Osamu Dazai facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Osamu Dazai
太宰 治
Dazai in 1948
Born	Shūji Tsushima (1909-06-19)June 19, 1909 Kanagi, Aomori, Empire of Japan
Died	June 13, 1948(1948-06-13) (aged 38) Tokyo, Allied-occupied Japan
Occupation	Novelist, Short story writer
Notable work	The Setting Sun No Longer Human Otogi-zôshi Run, Melos!
Movement	I-Novel, Buraiha
Japanese name
Kanji	太宰 治
Hiragana	だざい おさむ
Transcriptions Romanization Dazai Osamu

Osamu Dazai (born Tsushima Shūji in 1909; died 1948) was a famous Japanese author. Many of his most popular books, like The Setting Sun and No Longer Human, are considered modern classics.

He was inspired by other great writers such as Ryūnosuke Akutagawa and Fyodor Dostoyevsky. While Dazai is very popular in Japan, he is not as well-known in other countries. Only a few of his books are available in English. His last book, No Longer Human, is his most famous work outside of Japan.

Osamu Dazai's Early Life

Tsushima in a 1924 high school yearbook photo.

Shūji Tsushima, who later became known as Osamu Dazai, was born on June 19, 1909. He was the eighth child in a very wealthy family. His family owned a lot of land in Kanagi, Aomori, a quiet part of northern Japan.

His family's large home, called the Tsushima mansion, was home to about thirty family members. Dazai's family started out as peasants. However, his great-grandfather became rich by lending money. His son then made the family even wealthier. They quickly became very respected in their region.

Dazai's father, Gen'emon, was adopted into the Tsushima family. He married the eldest daughter, Tane. His father became involved in politics because he was one of the four richest landowners in the area. He was often away from home during Dazai's childhood.

Dazai's mother, Tane, was often ill. So, Dazai was mostly raised by the family's servants and his aunt Kiye.

Education and Writing Career

Shimeko Tanabe

In 1916, Tsushima started school at Kanagi Elementary. His father, Gen'emon, passed away in March 1923. A month later, Tsushima went to Aomori High School.

He then joined Hirosaki University's literature department in 1927. He became interested in Edo culture. He also began studying gidayū, which is a type of chanted story used in puppet theaters. Around 1928, Tsushima helped edit student publications. He also wrote some of his own stories for them.

He even published a magazine called Saibō bungei (Cell Literature) with his friends. Later, he became part of the college's newspaper staff.

Developing as a Writer

Dazai (right) and Oyama Hatsuyo (second from left)

In the 1930s and 1940s, Dazai wrote many detailed novels and short stories. These stories often included parts of his own life.

Japan entered the Pacific War in December 1941. Tsushima was not required to join the army. This was because of his ongoing health issues.

Many stories Dazai published during World War II were new versions of old tales. He retold stories by Ihara Saikaku (1642–1693). His works from this time include Udaijin Sanetomo (1943) and Tsugaru (1944). He also wrote Pandora no hako (Pandora's Box, 1945–46).

Another work was Otogizōshi (Fairy Tales, 1945). In this book, he retold old Japanese fairy tales in a very lively and clever way.

Dazai's home was destroyed twice during the American bombing of Tokyo. However, his family was safe. His son, Masaki, was born in 1944. His third child, a daughter named Satoko, was born in May 1947. Satoko later became a famous writer herself, known as Yūko Tsushima.

Post-War Success and Famous Books

After the war, Dazai became very popular. He wrote about the difficult life in Tokyo after the war. One such book was Viyon no Tsuma (Villon's Wife, 1947). This story is about a poet's wife who keeps going despite many hardships.

In 1946, Osamu Dazai released a book called Kuno no Nenkan (Almanac of Pain). This was a personal story about how Dazai felt after Japan lost World War II. It showed the feelings of many Japanese people at that time.

Dazai also wrote Jugonenkan (For Fifteen Years), another story about his own life.

Shizuko Ōta

In July 1947, Dazai's most famous book, Shayo (The Setting Sun), was published. This book showed the decline of the Japanese nobility after the war. It made the already popular writer a true celebrity.

Dazai's health got worse quickly. He began writing his novel No Longer Human (Ningen Shikkaku, 1948) at a hot-spring resort. He finished the novel in Ōmiya. This book is now considered one of the most important books in Japanese literature. It has been translated into many languages.

Tomie Yamazaki

In the spring of 1948, Dazai was working on a short novel called Guddo bai (Good-Bye). It was meant to be published in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, but he never finished it.

Osamu Dazai's Final Years

Osamu Dazai passed away on June 19, 1948, at the age of 38. His grave is at the Zenrin-ji temple in Mitaka, Tokyo.

Osamu Dazai's Famous Books

See also

• Dazai Osamu Prize
• List of Japanese writers
• Osamu Dazai Memorial Museum

Images for kids

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  Tsushima in 1928

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  Dazai and Ishihara Michiko at their wedding

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  Dazai in 1946

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  Dazai in 1947-1948