-
January Letter to Satō Haruo from Dazai Osamu
Written January 28th 1936. The letter measured over four metres in length. Translated by Laurie Raye. Source: 辻本雄一 監修・河野龍也 編著『佐藤春夫読本』（勉誠出版、2015年）(記憶の宮殿) Dear Sir, Even now, I think no matter what kind of letter I write the outcome will be the same. Resigned to my fate, I have remained at a standstill, but since pain and despair…
-
Kuronbo
Written by Dazai Osamu and published in February 1935 as the fourth and final part of Retrogression. Translated by A L Raye. This story contains an historic depiction of a black minstrel show and frequent references to blackface. Original text: https://www.aozora.gr.jp/cards/000035/files/260_34634.html The black girl was in a cage. It was about three metres wide, with…
-
Letter to Kawabata Yasunari from Dazai Osamu
Published October 1st 1935 in Bungei Tsushin Volume 3, Issue 10 in an article entitled ‘Two peculiar follow-up statements to the Akutagawa Prize’. The other follow-up statement was by Yazaki Dan, a literary critic. Translated by Laurie Raye. Original Text: https://www.aozora.gr.jp/cards/000035/files/1607_13766.html In the September issue of Bungei Shunjū you slandered me by writing: “…Indeed, ‘The…
-
The Duel
Written by Dazai Osamu and published in February 1935 as the third part of Retrogression. Translated by A L Raye. Original text: https://www.aozora.gr.jp/cards/000035/files/260_34634.html I was not trying to imitate a foreign style duel. I literally just wanted to kill him, and my motive for doing so was quite superficial. It wasn’t like he was exactly…
-
The Thief
Written by Dazai Osamu and published in February 1935 as the second part of Retrogression. Translated by A L Raye. First published on Asymptote. Original text: https://www.aozora.gr.jp/cards/000035/files/260_34634.html There was no doubt that I’d failed the year, but I was still going to take the exam. The beauty of a worthless effort. I was fascinated by…
Dazai Osamu
Yobanashi Café 