No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

No Longer Human is a haunting and introspective novel by Osamu Dazai, often considered his magnum opus and one of the most important works of modern Japanese literature. Deeply personal and semi-autobiographical, the novel is presented as the notebooks of Oba Yozo, a man who feels fundamentally disconnected from society.

Despite his outward charm and ability to mask his alienation with humor, Yozo spirals into a life of self-destruction, addiction, and despair. Through his confessions, the novel explores themes of identity, societal pressure, mental illness, and the unbearable weight of existence.

Translated with sensitivity by Donald Keene, No Longer Human offers a raw and powerful look into the struggles of a man losing touch with humanity. It reflects Dazai’s own troubled life and continues to resonate with readers who feel out of place in the modern world.