Decades after his death, classic Japanese author Osamu Dazai is becoming an unexpected star among young readers around the world. Bookstores in the UK and US are reporting massive sales of his novels, thanks in large part to an anime television series.
Dazai, who died in 1948 at the age of 38, is considered one of the fathers of modern Japanese literature. His most famous novel, No Longer Human, tells a dark and emotional story about a young man who feels disconnected from society. For decades, his work was read mostly by literature students and dedicated fans.
However, interest in Dazai surged after the release of Bungo Stray Dogs, a popular 2016 Japanese anime series. The show features action-packed, fictional versions of famous historical writers as characters. The anime version of Dazai quickly became a fan favorite, encouraging viewers to seek out the real author's books.
Publishers saw sales skyrocket soon after the show aired internationally. In the UK, No Longer Human has sold over 75,000 copies, while annual US sales reached around 150,000 copies at their peak. The popularity of the books has also spread rapidly across social media platforms like TikTok and Reddit, where young readers share their thoughts on his writing.
This month, Penguin Classics is releasing Schoolgirl, a collection of Dazai's short stories written from female perspectives, marking his first major UK publication in nearly 70 years. Publishers say Dazai's honest exploration of personal sadness and despair continues to deeply resonate with a new generation of readers.