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文豪ストレイドッグス [Bungō Stray Dogs] (Novel) #1
文豪ストレイドッグス 太宰治の入社試験 [Bungō Stray Dogs Dazai Osamu no Nyūsha Shiken]
カタブツ理想主義者の国木田独歩は、危険な依頼を専門とする“武装探偵社”の一員。彼は謎の新入り・太宰治とコンビを組み、幽霊屋敷事件を捜査するが、予想外の展開に!? 闇が蠢く横浜で“異能力”対決、開幕!!
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2014
About the author
Kafka Asagiri
192 books1,439 followersSee 朝霧カフカ (Asagiri Kafka).
Japanese scenario writer and novelist.
Japanese scenario writer and novelist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 387 reviews
March 29, 2023
A cynical, genius, crazy detective narrated through the eyes of a man of staunch ideals.
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I cannot wait to read the light novels and catch up to manga soon ! =» only left with light novel 2-8 , the anthology and BSD wan now.
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I cannot wait to read the light novels and catch up to manga soon ! =» only left with light novel 2-8 , the anthology and BSD wan now.
July 21, 2022
I don't want Dazai but I want his brain and mind.
June 18, 2019
This is a must-read for Kunikida fans and also does an excellent job with its bittersweetness.
Full review eventually appearing on ANN.
Full review eventually appearing on ANN.
April 5, 2020
What a great reminder of how much I love Dazai
February 19, 2021
Ok I know it's soon but this book made me want to rewatch anime.
August 7, 2023
Bungo Stray Dogs is such a hilarious series to me… like, it’s kind of bad, but kind of brilliant; ridiculously convoluted yet super exciting, and has me screaming over a huge cast of characters who are all named after famous Japanese authors? And the mafia is in it?? And VAMPIRES?? Honestly such a wild series and I love it to bits, also Asagiri is such a legend for writing so many light novels (which are my entire life) which I can buy in lieu of the manga (I would need a mortgage) and can then read. In Japan. I READ THIS IN JAPAN-
The List has been updated :
Read “A Darker Shade of Magic” in London✅
Read “Bungo Stray Dogs” in Yokohama ✅
I’ve decided this is my new bucket list.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The List has been updated :
Read “A Darker Shade of Magic” in London✅
Read “Bungo Stray Dogs” in Yokohama ✅
I’ve decided this is my new bucket list.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 11, 2025
3.5 stars ⭐
kunikida your ideals too strong, your heart too kind, they'll kill you kunikida.
kunikida your ideals too strong, your heart too kind, they'll kill you kunikida.
October 14, 2022
₊˚ପ⊹ • ➵ 5/5 ✧
i love u dazai. #1 fan since day one fr
i love u dazai. #1 fan since day one fr
April 14, 2026
this light novel follows kunikida’s perspective as the detective agency welcome dazai and he carries out his entrance exam. i found that reading from kunikida’s perspective was unfortunately a little boring. the parts where he interacts with dazai were definitely the highlights. dazai is a much more interesting character than kunikida, and it’s not really a surprise that a large number of the future light novels focus on him/his past. i was very curious to know how his arrival at the agency would be like a lot of other people probably, and would’ve appreciated more reactions from other characters due to his enigmatic personality. i felt like other characters reactions were lacklustre/not really there.
anyways this light novel is adapted in s1 e6 of the bsd anime. it’s completely different in that (from what i remember) the case is not dazai’s entrance exam and atsushi is there. in the novel atsushi is not introduced until two years after. additionally, the case is no where near as complex; the anime misses a lot out.
