No Longer Human

Translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter

No Longer Human is the story of Yozo Oba, who, from early childhood, finds it impossible to form meaningful relationships with family or friends. As a child he copes by acting the fool - mocking himself while entertaining others; as an adult he turns to alcohol, sex and drugs, which lead to his eventual self-destruction.

In this novel, based closely on his own life, Dazai skillfully leads the reader to sympathize deeply with Oba. Although the book was published in 1948, the timeless and universal themes of social alienation, failure, and one man's inner torture at his inability to feel like a normal human still resonate with young people everywhere, making an enduring classic.

After Soseki Natsume, Osamu Dazai (1909–1948) is Japan's most famous writer. Dazai is enjoying a surge in popularity among young people today thanks to the success of the recent manga, anime and film series Bungo Stray Dogs, whose protagonist, a detective named Osamu Dazai, is based on the real-life author.