I was watching bungou stray dogs and really liked dazai's character but when I learned that dazai is actually named after an author I thought I had to read this. That's when I started reading it on 18th of june and then reading about dazai's life and his suicide attemts on 19th june I was actually depressed but now I had finished this book and I'm addicted and want to read it again. But now I'm thinking of reading crime and punishment by fyodor
here are books like no longer human that will make you sad and depressed NOTES FROM UNDERGROUND- FYDOR DOESTOYEVSKY FRANKENSTEIN- SHELLY SHORT STORIES- EDGAR ALAN POE METAMORPHOSIS- KAFKA
The genre of this book is something we don't have here, it's called Watakushi Shosetsu that is some sort of self-biographical story, so you basically tells part of your own history within a fictitious setting, like the character names. The suicide attempts and the way the character feels so hopeless and empty is probably the most relatable part of Osamu Dazai himself.
I was introduced to this book by the anime/manga, Bungou Stray Dogs. I recommend it because it features several well-known authors, both Japanese and generally Western authors.
I have been getting a lot of comments from Bungou Stray Dogs fans -- seems like the anime is right up my alley -- I would love to watch it sometime soon! I'm now reading works by Akutagawa, Edogawa Rampo and Soseki, so it's exciting to know that they're also a part of it :)
@@TheArtisanGeek hi, could you tell me what books do you recommend from Rampo and Akugatawa please! I also finished 'no longer human' and might start 'crimes and punishment'
@@inora2180 I would recommend Japanese Takes of Mystery and Imagination by Rampo and Rashoumon and 17 other stories by Akutagawa (: Rashoumon is a mix of both fiction of non-fiction, so you get a really good mix of his repertoire, cheers!! :D
This was an unsettling, but fantastic book. The character described was both comic and tragic, someone that lived in a grey area, removed from society. An attempt at unabridged honesty from a man that spent all of his life shielding his inner sanctum from the world. Someone that indulged in a dark, punishing fantasy, because reality felt more painful, only to succumb to its trap. A boy that saw the emptiness of others, horrified at the realization that same emptiness was within, denying the self into oblivion. A rotten tale of dishonesty, shame and destruction, birthed from innocence. Dazai, and Yozo, embody an existential anxiety bred out of an untenable worldview, fostered too early on. I sincerely hope his work effected change in readers following a similar, detached worldview. To right the wrongs he chose not to as he took comfort in his misery.
i am so happy that people here are so accepting of how everyone was introduced to osamu dazai! in the audiobook of no longer human, people were hated on heavily from coming from the anime bungou stray dogs. honestly, ill have to subscribe just because you attract such a nice group of readers. due to the anime, i became aware of so so so many awesome authors and although the plot of the show has nothing to do with these authors, the show has given me the opportunity to read life changing literatures.
I am feeling crushed by the level of despair and hopelessness in this manga. I can find catharsis, even strength in Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf and Herta Müller's novels. But Osamu Dazai... My heart feels for him. I feel the same way about Yukio Mishima. His book "Confessions of a Mask" crushed me in the same way "No Longer Human"did. Human suffering at its prime
It is a turbulent life. If you want classics outside of Western canon, I recommend these books: 1. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, both books are by Jose Rizal. About political and social issues. These books have to be read in this sequence. 2. A Spider's Thread by Ryunosuke Akutagawa. Akutagawa have several more good stories. 3. Dogra Magra by Yumeno Kyusaku, if you want another novel related to mental illnesses.
Isn't it funny how the manga and real life contradict each other, because in real life it was Dazai who looked up to Akutagawa and in the manga its Ryunosuke who looks up to dazai.
A 16 year old girl from Lucknow city in India killed her mother and brother by shooting them after reading this book. She made a confession in presence of the women cops and a counsellor. I can't find the girls name anywhere but came to know that the girl is a professional shooter and has participated in several national level rifle shooting events. This is the her confession as per the article: "on Saturday, after having lunch, her brother and mother had gone to sleep. The girl went to the bathroom, took a shower and then with fruit jam scribbled ‘I am a disqualified human’, on the mirror. She also shot at the bathroom mirror. She later came out and shot at the temple of her mother and brother who were asleep.
I really want to read No longer human and the Junji Ito adaptation. However as I myself am a chronically depressed autistic person, I think this will hit home a bit too much
I understand dude😭 I've been wanting to read this book for so long but people keep talking about how dark and depressive it is and that people with weak or unstable mental condition should better stay away from this book as it'd bring unwanted impacts. some even say it could lead to depression even suicide. I am mentally unstable so I'm a bit afraid to buy this book and read it, tho I'm dying to know what's written in it.😭😭
@@alexandrastark8687 i know it’s been a month, but literally just finished reading the book in one sitting. relating to a lot of the inner monologue in the story, i just couldn’t put it down.... i don’t even know what to feel right now
My teacher got about 30 copies of this book donated to her class. I asked her if I could borrow it over spring break, as I loved the stranger and it seemed really similar. Short story short, I read it in only a couple days. This book is life changing, at least for me. Don't just read it for entertainment, but please be indulged into the thoughts and actions of the main character. I felt like I was drowning while reading this book. I love it.