here’s some moments that i liked:
▸ we get a glimpse of dazai’s past as he’s aware of things he shouldn’t be, such as the organ trade going on in the city
▸ dazai’s acting skills in the american embassy
▸ dazai explaining to kunikida that he’s not impressed with ranpo because of his ‘super deduction’ skill, but that this is not actually a skill at all and ranpo is actually that clever. i liked this in the anime too, ranpo is one of my favourite characters in the series, especially after season 4/5. we get to see him a lot more and im looking forward to reading vol. 3 of the light novels
▸ dazai being charismatic towards other characters, him knowing what to say to the little girl who is in trouble on the plane
▸ the little extra snippet at the end where akutagawa says that he’s looking for his mentor, ‘former port mafia executive dazai’
maybe this whole review makes me seem obsessed with dazai but he’s one of my favourite characters of all media, alongside satoru gojo
anyways this light novel is adapted in s1 e6 of the bsd anime. it’s completely different in that (from what i remember) the case is not dazai’s entrance exam and atsushi is there. in the novel atsushi is not introduced until two years after. additionally, the case is no where near as complex; the anime misses a lot out.
here’s some moments that i liked:
▸ we get a glimpse of dazai’s past as he’s aware of things he shouldn’t be, such as the organ trade going on in the city
▸ dazai’s acting skills in the american embassy
▸ dazai explaining to kunikida that he’s not impressed with ranpo because of his ‘super deduction’ skill, but that this is not actually a skill at all and ranpo is actually that clever. i liked this in the anime too, ranpo is one of my favourite characters in the series, especially after season 4/5. we get to see him a lot more and im looking forward to reading vol. 3 of the light novels
▸ dazai being charismatic towards other characters, him knowing what to say to the little girl who is in trouble on the plane
▸ the little extra snippet at the end where akutagawa says that he’s looking for his mentor, ‘former port mafia executive dazai’
maybe this whole review makes me seem obsessed with dazai but he’s one of my favourite characters of all media, alongside satoru gojo
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2020
Kind of weird that they turned Dazai's detective agency backstory into just a filler episode in the anime. (This novel is basically Season 1 episodes 6 and 7, if you're wondering.)
Kunikida isn't one of my favorite characters in BSD. He's funny, but he can be super annoying sometimes, so reading something from his perspective was a little boring, but I liked learning about Dazai's beginnings. I also liked that it came full circle where the epilogue matched perfectly to the first volume of the manga. It makes me want to reread/rewatch BSD all over again.
Kunikida isn't one of my favorite characters in BSD. He's funny, but he can be super annoying sometimes, so reading something from his perspective was a little boring, but I liked learning about Dazai's beginnings. I also liked that it came full circle where the epilogue matched perfectly to the first volume of the manga. It makes me want to reread/rewatch BSD all over again.
August 15, 2019
The second light novel has been read.
Yes, for those who don't want to read it can find the same storyline in the anime season 1 episode 6 & 7, but you will miss the antics of Kunikida and Dazai. The Azure Messenger case is supposed to be their first case together and, according to the title, also Dazai's entrance exam. Well, at first, I can't help to think that his exam would be like Atsushi's but then at second thoughts, that would be hilarious since the man is too perceptive for his own good. So, yes, it would be Kunikida's chance to shine. Here, I can find the idealist Kunikida who also idolized Fukuzawa just like Ranpo and the Kunikida who knows his partner from a mere answer his partner gives. Of course, the thrill part is when they played the you-are-the-culprit stage. They both did well as actors and deserve an Oscar.
This light novel portrays both the gloomy and hilarious Dazai too good that I can find the anime and the manga vibe by reading this. The smart and manipulative of him that would be the heart of Armed Detective Agency. This shows how much the agency wouldn't be without their unique duo, the idealist and the manipulative. And yes, deserves a read.
Yes, for those who don't want to read it can find the same storyline in the anime season 1 episode 6 & 7, but you will miss the antics of Kunikida and Dazai. The Azure Messenger case is supposed to be their first case together and, according to the title, also Dazai's entrance exam. Well, at first, I can't help to think that his exam would be like Atsushi's but then at second thoughts, that would be hilarious since the man is too perceptive for his own good. So, yes, it would be Kunikida's chance to shine. Here, I can find the idealist Kunikida who also idolized Fukuzawa just like Ranpo and the Kunikida who knows his partner from a mere answer his partner gives. Of course, the thrill part is when they played the you-are-the-culprit stage. They both did well as actors and deserve an Oscar.
