongly reflected in this work. After the war, he became a mistress of Tomie Yamazaki, a hairdresser in Ginza, and received her devoted love, but on June 13, 1948, he committed suicide by drowning himself in the Tamagawa-josui River with her. Dazai's body was found on June 19, the day of his birthday.

Dazai attempted suicide more than four times in his life: in 1930, with Shimeko Tabe (Shimeko died); in 1935, with Pavinal (a morphine painkiller); in 1936, by hanging; and finally in 1948, with Tomiei Yamazaki. He was also dependent on Pavinal for many years, and his life continued to be rough as he struggled to abstain from the drug. He was also addicted to alcohol, and even when he earned money for manuscripts, he immediately squandered it and repeatedly borrowed money, leading to a life of debauchery.

His works are imbued with an aesthetics of self-destruction that resonated with many readers. In "Ningen Shikkaku," the protagonist, Yozo, is tormented by despair that he will never be a normal human being and is headed toward ruin. In "Shayo," a woman from a fallen aristocratic family is at the mercy of fate as she disintegrates. Through these works, Dazai realistically expressed human loneliness and despair.

On June 13, 1948, Dazai and Yamazaki Tomiei entered the water at Tamagawa-josui, where they died. His body was found on June 19, the same day as his birthday, and it was as if fate had guided his end. In postwar literature, Dazai is regarded as one of the great stars of Japanese literature along with Kawabata Yasunari and Mishima Yukio, and "Ningen Shikkaku" continues to be supported by many readers even more than 70 years after its publication.

Osamu Dazai's life was shaped by women, ruin, and literature. He sought love, but was unable to sustain it, and one woman after another drove him to ruin. On the other hand, he sublimated his anguish and loneliness with his unique literary style, and his works continue to be loved by many people today.