I have never thought about that, but funny enough, this week I read a story by Edogawa Rampo that was the basis for Ito's The Human Chair. It definitely would not surprise me if more of his characters are inspired by other Japanese classics
i read the novel yesterday, and i really enjoyed it. i found it, like you said, to be very polarizing. readers of "no longer human" truly do range between those who have gone through what yozo has vs those who don't feel the same. i've felt similar feelings as yozo, like when hes emotionally reeling, and the world seems to slow down, when his classmate takeuchi (i think) sees through his façade. additionally, that feeling of serious comradery when he meets tsuneko, who was impoverished and "gloomy," just like him. though, i wouldn't say i as much related as much as i tried to understand him. i really liked reading about the relationships he had, like with takeuchi who, although supposedly an idiot, was able to sniff him out real quick lol. i also liked the fact that yozo fell in true love with two women, one identical to him (tsuneko) and the other his opposite, (his wife, i forget her name) but he seemed to feel the same amount of grief for both of them. even if i don't completely understand his nature, and i occasionally disagreed with how he could seem inconsiderate of others feelings, alot of times i found myself surprised cause i'd feel the same way, and i could see why he would do what his next course of action was. he really was human, and maybe the only way to "understand" from an outsiders pov like mine would be like to summarize it as the last line: "he was a good boy, he was an angel." but i digress, this book really can be a comfort to those with depression and have sort of "self-destructive" or maybe "destructive-to-others" tendencies. not only them, small sufferings in yozo's life can be seen in people without mental health issues. it has easily shot its way to the top of my list. lol sorry i could ramble for hours more but ill stop here!!!! i love ur review, and thank you for the great summary lol!!!
*spoiler alert* if you haven't read/finished no longer human don't read this comment, just to be safe. It's crazy hearing the authors back story and how it is very similar to the story, from the lovers suicide attempts to addiction, and on his wikipedia page you can see Junji Ito has drawn his characters to look like the women in Dazais life. I didn't realize until I saw this video that the man he meets in the hospital goes by the pen name Osamu Dazai, that blew my mind. Thank you for this review, it caused me to look more into Osamu Dazai and see how his life is intertwined with the story, and how Ito was visually inspired by Dazais fashion and his loves. You touched up on a feeling I had throughout the book, you sympathize with Oba but other times you hate him for hurting those who truly loved him.
This book is so brutally honest about reality, I loved it. Even thinking about it now, it makes me feel a sense of longing to read the book again. Reading it took me into his world. By the end I was so self aware of myself and now I try to be aware of others. I really think Oba is one of the most relatable character I've ever read. I normally don't comment but I love the book and I loved your review a lot, great work. I subscribed in a heart beat. :)
this is such an amazing and insightful video on not only dazais life but the book aswell. absolutely wonderful!!!!!!! and your talking voice is so soothing. i love it
In vizmedia interview, Junji Ito said he'd never read any Dazai's story other than "Run, Melos!" until the manga adoptation offer, so i think it's a coincidence.
Thank you for providing so much context to the book. I just finished reading it and came straight to UA-cam to see what others thought/felt about it. *Spoilers Ahead* *Trigger Warning* To be honest I can't say I enjoyed the book. In the beginning I thought it would be an examination on Japanese society, particularly collectivism vs individualism. While it does seem to touch on that, it seems to focus more on the main character's depressive thoughts and lack of ability to empathize and understand others. As someone who has struggled with suicidal ideation when I was younger, I found the thoughts shared in the first and second notebooks to be very relatable. Though while I always had a hard time relating to others around me, I felt the main character had a much more cynical view of others. Towards the second half of the book I found the main character difficult to relate to. From my perspective, as he grew older he became increasingly more misogynistic. It truly upset me the way he spoke about women and how he did nothing to help his wife when she was being violated. Even more so how he blamed her after it had occurred and talked about how he "neither forgave nor refused to forgive her," though she herself was a victim. By the end I couldn't help but think if things might have been different had he a better support system (more loving and sincere family/friends that could empathize with him during his times of need). At the same time, this book was written in a completely different time, where societal norms are very different than today's standards. It is sad to hear how intertwined the author's own thoughts are with the character written in the book. I would hope that no one has to suffer through those feelings on their own.
There was a Girl from Pune (India) who Shot her Mom and Brother Inspired by Osamu Dazai There was a writing on the mirror which said " I am a Disqualified Human":
The literal meaning of the title is “Disqualified from the Human Realm” which is a far cry from No Longer Human which has quite different connotations.
Okay so I haven't read the novel itself, but I just got the TUTTLE manga version of No Longer Human, which I hear no one else talk about. I had no idea that Juni did his own adaptation. But nevertheless, this is very sad and depressing so far.