This light novel portrays both the gloomy and hilarious Dazai too good that I can find the anime and the manga vibe by reading this. The smart and manipulative of him that would be the heart of Armed Detective Agency. This shows how much the agency wouldn't be without their unique duo, the idealist and the manipulative. And yes, deserves a read.
January 2, 2021
Kunikida, with all the burden of his exacting ideals, has a wonderful voice here! And I think the plot holds up so much better in this light novel than in the anime version.
In the anime, Dazai is already an established part of the ADA, and a good deal of the actual storyline is rubbed out. But here, the story fits much more naturally into the timeline: we see Dazai's introduction to the ADA, with Kunikida the one forced to show this suicidal trickster the ropes.
The mystery is decent, the character interaction is both fun and bittersweet, and the whole thing is a pleasure to read.
In the anime, Dazai is already an established part of the ADA, and a good deal of the actual storyline is rubbed out. But here, the story fits much more naturally into the timeline: we see Dazai's introduction to the ADA, with Kunikida the one forced to show this suicidal trickster the ropes.
The mystery is decent, the character interaction is both fun and bittersweet, and the whole thing is a pleasure to read.
August 11, 2021
“no matter how brilliant an ideal may be, if the path to realization is too far, then the light at the end is nothing more than an illusion, and those ideals - meaningless.” | tw: mention(s) of suicide; suicide attempt(s); blood; slight gore
December 9, 2023
dazai is just a silly little guy
February 12, 2026
Może nie było to nic odkrywczego, sama historia jest zawarta w anime, nie zmienia to faktu, że przyjemnie było przypomnieć sobie o początkach Dazaia w Agencji.
Chyba jestem nieobiektywna bo uwielbiam tę serię. W wersji Light Novel czy nie.
Chyba jestem nieobiektywna bo uwielbiam tę serię. W wersji Light Novel czy nie.
March 21, 2025
3.5
“ However, no matter how brilliant an ideal may be, if the path to realization is too far, then the light at the end is nothing more than an illusion, and those ideals—meaningless. Thus, the quickest path to fulfillment is inscribed on the first page of my notebook: "Do what must be done.”
I love being a BSD fan and always be confused with the materials the LNs and the mangas, I was planning to read the Light novel first last year but I ended up reading the manga.
If you don’t already know the BSD LN are kinda separated but I am planning to read them in order. The first volume follows Doppo Kunikida who is an idealist and a detective who works at the Armed Detective Agency, an organization that takes on dangerous jobs even the police won't handle. Everything was going according to his plan until one day he's paired up with the agency's newest hire: a suspicious, eccentric, suicide-obsessed man named Osamu Dazai. So we follow them in their first-ever case together.
I love this duo so much they’re funny sometimes, dazai annoys me most of the time but I can’t deny how smart he is. The story is Set two years before the events of the manga series, and it was adapted in the first season with two episodes but they kind of changed some stuff.
I highly recommend reading it if you’re a bad fan you will get more material for the things you already know, it wasn’t spectacular but it was fun.
“ However, no matter how brilliant an ideal may be, if the path to realization is too far, then the light at the end is nothing more than an illusion, and those ideals—meaningless. Thus, the quickest path to fulfillment is inscribed on the first page of my notebook: "Do what must be done.”
I love being a BSD fan and always be confused with the materials the LNs and the mangas, I was planning to read the Light novel first last year but I ended up reading the manga.
If you don’t already know the BSD LN are kinda separated but I am planning to read them in order. The first volume follows Doppo Kunikida who is an idealist and a detective who works at the Armed Detective Agency, an organization that takes on dangerous jobs even the police won't handle. Everything was going according to his plan until one day he's paired up with the agency's newest hire: a suspicious, eccentric, suicide-obsessed man named Osamu Dazai. So we follow them in their first-ever case together.
