No Longer Human is the second of Osamu Dazai's novels and is considered one of the top ten selling books in Japan. Some believe that its content is semi-autobiographical. The story is framed both ends by an unnamed narrator who comes across three notebooks and three photographs of a disturbed young man by the name of Ōba Yōzō. We are made privy to the life and experiences of the protagonist who comes from a well-to-do family in Northern rural Japan. There's something a bit wrong with Yōzō, mostly to do with his inability to emphasise with others or say 'no' to people. This young sociopath in the making is further pushed towards his condition by an incident of sexual abuse at the hands of a servant. He attempts to mask his mortal dread of humans by assuming the role of a clown.
After dropping out of university, Yōzō falls in with a liberal dandy and pursues a life of drunkenness and lechery. Following a failed suicide attempt, he is disowned by his father and continues his downward spiral of drinks, drugs, and whoring. The tragedy of Yōzō is supposed to represent the alienation and isolation suffered by many Japanese people in the postwar era of the 1930s. The theme of suicide and inability to connect with others is as prevalent in Japan's culture today as it was back then. This edition is translated by Donald Keene and comes with an introduction on the loss of traditional Japanese culture with its Western influences and resulting loss of national identity. At under 200 pages, I was able to read the book in three sittings, and although enjoyable and well written, there was something so squalid and vicious at its heart that I could not merit it the praise which other critics have offered.
Rating: 3/5
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