I remember reading this book a few years ago and I didn't really like it, unfortunately I don't remember much about it but your review has got me a little curious to revisit it! And... that manga adaptation?!! I'm very keen on getting my hands on that version! :D
recently found your channel and was looking for a review for this book (coming from the anime) and was surprised to see you made one!! on a hunt for good literature that’s not eurocentric the way so many popular works are :^)
I remember reading this in 6th grade, it’s infuriating when no one takes you or your opinions seriously when you’re young. I tried recommending to family members, who always raves about their favorite books, and they always treated it like a joke 🙄 still haven’t gotten it back from the family friend of my aunt who I lent it to a few years back, of course she never read it.
Honestly it's so crazy to me that most adults don't take kid's opinions and problem seriously, like when we're kids we have such a facination with things that a lot of times the child knows more about what they're talking about/going through than the adult! I don't think that I'll ever understand how most adults think like that😑
Thank you so much for this video! You included all the infornation I wanted to know about the book and made me interested in reading it (even though it sounds so depressing) :)
i really appreciate this review, i really like the analytic side! i learned something that i entirely misunderstood when i read it myself. i also found it interesting to hear about the divide between people who can symptahise with the main character or not. i suppose i fall somewhere in between: i went into the book expecting to be able to relate to the themes of isolation and feeling removed from other people, but Oba's actions made it hard for me to sympathise with him. (i also find it impressive how you handled this part, it was extremely clear and concise without sacrificing nuance!)
Thank you so much!! I'm so delighted to hear that my video could add to your reading experience and I can totally understand what you mean with regards to Oba, it's definitely is a polarising book -- even now I sometimes randomly find myself thing about it.
Man I am so sorry, this is prob disrespectful but the "They decided to commit double suicide but both survived so they divorced each other instead" is so funny to me😭😭 Like, I imagine it to be this awkward "...oh... well that didnt go well... I guess divorce it is then :/"
Recently had a chance to read the manga adaptation of this. Glad that I read it, but it is definitely going to be a while before I consider reading it again.
I just finished reading the manga adaptation just buying it on a whim because I really like Ito's work. But wow, jesus christ this adaptation is one of the most harrowing things I've ever read. Beautiful, cruel and disturbing. It hits so much harder knowing how closely it follows Dazai's life. Brilliant review!
Thank you for this review. I have the book on my shelf, but I think I'll have to get rid of it because the triggers are a bit too much. Anyway, I'll get acquainted with the book through your video, so thank you :)
You should check out anime/manga Bungou Stray Dogs. There's a bunch of ability users who are named after real life Japanese authors like Osamu Dazai and there abilities are a reference to there most famous works 😊
Im Im just went here to know more about the book and author for the inspiration for characters in bungou stray dogs. Which one of the character named Dazai Osamu that have the ability named no longer human
@@candyman02 Yeah I've been reading it! I hope to review it soon, though it might take a while. I'm currently working on a horror manga review of Kazuo Umezu :)
Oh there is no guide, all the the info that I have in the video I researched myself. The one with the white cover is the manga and the pink one is the written book, so if you want to read the book, you should go for the pink one. Cheers!
I know this video is quite old but I have been doing some scouting to finally read this book and some reviews have been saying that parts have been lost in translation and make it awkward to follow? How noticeable is it? Is it still worth picking up? I know that not everything in translation is perfect.
Whew... hearing through Dazai's life was a trip! I took a Japanese literature class back in university but honestly I found a lot of the male authors works to be off-putting (ok, I mostly just hated Murakami). I think I skipped over the readings about Dazai but after watching this video I think I will revisit! (also Donald Keene was an amazing translator!)
Yeah my gosh, it felt like a movie learning about his life! Ooh yeah I've heard that from quite some people about Murakami. I've actually only read the Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, which didn't put me off - I can remember being quite interested actually. I do think that wasn't a 'classic' Murakami story, so I'm a bit scared to read more hahah. I'll be reading a couple of books written by Kobo Abe, including The Box Man, so I'm excited for that since it's such a wacky story - basically this guy gives up his identity and decides to live with a box on top of his head haha. But yeah, Dazai is definitely worth a try :)
Could i ask a question? What would you say is the age rating for this?, I would love to read it as i love gore-ish stuff that i even get to relate to, but i am quite young and much mature for my age
I am this guy, unfortunately. I use comedy and surreal absurdity to gain ppls respect but behind it is misanthropy and utter alienation. Its like you werent given the manual of life, nothing ever feels natural. All of this is just utterly bizarre and without any real foundation besides convention and tradition. We are all sharing the dreamy reality some just dont buy into it.