I love this duo so much they’re funny sometimes, dazai annoys me most of the time but I can’t deny how smart he is. The story is Set two years before the events of the manga series, and it was adapted in the first season with two episodes but they kind of changed some stuff.
I highly recommend reading it if you’re a bad fan you will get more material for the things you already know, it wasn’t spectacular but it was fun.
Read
February 24, 2021I'm going to skip out on giving a rating for this one, just like for the rest of the BSD manga, simply because I don't think I'll be able to provide an accurate one. But know that I have a deep appreciation for this entire saga. It's been months and I'm still basically obsessed with it, which is unusual for someone like me. Anyway.
This was a very interesting installment, though the writing style took some time to get used to. It provided a lot more detail into the Azure Messenger arc than the show, which I liked. It had a lot of interesting insights, though I wish that Kunikida's internal monologue was more of an internal monologue instead of a series of observations on the surroundings. Reading about the characters in first-person was unusual, for some reason.
I wonder who the US informant was. He said he was from the Guild, but I wonder who... It can't be Fitzgerald, because he's too pretentious to be an informant. Not Twain either, and probably not Steinbeck. Questions, questions...
Also, Akutagawa, :(.
This was a very interesting installment, though the writing style took some time to get used to. It provided a lot more detail into the Azure Messenger arc than the show, which I liked. It had a lot of interesting insights, though I wish that Kunikida's internal monologue was more of an internal monologue instead of a series of observations on the surroundings. Reading about the characters in first-person was unusual, for some reason.
I wonder who the US informant was. He said he was from the Guild, but I wonder who... It can't be Fitzgerald, because he's too pretentious to be an informant. Not Twain either, and probably not Steinbeck. Questions, questions...
Also, Akutagawa, :(.
April 6, 2023
so so so so so so so so so gay but seriously i do enjoy getting to read something from Kunikida's pov. I think its interesting how Dazai acts here it really seems like he doesn't quite know how he's supposed to act as a good person, he's clearly trying to be good but he's not quite there like he is now. Also I fucking love how badly, how hard Dazai is trying to save Kunikida from the same fate as Oda....
April 30, 2025
4 💫
Even though Kunikida is one of my least favourite characters in the series, this was an interesting read. I think it gave me just a little insight into Kunikida's mindset.
All in all, a very exiting BSD story. All kinds of twists and turns, and detective shenanigans.
Even though Kunikida is one of my least favourite characters in the series, this was an interesting read. I think it gave me just a little insight into Kunikida's mindset.
All in all, a very exiting BSD story. All kinds of twists and turns, and detective shenanigans.
August 16, 2026
I was fond of the episodes showing this arc in Season 1; the light novel is a really great expansion on the characters and plot! Also, the audiobook narration is very fun. (≖⩊≖)
January 9, 2020
Тази новела е изключително симпатична, което е в комбинация с това, че е интересна. Искрено я заобичах, въпреки че първата ми среща с това заглавие не беше от най-добрите. Може би Куникида е една от причините да изпитам много повече удоволствие от срещата си с тези странници, отколкото обикновено. Той май беше и една от главните причини да реша на мига, че искам тази книга, когато я видях. Предпочитания...
И тъй като ми е особено симпатична, изпитах нуждата от самоинициатива и се върнах в доброто старо време. Преведох сама на себе си първата част от пролога... и незнайно защо споделям превода, на който му е интересно (твърде малка част, уви, но все е нещо)...
https://knigoqdec.blogspot.com/2020/0...
И тъй като ми е особено симпатична, изпитах нуждата от самоинициатива и се върнах в доброто старо време. Преведох сама на себе си първата част от пролога... и незнайно защо споделям превода, на който му е интересно (твърде малка част, уви, но все е нещо)...
https://knigoqdec.blogspot.com/2020/0...
