Self Portraits

by Osamu Dazai, Ralph McCarthy (Translator)

"Self Portraits" by Dazai Osamu is a collection of short stories, essays, and personal reflections that offer insight into the mind and struggles of the author. These pieces blend fiction and autobiography, reflecting Dazai’s inner conflicts, including his lifelong battle with depression, addiction, and a sense of alienation.

The stories in this collection often present characters that mirror Dazai himself—outsiders grappling with societal expectations, guilt, and shame. Themes of human imperfection, self-destruction, and existential despair are common throughout. Dazai's writing style is deeply introspective, marked by irony and dark humor, as he explores the contradictions of the human spirit.

"Self Portraits" provides a raw and intimate look into the author’s life, making it an essential read for those interested in understanding Dazai’s psyche and the experiences that shaped his literary voice. The collection complements his other major works, such as No Longer Human and The Setting Sun, by revealing more personal aspects of his worldview.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Short Stories, Japanese Literature, Asian Literature, Japan

256 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2024

About the author

Osamu DAZAI (native name: 太宰治, real name Shūji Tsushima) was a Japanese author who is considered one of the foremost fiction writers of 20th-century Japan. A number of his most popular works, such as Shayō (The Setting Sun) and Ningen Shikkaku (No Longer Human), are considered modern-day classics in Japan.
With a semi-autobiographical style and transparency into his personal life, Dazai’s stories have intrigued the minds of many readers. His books also bring about awareness to a number of important topics such as human nature, mental illness, social relationships, and postwar Japan.

Reviews

[EP · Rating 5 out of 5]

It really breaks my heart that yes, we see the suffering, pain, the constant self hatred and destruction, the evil he does to others, that even then there’s still these moments of goodness and beauty that shine through in him, alongside the moments where a simple, pure act of unconditional love is enough to make him emotional, cry, or feel an overwhelming joy that goes away too fast.
He says it about others in this book, but it applies to himself all the same, maybe there is at least a splinter of the divine in all of us. I’ve finished three more Dazai books recently, including this one, what a tragic yet wonderful soul…

Quotes I love but I think explain the rant above:

“Angels dance in the sky, God wills their wings to van-ish, and they fall gently, like parachutes, to every corner of the earth. I landed in the snow up north, you in a citrus grove down south, and these boys in Ueno Park. That's the only difference between us. Grow up straight and true, boys, and remember: Don't let your looks concern you, don't smoke cigarettes, don't drink except on special occasions, and find yourself a shy, moderately stylish girl, and fall in love for a long, long time.”

Idky but this reminded me of Alyosha’s speech to the boys at the end of karamazov telling them to make fond and beautiful memories with each other, as one day in the future it could be what prevents them from doing something tragic… nonetheless I’ll continue:

“ My ruse would eventually be exposed, of course, but I wanted to maintain the illusion of peace and harmony even one day, even one moment, longer.”

“Everyone else, too, treated me with compassion. "Thank goodness, thank goodness," they said. I was dumbfounded, amazed at the kindness of people. My eldest brother was also waiting for me, having rushed to Tokyo. He berated me roundly, but Ifelt an overwhelming affection for him. I don't think I'd ever experienced such wondrous feelings before.”

“I was grateful to her for those words. This may be overstating it a bit, but to me her concern seemed the purest…form of support and encouragement for one making every effort to go on living. She expected nothing in return. I thought her quite beautiful.”

“The sun didn't come into this world with that unsightly, embarrassed smile he wears at dusk. He arrived plump and round, bursting with innocent enthusiasm and the conviction that his every desire would be ful-filled; there was a glorious time when he blazed a lazy, carefree trail across the heavens. He's a weakling now. but he wasn't born that way. Awareness of evil - the evil in himself- has weakened him.”

“I'd love nothing better than to please you and the children by moving into a somewhat nicer house, but it's just not within my reach. I'm doing my utmost as it is. I'm not some cold, brutal demon.”

“Ah, life is an awful proposition. It's especially hard, and sad, for a man. A man has no choice but to fight. And he must win.”