@@1takedeniz850 You're welcome! It depends if you are more into manga and want to read the story fast then I'd recommend Itou's work. The novel is really good as well, so if you'd enjoy a less graphic and slow read, then I'd go for that ;)
Hello Im sorry, Im lost. Can anyone explain mi this? For the all time while I was reading I thought that the author (Osami Dazai) is the main character in this book and that he portray's himself in this book but at the end I realized that it was Oba Yozo, not the author of the book. I am so confused now.. Is Oba Yozo was the real person? Cause this character has the same events like Osami Dazai himself (like attempting to suicide with this girl on the beach) Or Oba Yozo in a fictional person which Dazai portrays himself as it was him?
@@TheArtisanGeek Oh, so he just mixed up not all but a few events in this book, ofc it helps a lot! But Im still confused about epilogue.. Who took from the girl at the bar these notes? And who was the true narrator of these notes?
@@TheArtisanGeek Thank You so much for responding! My little sister wanted to read the book and I just wanted some advice on whether or not she should be reading such a book.
How old is this child? She is completely robotic. No feelings. She talks about Dazai Osamu like a child bureaucrat from an accounting department. She scares me. What a freak.
I was watching bungou stray dogs and really liked dazai's character but when I learned that dazai is actually named after an author I thought I had to read this. That's when I started reading it on 18th of june and then reading about dazai's life and his suicide attemts on 19th june I was actually depressed but now I had finished this book and I'm addicted and want to read it again. But now I'm thinking of reading crime and punishment by fyodor
Same. You just summed up my exact actions this week. It made me very depressed yet reflective.
here are books like no longer human that will make you sad and depressed
NOTES FROM UNDERGROUND- FYDOR DOESTOYEVSKY
FRANKENSTEIN- SHELLY
SHORT STORIES- EDGAR ALAN POE
METAMORPHOSIS- KAFKA
@@viola308 thanks for recommendation 🙏💕
same my book should come in around 2 days so i cant wait to start reading it
HDKDFKFB SAME
I WAS THINKING OF BUYING THE BOOK AND I CAN'T WAIT
The genre of this book is something we don't have here, it's called Watakushi Shosetsu that is some sort of self-biographical story, so you basically tells part of your own history within a fictitious setting, like the character names. The suicide attempts and the way the character feels so hopeless and empty is probably the most relatable part of Osamu Dazai himself.
isnt that autofiction?
that sounds like “the bell jar”
The genre is also called roman à clef if you're looking to find more :)
I was introduced to this book by the anime/manga, Bungou Stray Dogs. I recommend it because it features several well-known authors, both Japanese and generally Western authors.
I have been getting a lot of comments from Bungou Stray Dogs fans -- seems like the anime is right up my alley -- I would love to watch it sometime soon! I'm now reading works by Akutagawa, Edogawa Rampo and Soseki, so it's exciting to know that they're also a part of it :)
@@TheArtisanGeek hi, could you tell me what books do you recommend from Rampo and Akugatawa please! I also finished 'no longer human' and might start 'crimes and punishment'
@@inora2180 I would recommend Japanese Takes of Mystery and Imagination by Rampo and Rashoumon and 17 other stories by Akutagawa (: Rashoumon is a mix of both fiction of non-fiction, so you get a really good mix of his repertoire, cheers!! :D
@@TheArtisanGeek thank you so much!
@@inora2180 Sure thing!! :D
This was an unsettling, but fantastic book. The character described was both comic and tragic, someone that lived in a grey area, removed from society. An attempt at unabridged honesty from a man that spent all of his life shielding his inner sanctum from the world. Someone that indulged in a dark, punishing fantasy, because reality felt more painful, only to succumb to its trap. A boy that saw the emptiness of others, horrified at the realization that same emptiness was within, denying the self into oblivion. A rotten tale of dishonesty, shame and destruction, birthed from innocence. Dazai, and Yozo, embody an existential anxiety bred out of an untenable worldview, fostered too early on. I sincerely hope his work effected change in readers following a similar, detached worldview. To right the wrongs he chose not to as he took comfort in his misery.
I'm glad you made a video on this, No Longer Human is one of my favorite books!
Ah that's great to hear!! It's a great book isn't it? Lots of interesting things to discuss!!
i am so happy that people here are so accepting of how everyone was introduced to osamu dazai! in the audiobook of no longer human, people were hated on heavily from coming from the anime bungou stray dogs. honestly, ill have to subscribe just because you attract such a nice group of readers.
due to the anime, i became aware of so so so many awesome authors and although the plot of the show has nothing to do with these authors, the show has given me the opportunity to read life changing literatures.
same here
I am feeling crushed by the level of despair and hopelessness in this manga. I can find catharsis, even strength in Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf and Herta Müller's novels. But Osamu Dazai... My heart feels for him. I feel the same way about Yukio Mishima. His book "Confessions of a Mask" crushed me in the same way "No Longer Human"did. Human suffering at its prime
The way that this channel is underrated,,,,,,
Fascinating! It's so cool to hear about classics outside of the Western canon. What a life Dazai led!
It really is, isn't it?! He definitely had a turbulent live, I still have another of his novels in my bookcase, excited to read that one as well! :D
It is a turbulent life. If you want classics outside of Western canon, I recommend these books:
1. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, both books are by Jose Rizal. About political and social issues. These books have to be read in this sequence.
