You may know the name, but do you really know the man? Osamu Dazai was one of Japan’s most prolific novelists, poets, and short story writers, but how much do you really know about his life and work? Read on to find out 10 things about Dazai that you may not have known before!
What anime is Dazai Osamu in?
Many anime fans are aware of Osamu Dazai inclusion in popular series like Tokyo Ghoul, but there’s more to him than his anime appearances. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that he’s been in several titles: some recent, some older titles that are starting to show their age. Here are just a few things you might not know about one of Japan’s most notable authors. He was a fan of Yukio Mishima and wrote an essay on his work.
If you’re familiar with Japanese literature, then it’s likely that you’ve heard of Yukio Mishima (三島 由紀夫). A novelist and playwright, Mishima is known for works such as The Sound of Waves and The Temple of Dawn. It should come as no surprise then that Osamu Dazai was also an admirer—he even penned an essay on Mishima’s writing style. Published posthumously in 1968 by Shinchosha Publishing Co., Inc., The Poetry of Mishima Yukio covers topics ranging from symbolism to rhythm and structure.
Is Dazai Osamu dead anime?
On January 24, 1948, in the small town of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, Dazai committed suicide. He was 42 years old and working on what would become his last novel to be published in his lifetime. Kaeru no o-goto Work on Being a Frog did not appear until 1951. It became one of his most popular works. The story is about an aspiring writer who has given up writing because he believes he can’t succeed as a novelist. So he becomes a night-soil collector, someone who collects human excrement from cesspools and takes it away by boat.
One day while at work, he finds a baby girl inside one of the cesspools where there had been done before. She turns out to be an abandoned daughter whom another man had thrown into the cesspool after her mother died giving birth to her. Over time, they grow close and she calls him Father.
Who is Osamu Dazai in love with?
His wife Fumiko Nakajima, a poet who died in 1954. After she died he committed suicide by drowning himself in Tokyo Bay. His last words were At least I can now join Fumiko. It’s said that before he did it, he called her up and asked her to buy him some sweet potatoes at a nearby store.
He is known for being an existentialist writer and many of his works deal with themes such as alienation, disappointment, unrequited love, frustration, failure, and death. His most well-known work is No Longer Human (1948). Other popular works include A Dark Night’s passing (1933), The Setting Sun (1939), and Light Snow (1942). He also wrote short stories including The Spider’s Thread (1944) which has been adapted into films several times including a 2014 version starring Takao Osawa as Oda Sakunosuke with Yoko Maki as Kiyo Hatori.
What age is Dazai anime?
A movie by Itō Daisuke, Donten Ni Warau (Laughing in Hell) came out in 2011. It is an adaptation of his award-winning novel with its title coming from a poem by Ogura Hyakunin Isshu. This book also had four animated shorts by Mizushima Seiji bundled with it as well. So you could say there are 8 anime based on Megumi Fushiguro works if you count those too. Don’t forget about Katsuhiko Okada’s Akutagawa Ryūnosuke no isshō, another one I haven’t included in my list but was nominated for Best Animated Feature at last year’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
It’s not actually an adaptation of any work by him though, just inspired by him. Oh, and then there’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond wa Kudakenai Dai San Bu Shi which came out earlier this year and has been getting some great reviews! There have been other adaptations of his work over time like Shin Kokin Wakashu Shinsengumi Keppuroku and Shin Kokin Wakashu: Meiji Taisen. He may be most famous for his short story Kappa which was made into an OVA in 1987.
