Politically, of course, they could not be further apart: Dazai was a lukewarm member of the Communist Party in the early 1930s (which was banned at that time in Japan), while Mishima created his own private right-wing militia in the 1960s. The world crushes Dazai, while Mishima sets out to crush the world. Dazai directed all that hatred inwards, bent on destroying himself, while Mishima turned it onto the outer world, bemoaning the loss of Japanese pride and ancient code of values. But this is where their differences start. Both were shattered by their country’s experience of war (although neither of them served on the front because they were diagnosed with tuberculosis – mistakenly, in Mishima’s case).Ībove all, both of them had tortured psyches, were over-sensitive and self-critical, and had destructive tendencies. Both of them were academically gifted and went to the prestigious Tokyo University (although Dazai dropped out and Mishima never practiced law) and both showed early promise in their writing. Both were younger sons of quite wealthy landowners, who spent a significant part of their childhood years away from their family (raised by aunts, grandmothers or servants). Superficially, there are quite a few biographical similarities between Mishima and Dazai, even though they were born sixteen years apart. Osamu in a bar, photographed by Tadahiko Hayashi, who was not aware at the time who was in the picture. But clearly, the myth of the genius creator who is terminally depressed and incapable of relating well to people is still powerful when it comes to authors who died before I was born. This did not translate into liking American bad boys like Jack Kerouac, Bukowski or Norman Mailer. To me, he continues my long line of infatuation with literary bad boys: a slightly less manipulative Rimbaud, a less cynical Baudelaire. He is often seen as the epitome of the romantic decadent scoundrel – a Lord Byron with less of a penchant for wild animals or ability to buy his way out of trouble. He is not as much read or appreciated abroad, but in Japan he has achieved cult status, even appearing as a suicide maniac detective in a manga and anime series called Bungo Stray Dogs. Mishima may have captivated me in my late teens, but my absolute favourite Japanese author of the modern era is Dazai Osamu. Zoe’s surprisingly enthusiastic reaction to this book – it had the effect of catnip on her! Osamu Dazai: A Shameful Life (No Longer Human), transl.
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