2. A Spider's Thread by Ryunosuke Akutagawa. Akutagawa have several more good stories.
3. Dogra Magra by Yumeno Kyusaku, if you want another novel related to mental illnesses.
Isn't it funny how the manga and real life contradict each other, because in real life it was Dazai who looked up to Akutagawa and in the manga its Ryunosuke who looks up to dazai.
It’s quite odd but it works throughout the series
I love the contrast
A 16 year old girl from Lucknow city in India killed her mother and brother by shooting them after reading this book. She made a confession in presence of the women cops and a counsellor.
I can't find the girls name anywhere but came to know that the girl is a professional shooter and has participated in several national level rifle shooting events.
This is the her confession as per the article: "on Saturday, after having lunch, her brother and mother had gone to sleep. The girl went to the bathroom, took a shower and then with fruit jam scribbled ‘I am a disqualified human’, on the mirror. She also shot at the bathroom mirror. She later came out and shot at the temple of her mother and brother who were asleep.
I really want to read No longer human and the Junji Ito adaptation. However as I myself am a chronically depressed autistic person, I think this will hit home a bit too much
I understand dude😭 I've been wanting to read this book for so long but people keep talking about how dark and depressive it is and that people with weak or unstable mental condition should better stay away from this book as it'd bring unwanted impacts. some even say it could lead to depression even suicide. I am mentally unstable so I'm a bit afraid to buy this book and read it, tho I'm dying to know what's written in it.😭😭
@@alexandrastark8687 i know it’s been a month, but literally just finished reading the book in one sitting. relating to a lot of the inner monologue in the story, i just couldn’t put it down.... i don’t even know what to feel right now
@@BrainBuzzz omg i hope you're okay :)
yeah same, except for the autistic part
My teacher got about 30 copies of this book donated to her class. I asked her if I could borrow it over spring break, as I loved the stranger and it seemed really similar. Short story short, I read it in only a couple days. This book is life changing, at least for me. Don't just read it for entertainment, but please be indulged into the thoughts and actions of the main character. I felt like I was drowning while reading this book. I love it.
i wonder if Ito's manga "Tomie" is someway related to the lady who killed herself with Dazai
I have never thought about that, but funny enough, this week I read a story by Edogawa Rampo that was the basis for Ito's The Human Chair. It definitely would not surprise me if more of his characters are inspired by other Japanese classics
i read the novel yesterday, and i really enjoyed it. i found it, like you said, to be very polarizing. readers of "no longer human" truly do range between those who have gone through what yozo has vs those who don't feel the same. i've felt similar feelings as yozo, like when hes emotionally reeling, and the world seems to slow down, when his classmate takeuchi (i think) sees through his façade. additionally, that feeling of serious comradery when he meets tsuneko, who was impoverished and "gloomy," just like him. though, i wouldn't say i as much related as much as i tried to understand him. i really liked reading about the relationships he had, like with takeuchi who, although supposedly an idiot, was able to sniff him out real quick lol. i also liked the fact that yozo fell in true love with two women, one identical to him (tsuneko) and the other his opposite, (his wife, i forget her name) but he seemed to feel the same amount of grief for both of them. even if i don't completely understand his nature, and i occasionally disagreed with how he could seem inconsiderate of others feelings, alot of times i found myself surprised cause i'd feel the same way, and i could see why he would do what his next course of action was. he really was human, and maybe the only way to "understand" from an outsiders pov like mine would be like to summarize it as the last line: "he was a good boy, he was an angel." but i digress, this book really can be a comfort to those with depression and have sort of "self-destructive" or maybe "destructive-to-others" tendencies. not only them, small sufferings in yozo's life can be seen in people without mental health issues. it has easily shot its way to the top of my list. lol sorry i could ramble for hours more but ill stop here!!!! i love ur review, and thank you for the great summary lol!!!
just finished no longer human by junji ito and got so confused... thank you so much for making this video!!! you helped a lot
*spoiler alert* if you haven't read/finished no longer human don't read this comment, just to be safe. It's crazy hearing the authors back story and how it is very similar to the story, from the lovers suicide attempts to addiction, and on his wikipedia page you can see Junji Ito has drawn his characters to look like the women in Dazais life. I didn't realize until I saw this video that the man he meets in the hospital goes by the pen name Osamu Dazai, that blew my mind. Thank you for this review, it caused me to look more into Osamu Dazai and see how his life is intertwined with the story, and how Ito was visually inspired by Dazais fashion and his loves. You touched up on a feeling I had throughout the book, you sympathize with Oba but other times you hate him for hurting those who truly loved him.