December 8, 2022
Gostei muito, o Kunikida e o Dazai formam uma dupla muito boa e é porreiro ver essa parceria e dinâmica a nascer. Só tenho pena que o não é muito consistente com o anime, porque o caso do livro é o mesmo que o caso usado na primeira season do anime, com algumas diferenças superficiais (exceto um certo acontecimento que não está no anime mas que devia estar porque é simplesmente incrível). Vou ler mais destes light novels
September 7, 2021
my favourite bsd light novel so far~ i’m obsessed with kunikida and dazai’s dynamic they’re just the best
January 22, 2022
i wish they animated it the same. instead they made it non-canon by including atsushi but eh :/
March 19, 2022
no matter how much they disrupt each other, they’ll always have a wickedly brilliant bond and here is where it starts
May 27, 2024
interesting light novel. i enjoyed beast/stormbringer/age 15 much more, (maybe because i can’t stand kunikida) but dazai being in this one makes it super interesting. ⭐️4.25
Read
October 24, 2024was this novel *good*? i don't think i'd say that no.
did i have *fun* reading this? yeah. iconic freak cinema. kunikada is such a weirdo and i think he's a fun narrator because he clearly thinks he's so normal and then he proceeds to have the most insane opinions. dazai does magic mushrooms. there's even permanent character death.
did i have *fun* reading this? yeah. iconic freak cinema. kunikada is such a weirdo and i think he's a fun narrator because he clearly thinks he's so normal and then he proceeds to have the most insane opinions. dazai does magic mushrooms. there's even permanent character death.
April 18, 2026
i love kunikida
February 25, 2025
Dazai i kunikida najlepsze duo
November 25, 2021
Esta novela ligera es una precuela al manga de Bungou Stray Dogs pero a su vez vemos los sucesos aquí narrados en la primera temporada del anime.
Si me preguntan, es preferible leer la novela ya que el anime dejó algunas cosas de lado y además intercalaban los sucesos de esta precuela con la trama principal de Atsushi.
Aquí nos encontramos con Dazai, el miembro más nuevo de la Agencia Armada de Detectives, quien tiene que resolver su primer caso para pasar el examen de admisión y ser oficialmente un miembro de la Agencia y además, el compañero de Kunikida.
La mayor parte de la novela la vemos narrada desde el punto de vista de Kunikida y me he encariñado aun más con el personaje, me gusta la voz que le dió Kafka Asagiri y no me molestaría leer más novelas desde su punto de vista, y a pesar de que ya sabía el desenlace de todo (gracias a que ya me vi el anime), hubo ciertas cosas que me sorprendieron puesto que no se mencionan en el anime pero que sí dan pistas de situaciones que pasan después en el manga y en el propio anime.
Si quieren sumergirse en el mundo de Bungou Stray Dogs pero no les termina de convencer leerse el manga o verse el anime, esta es una muy buena opción, es una novela corta, rápida y fácil de leer que además te introduce a varios personajes de gran importancia en la obra, como lo son Dazai, el propio Kunikida, mi favorito de todos Akutagawa, Ranpo, etc.
Y para los fans del manga o del anime, específicamente aquellos que aman a Kunikida y su interacción con Dazai, esta es una lectura obligada.
Aquí unas de mis frases favoritas y escenas que tuvieron un impacto en mí como fan de BSD:
⚠️⚠️HAY SPOILERS EN ALGUNAS FRASES⚠️⚠️
• «“But I’m just an ordinary woman. Even if I was with someone who lived for his ideals, I wouldn’t be of any help. Even if I devoted myself to supporting those ideals, I would only end up getting in the way and exhausting us both… Ultimately, he would choose his ideals over me, and things would end there. So I think I will abstain from dating any idealists in the future.”»
• «For someone so full of eccentricities, there is something about his behavior that makes it seem as if he has an unobstructed view of the world. I don’t know exactly why, but all his emotions strike me as an act to some degree. Is he just playing dumb? Could there be more to him than he’s letting on, lurking behind his ambiguous mannerisms?»
• «“See? You wear your heart on your sleeve. You don’t hide how you’re really feeling. It’s nice. You know what else is nice? Just knowing that you’re going to be worrying later to yourself, ‘Am I really that simple?’”»