[Zhou · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the start of Thinking of Zenzo, he writes:

Sunrise is the child of sunset. Without the setting sun, dawn could never be born. Sunset is always trying to tell us this: "I've grown weary. You mustn't stare at me so. You mustn't love me. I am not long for this world. But tomorrow morning, in the eastern sky, a new sun will be born. Promise me you will be his friends and companion. I've brought him up with tender care. He's a fine, healthy child — so plump and round."

Just when my heart starts to well up, he continues:

When sunset makes this appeal to you, my friends, can you revile him with a mocking sneer, calling him sick or decadent? The bully who steps boldly forward with folded arms and a ready "Of course I can" is the biggest asshole alive. Fools like you just make this world all the harder to live in.

And then

Forgive me. That was uncalled for.

I laughed out loud so many times when reading this book but it was at this exact line that I told my husband "wow his mind switches modes so fast, I think he's a Gemini." I say this as a Gemini myself. I find him rather relatable. Smart but insufferable. Funny but mean-spirited.

AND WHEN I GOOGLED IT HE'S REALLY A GEMINI!!! 19 JUNE!!! HAHA

Anyway this guy is certified insane, but you can tell that he was extremely sensitive and passionate, and however much he loved the world, he hated it twice as much. He's an evil asshole and he knows it. He suffers from his own doing, his self-awareness and self-deprecation. He has so much to give to the world, but he doesn't know how; all these intense emotions are pent-up in him and the human body can only hold so much. If he lived today he would definitely be on anti-depressants.

I enjoyed every single piece from this collection of autofictional stories. I first read No Longer Human almost 20 years ago, when I was still at an impressionable age, and it laid the foundation to my core character, along with Pessoa's The Book of Disquiet. I treasure them very much and still keep both copies on a corner of my bookshelf. This one's joining the ranks of them.

[raiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much laughter and so many tears in one book. Canis Familiaris and Handsome Devil and Cigarettes were probably my favourites amongst the stories. His life is so fascinating in such a horrible twisted way and the way he writes about it is equally poetic as it is raw and soul crushing. One of my favourite authors.

[Robert Iacampo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong 3.5, Dazai-San did not disappoint, very entertaining stories, offered a very unique perspective and style

[thira is reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are reading the autobiographical short stories of a self-described awful person then you have to expect the protagonist of the stories to be awful. It's a very brutally candid memoir of someone that was selfish, self-pitying, and frustrating but also truly tortured; and despite it all you can also tell he desperately wants to make something good of himself.
I love the unembellished, direct prose and the way the stories carry themselves without excessive metaphor or heavy-handedness. A lot of it is definitely pretty misogynistic; but at least the author is self-aware.
I only wish "Old Folks" could have been included since it fits right in with the theme.
I have yet to read most of his other work but I believe Dazai might be one of the few authors I've read so far that is truly honest about what it feels like to be human.

[swagg45 THE COOLEST!!!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

GENUINELY one of my favorite books i adore it it’s such a page turner

[Elias F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5/5 stars. Review incoming, I'm away living life rn.

[𖦹˚ ༘🦇 ೀ⋆｡˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

he never fails to write out EXACTLY how i feel

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love his novels The Setting Sun and No Longer Human, but this series of stories don't feel like they were intended to be put together, and most don't even read like fiction, just various diary entries and thoughts of Dazai, mostly on himself and his self-loathing, gambling, and addiction issues.

This was a bit of a miss, but there were some good things here. Only for hardcore fans of Osamu Dazai.

[Shweta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I dont think I qualify to review Dazai's work. This is third of his book that I have read, and I must say I am enjoying his writing very much. He isn't conventional and I feel that is his biggest strength. I dont mean it in terms of simply acting out against the society but being able to think differently, giving people grace (which is surprisingly out of character for him at times) and other times being his gloomy (and at times mean) self, without hiding anything. You can see the self doubt and gloomy nature that has always been part of his life that eventually leads him to commit suicide. This book gives you a brief window to his life and thinking.

[ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dazai, the man that you are. If this book were a cig I'd smoke it out all night all day. Especially the Eight Views of Tokyo: For Those Who Suffers, it really represents more detailed work of the art of Dazai Osamu's deranged mind.

[Micah Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

My elder brothers , Eight views of Tokyo, and Cherries are probably my favorite out of the bunch.

[Chi · Rating 4 out of 5]

———-H u m a n—————-
It’s weirdly soothing to read thoughts/feeling that I can relate to. Very soothing. Why I enjoy reading Dazai a lot is that the way he writes seems just so human idk (how ironic).

I don’t know how to describe it, but for exampe he said it by himself - Hes not using on purpose technics or anything, he basically just writes. It feels like a very personal read to me.

————Favorite short stories————-
I enjoyed a lot “Canis familiaris”.
It made me laugh so hard, I love dogs, and as a dog lover this was hilarious to read. For me this story shows basically what kind of a control freak he is. I didn’t expected the ending.
“Eight views of Tokyo” is such a beautiful short story.
I enjoyed almost every short story a lot - it was the last short story I didn’t enjoyed much.


————quotes I would like to share———
“A lot of people have written me off as a spoiled, selfish child, but how many really know how I’ve suffered inside?” p. 55
“What is life - the struggle to surrender? The endurance of misery?” p. 75
“I was a hopeless case, incapable of fitting in. Never mind me, I thought bitterly to myself, I’m just weird.” p. 86
“»He’s grown more and more plebeian, hasn’t he?« […] I was plebeian from the beginning. Didn’t you notice?” p. 139
“Being alienated from my family was the hardest part. The most immediate cause of my suicide attempt was the realization that […] my mother, my brother, and even my aunt had completely given up on me.” p. 144
“Had I been deluded by art? Had I deluded art? Conclusion: Art is »I«.” p. 166

———All in All—————
So far love to read Dazai his works. I don’t agree with all of his views, like for example the last chapter he said smth about parents are more important than the child or something? Like, children owning their parents something. I’m not sharing this mindset at all.
He has some difficult statements about women - which I obviously don’t agree with either. Why I still can read that is cuz considering his history and his struggles, I can see why he has this weird mindset about women. Repeating, not agreeing with it - I’m a woman myself. 💀🙏🏼

Guess that I can relate to most of his dark thoughts and relate to the feeling of being an outcast, alienated from society and family, struggling with mental issues, shame and with confronting / having arguments standing my ground with people is that it feels a little soothing to read his works.
At the same time, he is an interesting person to me. I’m looking forward to read more of him.

[Freya · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I finish the last sentence, I’m left feeling more confused than moved. Dazai’s writing often feels self-indulgent and fragmented, and while that might be part of the point, it doesn’t make for a compelling or enjoyable read. The whole thing has this brooding, almost whiny tone that seems more obsessed with despair than anything meaningful. If you’re a fan of Dazai’s work, this collection might resonate with you, but for me, it just felt like a lot of emotional rambling without enough substance to hold my attention.
The portraits of his own psyche are raw, but not in a way that feels enlightening, it’s just heavy for the sake of being heavy. The lack of structure made it hard to connect to any one idea or emotion, and instead of feeling like a deep dive into the human experience, it felt more like a constant, exhausting loop of the same tired themes.

Maybe I missed something, but for me, it didn’t have the depth I was hoping for. It’s a book full of self-reflection, but not much self-awareness.

[the underground girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so much like no longer human... which explains how much that novel was based of dazai's life.
I know he didn't wrote this book self-portraits about himself fully without masks, but it reflects his life so much and putting it together with no longer human.. can give you almost the full aspect of his life.

I got much more emotional reading no longer human (because It was the first book I read by him, and also my own state of life at the time, affected on how I viewed the novel) but reading this one also gave me so much emotions. I felt bad for him and I cared for him and hated him at the same time, but I somehow felt connected to him.
Also I felt awfully emotional when he was describing the war and their conditions. Oh god..
Overall it was a great book for undrestanding dazai.
I liked it.

[milo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though Dazai’s other books which I’ve read so far had autobiographical influences in them, the stories in this collection were very clearly ones of his own life. It was very interesting to get to know how he perceived his life events and own actions in comparison to just reading about it on wikipedia or something.