Your voice is lovely!! I would listen to you narrate an audio book in a second :) great video!! Keep up the good work❤️
That’s very kind of you Sophia! Thank you very much! 🥰✨
This book is so brutally honest about reality, I loved it. Even thinking about it now, it makes me feel a sense of longing to read the book again. Reading it took me into his world. By the end I was so self aware of myself and now I try to be aware of others. I really think Oba is one of the most relatable character I've ever read. I normally don't comment but I love the book and I loved your review a lot, great work. I subscribed in a heart beat. :)
this is such an amazing and insightful video on not only dazais life but the book aswell. absolutely wonderful!!!!!!! and your talking voice is so soothing. i love it
Thank you very much! So glad to hear that you enjoyed it! :D
Wow this sounds like an intense and important story. Thank you for the reviews! Love Junjo Ito so much
Yeah it definitely is! Thanks so much for watching!! Junji Ito is amazing! Do you have any favourites? Mine is this one and Uzumaki :)
4:08 Called WHAT!? That fits so well with the character of Tomie, It was most likely inspired by this.
Yes, definitely
In vizmedia interview, Junji Ito said he'd never read any Dazai's story other than "Run, Melos!" until the manga adoptation offer, so i think it's a coincidence.
Thank you so much for the back story. This book seems even more intriguing after watching your video. I’ll definitely be picking up a copy now.
My pleasure!! So happy to hear that! :D
I haven’t read this book yet, but you’ve brought it to life for me. I’ll be getting my own copy soon ^_^
I'm so happy to hear that! I hope you'll enjoy it! :D
Thank you for providing so much context to the book. I just finished reading it and came straight to UA-cam to see what others thought/felt about it.
*Spoilers Ahead* *Trigger Warning*
To be honest I can't say I enjoyed the book. In the beginning I thought it would be an examination on Japanese society, particularly collectivism vs individualism. While it does seem to touch on that, it seems to focus more on the main character's depressive thoughts and lack of ability to empathize and understand others. As someone who has struggled with suicidal ideation when I was younger, I found the thoughts shared in the first and second notebooks to be very relatable. Though while I always had a hard time relating to others around me, I felt the main character had a much more cynical view of others.
Towards the second half of the book I found the main character difficult to relate to. From my perspective, as he grew older he became increasingly more misogynistic. It truly upset me the way he spoke about women and how he did nothing to help his wife when she was being violated. Even more so how he blamed her after it had occurred and talked about how he "neither forgave nor refused to forgive her," though she herself was a victim.
By the end I couldn't help but think if things might have been different had he a better support system (more loving and sincere family/friends that could empathize with him during his times of need). At the same time, this book was written in a completely different time, where societal norms are very different than today's standards. It is sad to hear how intertwined the author's own thoughts are with the character written in the book. I would hope that no one has to suffer through those feelings on their own.
I searched in google that the no longer human book has 271 pages but the book i buy has only 138 pages
There was a Girl from Pune (India) who Shot her Mom and Brother Inspired by Osamu Dazai There was a writing on the mirror which said " I am a Disqualified Human":
The literal meaning of the title is “Disqualified from the Human Realm” which is a far cry from No Longer Human which has quite different connotations.
Okay so I haven't read the novel itself, but I just got the TUTTLE manga version of No Longer Human, which I hear no one else talk about. I had no idea that Juni did his own adaptation. But nevertheless, this is very sad and depressing so far.
this was so excellent, thanks for expanding my understanding of this work
I love your analysis and synopsis of the story. Amazing work.
That's very kind of you to say -- thank you very much!
I read a few pages in a pdf and it's already very relatable. I just wish I could have the actual book because I can't really read it
I remember reading this book a few years ago and I didn't really like it, unfortunately I don't remember much about it but your review has got me a little curious to revisit it! And... that manga adaptation?!! I'm very keen on getting my hands on that version! :D
recently found your channel and was looking for a review for this book (coming from the anime) and was surprised to see you made one!! on a hunt for good literature that’s not eurocentric the way so many popular works are :^)
I got the Junji Ito book recently as a gift so I also picked up the Osamu Dazai book. I finished the book and I’m halfway thru the Ito. Great review!
Thank you!! Great to hear that you picked up both books! Happy reading!! :)
I haven't read one. Which do you think should I read first, or does it even matter?
I remember reading this in 6th grade, it’s infuriating when no one takes you or your opinions seriously when you’re young. I tried recommending to family members, who always raves about their favorite books, and they always treated it like a joke 🙄 still haven’t gotten it back from the family friend of my aunt who I lent it to a few years back, of course she never read it.
Honestly it's so crazy to me that most adults don't take kid's opinions and problem seriously, like when we're kids we have such a facination with things that a lot of times the child knows more about what they're talking about/going through than the adult! I don't think that I'll ever understand how most adults think like that😑
Thank you so much for this video! You included all the infornation I wanted to know about the book and made me interested in reading it (even though it sounds so depressing) :)
Thank you for watching!! I'm glad my video could have been of help to you and I hope you get to read it!! :D
bought the manga. It's so messed up but its so good
Totally!!
This is one of his favorite book. So now that his gone I want to read it myself.
