Osamu Dazai (1909 - 1948) was the pen name of Shuji Tsushima, the tenth of eleven children born to a wealthy landowner and politician. Dazai studied French literature at the University of Tokyo, eventually leaving without a degree. He first attracted attention in 1933 when magazines began to publish his work. Between 1930 and 1937, he made three suicide attempts, a subject he dealt with in many of his short stories. Despite his troubled life and rebellious spirit, Dazai wrote in simple and colloquial style, conveying his own experiences in his best work. Dazai's life ended early in a double suicide with a married lover.Retold and Illustrated by Cocco Kashiwaya, born 1970, is a Tokyo-based manga artist. In 2010, her manga serial Rikon Dokyo was made into a national TV drama in Japan.

"Since about the time of Osamu Dazai's death in 1948, the publishing firm of Tuttle has been instrumental in bringing translations of Japanese literature and culture into forms suitable for the English-speaking audience." —ICv2

Osamu Dazai (1909 - 1948) was the pen name of Shuji Tsushima, the tenth of eleven children born to a wealthy landowner and politician. Dazai studied French literature at the University of Tokyo, eventually leaving without a degree. He first attracted attention in 1933 when magazines began to publish his work. Between 1930 and 1937, he made three suicide attempts, a subject he dealt with in many of his short stories. Despite his troubled life and rebellious spirit, Dazai wrote in simple and colloquial style, conveying his own experiences in his best work. Dazai's life ended early in a double suicide with a married lover.Retold and Illustrated by Cocco Kashiwaya, born 1970, is a Tokyo-based manga artist. In 2010, her manga serial Rikon Dokyo was made into a national TV drama in Japan.

"Since about the time of Osamu Dazai's death in 1948, the publishing firm of Tuttle has been instrumental in bringing translations of Japanese literature and culture into forms suitable for the English-speaking audience." —ICv2

Osamu Dazai (1909 - 1948) was the pen name of Shuji Tsushima, the tenth of eleven children born to a wealthy landowner and politician. Dazai studied French literature at the University of Tokyo, eventually leaving without a degree. He first attracted attention in 1933 when magazines began to publish his work. Between 1930 and 1937, he made three suicide attempts, a subject he dealt with in many of his short stories. Despite his troubled life and rebellious spirit, Dazai wrote in simple and colloquial style, conveying his own experiences in his best work. Dazai's life ended early in a double suicide with a married lover.Retold and Illustrated by Cocco Kashiwaya, born 1970, is a Tokyo-based manga artist. In 2010, her manga serial Rikon Dokyo was made into a national TV drama in Japan.

"Since about the time of Osamu Dazai's death in 1948, the publishing firm of Tuttle has been instrumental in bringing translations of Japanese literature and culture into forms suitable for the English-speaking audience." —ICv2