Osamu Dazai


Dazai, Osamu

 

(pseudonym; real name, Tsushima Shugi). Born June 19. 1909; died June 13, 1948. Japanese author.

Dazai was born into an aristocratic family. His first novella, The Color of Wit (1935), in which he described his attempt at suicide, brought him fame. Dazai wrote about the lives of decadent aristocrats and young people afflicted with pessimism and skepticism. His most popular works were Villon’s Wife (1947), Sunset (1947), and Man’s Loss (1948). In a fit of profound depression he committed suicide.

REFERENCES

Istoriia sovremennoi iaponskoi literatury. Moscow. 1961. (Translated from Japanese.)
Okuno. Takeo. Dazai Osamu. Tokyo. 1958.