Just got Junji Ito’s version and I love it so far
King Eon glad to hear that!! Happy reading!✨✨
I found this book by watching the anime adoption of it and loved it.
THERES AN ADAPTATION
@@sicc9893 it's the first four Episodes of "Aoi Bungaku"
a VERY amazing review thank you!!
*Me clicking thinking of bsd*
Like he has the same name-
“This includes sewer- sides and attempts of sewer-sides”
Yeah sounds like dazai
When i watch bungo stray dogs, it opens my interest to read novels and other literary works
I just came from osamu"s adaption, and things went from 0 to 1000 real quick
Great Video! Really enjoyed it and it helped me decide wether I would like to read it
going to pick both of these up 😻
i really appreciate this review, i really like the analytic side! i learned something that i entirely misunderstood when i read it myself.
i also found it interesting to hear about the divide between people who can symptahise with the main character or not. i suppose i fall somewhere in between: i went into the book expecting to be able to relate to the themes of isolation and feeling removed from other people, but Oba's actions made it hard for me to sympathise with him.
(i also find it impressive how you handled this part, it was extremely clear and concise without sacrificing nuance!)
Thank you so much!! I'm so delighted to hear that my video could add to your reading experience and I can totally understand what you mean with regards to Oba, it's definitely is a polarising book -- even now I sometimes randomly find myself thing about it.
Man I am so sorry, this is prob disrespectful but the "They decided to commit double suicide but both survived so they divorced each other instead" is so funny to me😭😭 Like, I imagine it to be this awkward "...oh... well that didnt go well... I guess divorce it is then :/"
Recently had a chance to read the manga adaptation of this. Glad that I read it, but it is definitely going to be a while before I consider reading it again.
absolutely love your videos!
Thank you very much! :D
wow dazai must háve been really nice to hang out with 😐
jokes aside great book and very taleneted tragic figure
I literally just ordered the book I'm excited
The manga just arrived and I think I will also buy the original novel. Thank you for this vid. Great job!
I just finished reading the manga adaptation just buying it on a whim because I really like Ito's work.
But wow, jesus christ this adaptation is one of the most harrowing things I've ever read. Beautiful, cruel and disturbing.
It hits so much harder knowing how closely it follows Dazai's life.
Brilliant review!
Thank you for this review. I have the book on my shelf, but I think I'll have to get rid of it because the triggers are a bit too much. Anyway, I'll get acquainted with the book through your video, so thank you :)
I MUST READ THIS!
Oh yeah would definitely recommend!!!
This book made me feel like I was getting whiplash
Love this video, thank you so much for the information and your thoughts on this book. Very inspiring
You should check out anime/manga Bungou Stray Dogs. There's a bunch of ability users who are named after real life Japanese authors like Osamu Dazai and there abilities are a reference to there most famous works 😊
What a well made video!
4:54
9:24 where he meets horiki.
I hate my self son i'm going to read this even if it trigres me
POV: you watched bungo stray dogs before this and now your crying
I bought the manga today and I’m 15 I DONT KNOW HOW I MANAGED TO GET THIS- I’m parents don’t know what it’s about though so I should be fine.
Im Im just went here to know more about the book and author for the inspiration for characters in bungou stray dogs. Which one of the character named Dazai Osamu that have the ability named no longer human
I'd love to read it, but it's extramelly hard to get books in my country, they're too pricy
this manga legit gave me nightmares
Awesome content
Thank you very much!! :)
@@TheArtisanGeek review "sensor" by jumji ito next its his newest one!!
@@candyman02 Yeah I've been reading it! I hope to review it soon, though it might take a while. I'm currently working on a horror manga review of Kazuo Umezu :)
Thank you for doing trigger warnings, much appreciated ✨
No worries! :)
11:52 Guess then I'm one of those who can sympathize with Oba
Dazai my bae❤️
Dazai is a fantastic author! :D
The Artisan Geek I think she was talking about the anime character 😂
Dazai Osamu BLBLBLLBLBLLBLBLBLLBLBLBLLNLNLBLLBLLL OOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAA😭🥺💕
Namixx _._ 💕💕💖💖💖💕💕
Dazai Osamu LOL I keep forgetting that 😂😅
I loved the book!
It's great one! :D
What are the deference between the 2 book and where you get it from
I read the manga... It was so disturbing!!
If we want to buy the book no longer human
Which one should we prefer ?
The guide one with pink cover ?
Or the other one with white cover ?
Oh there is no guide, all the the info that I have in the video I researched myself. The one with the white cover is the manga and the pink one is the written book, so if you want to read the book, you should go for the pink one. Cheers!
@@TheArtisanGeek Thank you
I know this video is quite old but I have been doing some scouting to finally read this book and some reviews have been saying that parts have been lost in translation and make it awkward to follow? How noticeable is it? Is it still worth picking up? I know that not everything in translation is perfect.