• «“What do you want?! Why did you threaten the detective agency?! What was the point of killing the missing people and setting the bomb?! You… You were…” You were so talented. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner.»
• «A brief taste of freedom from the enemy’s watch—Dazai didn’t tell me what was really going on and continued to play the villain just to create this moment for us. I am once against struck with admiration. The man is incredible.»
• «“A cry for righteousness is like a sword. Just as it may harm the weak, it will also never be able to protect or save them. The Azure King’s righteousness is what killed Miss Sasaki.”»
• «“Kunikida. As long as you continue to pursue those ideals and remove those who get in your way, then one day you, too, will come to harbor the Azure King’s rage. There will be nothing left around you then—only ash. I’ve seen it happen all too often.”»
Si me preguntan, es preferible leer la novela ya que el anime dejó algunas cosas de lado y además intercalaban los sucesos de esta precuela con la trama principal de Atsushi.
Aquí nos encontramos con Dazai, el miembro más nuevo de la Agencia Armada de Detectives, quien tiene que resolver su primer caso para pasar el examen de admisión y ser oficialmente un miembro de la Agencia y además, el compañero de Kunikida.
La mayor parte de la novela la vemos narrada desde el punto de vista de Kunikida y me he encariñado aun más con el personaje, me gusta la voz que le dió Kafka Asagiri y no me molestaría leer más novelas desde su punto de vista, y a pesar de que ya sabía el desenlace de todo (gracias a que ya me vi el anime), hubo ciertas cosas que me sorprendieron puesto que no se mencionan en el anime pero que sí dan pistas de situaciones que pasan después en el manga y en el propio anime.
Si quieren sumergirse en el mundo de Bungou Stray Dogs pero no les termina de convencer leerse el manga o verse el anime, esta es una muy buena opción, es una novela corta, rápida y fácil de leer que además te introduce a varios personajes de gran importancia en la obra, como lo son Dazai, el propio Kunikida, mi favorito de todos Akutagawa, Ranpo, etc.
Y para los fans del manga o del anime, específicamente aquellos que aman a Kunikida y su interacción con Dazai, esta es una lectura obligada.
Aquí unas de mis frases favoritas y escenas que tuvieron un impacto en mí como fan de BSD:
⚠️⚠️HAY SPOILERS EN ALGUNAS FRASES⚠️⚠️
• «“But I’m just an ordinary woman. Even if I was with someone who lived for his ideals, I wouldn’t be of any help. Even if I devoted myself to supporting those ideals, I would only end up getting in the way and exhausting us both… Ultimately, he would choose his ideals over me, and things would end there. So I think I will abstain from dating any idealists in the future.”»
• «For someone so full of eccentricities, there is something about his behavior that makes it seem as if he has an unobstructed view of the world. I don’t know exactly why, but all his emotions strike me as an act to some degree. Is he just playing dumb? Could there be more to him than he’s letting on, lurking behind his ambiguous mannerisms?»
• «“See? You wear your heart on your sleeve. You don’t hide how you’re really feeling. It’s nice. You know what else is nice? Just knowing that you’re going to be worrying later to yourself, ‘Am I really that simple?’”»
• «“What do you want?! Why did you threaten the detective agency?! What was the point of killing the missing people and setting the bomb?! You… You were…” You were so talented. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner.»
• «A brief taste of freedom from the enemy’s watch—Dazai didn’t tell me what was really going on and continued to play the villain just to create this moment for us. I am once against struck with admiration. The man is incredible.»
• «“A cry for righteousness is like a sword. Just as it may harm the weak, it will also never be able to protect or save them. The Azure King’s righteousness is what killed Miss Sasaki.”»
• «“Kunikida. As long as you continue to pursue those ideals and remove those who get in your way, then one day you, too, will come to harbor the Azure King’s rage. There will be nothing left around you then—only ash. I’ve seen it happen all too often.”»
Displaying 1 - 30 of 387 reviews