As his other works, this one didn’t disappoint when it came to the narrative style. Focusing on the little events and feelings, in between life’s big changes makes the writing enjoyable to read.

All that said, I didn’t enjoy this as much as No Longer Human, Flowers of Buffoonery or Schoolgirl. The collection got better toward the end, which I was very happy about. ’Eight views of Tokyo’ was one of my favourites.

[David Oslund · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a collection of fictional short stories written in first person that are heavily based on the Author’s tumultuous life, I found the book very engaging and a good read. It was especially interesting to read what were his inner thoughts of his own life events and how they transpired. As is well known, the author was plagued by depression, addiction, and suicidal and manic tendencies. I thought that the first person narrative and the openness with which he discussed his issues and self-views were relatable in some ways, especially his guilt and shame over actions he committed that he knew was wrong. Would recommend, but it wasn’t exactly extremely exciting/cant put the book down. If 3.5 stars existed I would rate it that but it seemingly doesn’t so it’s 3 stars.

[João Granja · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book you realize that the line between fiction and reality is really blurry when it comes to Osamu Dazai. I now believe that even is fictional work is real in the truest sense, as the feelings portrayed by him in No Longer Human or the Setting Sun are no more than his own experience of life. However, this book revealed another layer of this author’s life by actually placing his known literary style and themes within his own physical space, and across his actual life. It was enriching to get to know a not about where he lived, what we saw and experienced, and how that shaped the man and the author.

[Asu · Rating 5 out of 5]

i especially enjoyed the last chapters starting from "eight views of tokyo".
being a fan of his works I’m always eager to read more of his thoughts. I think its better if you read his other books also, starting with no longer human and then flowers of bufoonery and afterwards this book, because it will make more sense and gives an extended view of his autobiography.
Its been awhile since i read his other works but this book shows his thoughts in an even rawer way.
i enjoyed it. (allthough of course i don't agree with everything or some remarks that was said in this book!)

[Parker Mims · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful collection that ends up with Dazai perversely taking you through his entire life. From his controversial teenage years, to the “war against America and England”, to his longing and foreshadowing final years, it’s a wonderful chronicle of his life disguised as a short story collection. A collection of beautiful stories with only one or two “misses” (a miss by Dazai’s standards is still beautiful), Self-Portraits has it all. 4.5/5

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read, a few chapters/stories lost me a little but most of them were all very fun to read. The last chapter/story was probably my favourite ?? Ending the book with a banger like that was an amazing decision. Of course, there were a bunch of points that freaked me out a lot, and while it is a product of that era it's still kind of weird to say stuff like that man....

[Mia Caven · Rating 3 out of 5]

i prefer his other pieces. this felt confusing, even though clearly a true story meant to be together as little stories, there were some bits that were great and others that fell flat or felt unnecessary. nonetheless, as always, dazai is an incredible writer. i am a little put off by the almost killing a dog thing!

[Tiffany Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ these short stories from dazai gives you a snapshot of the upbringings of his life and his struggles with anxiety, depression, and addiction. i feel like it was moreso a "rant" via short stories and there were definitely some moments where it felt pretty pitiful the situations he was in. i didn't like all of the short stories, but overall i thought the book was fine!

[Brennan Eddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

His fourth book I’ve read and I enjoyed the collection of stories that kept me entertained and gave me slight reprieve from his other works. Not my favorite read but regardless it stood out as one of his more unique novels.

[✸ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75★
"I could hardly tell anyone my true situation. I didn't want to create accomplices. I wanted to be the archetypal prodigal son, acting entirely alone. I believed that only in this way could those around me avoid being implalicated."

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a funny little man. ‘One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji’ may be one of my favourite stories of all time.

[Whitmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feels like reading Dazai’s diary—raw, dark, and brutally honest. Not for the faint-hearted🙏🙏

[Larva Parva · Rating 5 out of 5]

dazai strikes again

[Zaara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Degenerate.Matter · Rating 5 out of 5]

review ongoing