Could you explain the last chapter I didn’t really understand the ending
Do you ever talk about music? I would be interested to hear about what you like to listen to.
I just order this book for my niece (she is watching bungou stray dogs :) do you think it is suitable for 12 years old ?
Whew... hearing through Dazai's life was a trip! I took a Japanese literature class back in university but honestly I found a lot of the male authors works to be off-putting (ok, I mostly just hated Murakami). I think I skipped over the readings about Dazai but after watching this video I think I will revisit!
(also Donald Keene was an amazing translator!)
Yeah my gosh, it felt like a movie learning about his life! Ooh yeah I've heard that from quite some people about Murakami. I've actually only read the Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, which didn't put me off - I can remember being quite interested actually. I do think that wasn't a 'classic' Murakami story, so I'm a bit scared to read more hahah. I'll be reading a couple of books written by Kobo Abe, including The Box Man, so I'm excited for that since it's such a wacky story - basically this guy gives up his identity and decides to live with a box on top of his head haha. But yeah, Dazai is definitely worth a try :)
I actually enjoy reading murakami
Could his friend Horiki be a nod to Faust?
I’m thinking of getting the novel but can someone tell me if the manga adaptation is good because I’m thinking of getting that aswell
Could i ask a question?
What would you say is the age rating for this?, I would love to read it as i love gore-ish stuff that i even get to relate to, but i am quite young and much mature for my age
Do you(or anyone else) have suggestions for similar books? Thanks
i’ve heard about one called “crime and punishment” bu fyodor dostoyevsky. try loooking it up
The temple of the golden pavilion is an excellent novel by the late, great yukio mishima. Highly recommend.
@@teodora6924 yup i have read crime and punishment it was amazing but not as depressing as no longer human
Bungo stray dogs join the chat
I actually read the first volume of the manga last week because of all of you 😂 It's great! Looking forward to reading more :D
The Artisan Geek if you like anime you can watch the anime too
the ending songs of the anime are amazing
Osamu Dazai is just a pen name so what is his actual name? Shūji Tsushima or Oba Yozo?
Shūji Tsushima
I am this guy, unfortunately. I use comedy and surreal absurdity to gain ppls respect but behind it is misanthropy and utter alienation. Its like you werent given the manual of life, nothing ever feels natural. All of this is just utterly bizarre and without any real foundation besides convention and tradition. We are all sharing the dreamy reality some just dont buy into it.
i don't find this book comforting at all. its a goddamn prophecy, i can feel the same fear and dread.
eh?
can someone please tell me how old i have to be to read this ??? 😭😭😭 (i just released my pfp)
Depends on your level of maturity tbh. it has a lot of dark subjects and such so if you can handle that then you should be fine.
I finished this book in 3 days and now I am depressed
Is the book based on a true story?
Yeah, a lot of the things happening in the novel, coincide with the life experiences of the author.
@@TheArtisanGeek thanks one more question should i buy the one that junjiito Made or just the normal one?
@@1takedeniz850 You're welcome! It depends if you are more into manga and want to read the story fast then I'd recommend Itou's work. The novel is really good as well, so if you'd enjoy a less graphic and slow read, then I'd go for that ;)
Can someone tell me if it’s all in English or is half of it in Japanese?
Both the book and manga are in English
Hello
Im sorry, Im lost. Can anyone explain mi this?
For the all time while I was reading I thought that the author (Osami Dazai) is the main character in this book and that he portray's himself in this book but at the end I realized that it was Oba Yozo, not the author of the book. I am so confused now..
Is Oba Yozo was the real person? Cause this character has the same events like Osami Dazai himself (like attempting to suicide with this girl on the beach)
Or Oba Yozo in a fictional person which Dazai portrays himself as it was him?
Most of the events that Oba Yozo experienced in the book, actually happened to Dazai in real life (Oba is indeed fictional) -- hope that helps!
@@TheArtisanGeek Oh, so he just mixed up not all but a few events in this book, ofc it helps a lot! But Im still confused about epilogue.. Who took from the girl at the bar these notes? And who was the true narrator of these notes?
Is this something that a 12 year old child should be reading?
Hmmm I'd personally say it'd be a bit too young. Perhaps it would be good for teens as from 16 years.
There are quite a lot of serious topics in here, I don't think I would have wanted to read something like this at that age.
@@TheArtisanGeek Thank You so much for responding! My little sister wanted to read the book and I just wanted some advice on whether or not she should be reading such a book.
@@stacymiffin3243 No worries! Glad I could help a little :)
Wait, question so who did the book Oba Yozo or Osamu Dazai, did Dazai do the book about Yozo, or did Yozo change stuff in the book?
Oba Yozo is a fictional character
@@Chris.P.Bacon7 right thank you
eeeeek so extited
yeey!! :D
This book is so sad.
That is so very true.
Lot's of suicide
How old is this child? She is completely robotic. No feelings. She talks about Dazai Osamu like a child bureaucrat from an accounting department. She scares me. What a freak.