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Six Short Stories: The Early Works of Osamu Dazai
The short stories in this collection, with the exception of “Money,” were written by Osamu Dazai (1909-1948) when he was still a young student of sixteen. Although these works only appeared in a school paper and magazines self-published with his friends, the author’s genius can already be seen. From his very first pieces, he displays his acute insight into how emotions fluctuate and the complexity of relationships. His taste for irony is also apparent, poking fun at how people misunderstand circumstances or their own state of affairs. The young Dazai skillfully portrays how things are not what they seem to be on the surface, taking unexpected turns for both the readers and protagonists in the tales. With most stories translated into English for the first time, the book gives you a rare glimpse into the complex psyche of the nascent novelist on his way to becoming one of the most celebrated writers Japan has ever had.
35 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2022
14 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Osamu Dazai
1,130 books9,553 followersOsamu 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 1, 2022
3,5
The 5th story reminds me of caligula and the 6th one is very interesting as its written from the perspective of an object, a stylistic device i havent read before
The 5th story reminds me of caligula and the 6th one is very interesting as its written from the perspective of an object, a stylistic device i havent read before
March 13, 2023
Five of these short stories were published when Dazai was 16 which is just crazy to think about and the final one, Money, was published in 1946, two years before his death. You can really see his maturation throughout these works, especially contrasting it with the final story.
I don't know how he keeps doing it wow.
I don't know how he keeps doing it wow.
June 30, 2025
I don't have much to say about this collection other than how delighted I was to get to read some of Dazai's juvenalia. All the short stories in this book, with the exception of “Money" (1946), were written by Dazai when he was still a young student of sixteen. Still a baby writer! Unknown but brimming with passion and a desire to put himself out there. (Just like me!)
Even though I didn't find the stories themselves all that impressive or well-written, I still thought they were adorable because they were Dazai's. This was him before the death of Ryūnosuke Akutagawa and all the suffering he went through in his adult life; before the wars, his drug addictions, disastrous love affairs, political involvement, illnesses, and destitution. Something so tragic yet poignant in knowing who the author of these simple short stories will grow up to be. I think closing the collection off with "Money" was a good choice. The contrast of the sixteen-year-old would-be novelist to the established author two years before his death was effectively hard-hitting. "Money" was a really funny story -- only Dazai would've thought to make a story from the pespective of a 100-yen note who gets "stomach aches." That closing image of him and the "girls" nodding while tucked away in the baby's nape was hilarious. I'm going to be referring people to this short story the next time someone tells me Dazai's primarily "serious" writer.
Ah, I'm so grateful I got my hands on this collection. Most of the stories included have been translated into English for the first time, so the book gives you a rare glimpse into a very young and very impressionable Dazai on his way to becoming "Dazai," but not yet. I found the translations to be good and easy to follow, although some of the wording and grammar in "The Map" translated by Rossa Ó Muireartaigh were really awkward, though that could just be my ebook copy's weird formatting issues. My favorite story was "Lipstick" translated by Rychelle Brittain. It was the simplest one of the six included, yet I found it to be the most striking with what I know about Dazai and his issues with his biological mother and other maternal figures in his life. I'd love to read an analysis on this short story that touches on the queer subtext as well. Actually, I read "Lipstick" twice because my stupid ex-graduate student brain kept thinking, "Hm. What if I made my PhD about Dazai and his mommy issues through his literature? This story would be perfect for that dissertation." You're craaaazy, Eu.
Anyway, like I said, it's always charming to see how famous, world-renowed authors got their start. These works were never officially published by big big presses; they only appeared in school papers and magazines -- some of which were self-published by Dazai with his friends. (So cute, I can just imagine him excitedly printing these stories with his classmates and discussing them during breaktimes and after school). His innocent love for literature and storytelling shines through in these short works. Their unpolished, amateurish quality was responsible for a lot of the stories' charm. It was wonderful getting to see Dazai's writing skills progress and observe in real time how he tried to figure out his own writing style as an awkward high school teenage boy still trying to make sense of the world. These were his very first pieces (that we know of), and it was bittersweet and a little wholesome to be able to pick out Dazai's tell-tale emotional insight, irony, and satire. I'll definitely be revisiting this collection sometime soon.
Even though I didn't find the stories themselves all that impressive or well-written, I still thought they were adorable because they were Dazai's. This was him before the death of Ryūnosuke Akutagawa and all the suffering he went through in his adult life; before the wars, his drug addictions, disastrous love affairs, political involvement, illnesses, and destitution. Something so tragic yet poignant in knowing who the author of these simple short stories will grow up to be. I think closing the collection off with "Money" was a good choice. The contrast of the sixteen-year-old would-be novelist to the established author two years before his death was effectively hard-hitting. "Money" was a really funny story -- only Dazai would've thought to make a story from the pespective of a 100-yen note who gets "stomach aches." That closing image of him and the "girls" nodding while tucked away in the baby's nape was hilarious. I'm going to be referring people to this short story the next time someone tells me Dazai's primarily "serious" writer.
Ah, I'm so grateful I got my hands on this collection. Most of the stories included have been translated into English for the first time, so the book gives you a rare glimpse into a very young and very impressionable Dazai on his way to becoming "Dazai," but not yet. I found the translations to be good and easy to follow, although some of the wording and grammar in "The Map" translated by Rossa Ó Muireartaigh were really awkward, though that could just be my ebook copy's weird formatting issues. My favorite story was "Lipstick" translated by Rychelle Brittain. It was the simplest one of the six included, yet I found it to be the most striking with what I know about Dazai and his issues with his biological mother and other maternal figures in his life. I'd love to read an analysis on this short story that touches on the queer subtext as well. Actually, I read "Lipstick" twice because my stupid ex-graduate student brain kept thinking, "Hm. What if I made my PhD about Dazai and his mommy issues through his literature? This story would be perfect for that dissertation." You're craaaazy, Eu.
Anyway, like I said, it's always charming to see how famous, world-renowed authors got their start. These works were never officially published by big big presses; they only appeared in school papers and magazines -- some of which were self-published by Dazai with his friends. (So cute, I can just imagine him excitedly printing these stories with his classmates and discussing them during breaktimes and after school). His innocent love for literature and storytelling shines through in these short works. Their unpolished, amateurish quality was responsible for a lot of the stories' charm. It was wonderful getting to see Dazai's writing skills progress and observe in real time how he tried to figure out his own writing style as an awkward high school teenage boy still trying to make sense of the world. These were his very first pieces (that we know of), and it was bittersweet and a little wholesome to be able to pick out Dazai's tell-tale emotional insight, irony, and satire. I'll definitely be revisiting this collection sometime soon.
December 27, 2023
Contendo alguns contos do período inicial da carreira de Osamu Dazai, mais especificamente de sua adolescência, essa coletânea é uma leitura bastante rápida e agradável. Nenhum dos contos é particularmente extenso, mas (na minha humilde opinião) contém bastante substância e os temas são tratados com muito cuidado. Achei que seria interessante compartilhar meus pensamentos sobre cada um dos seis pequenos contos:
- Sumo me fez lembrar de quando eu e meu irmão (que era bem mais velho) brincávamos de luta na sala de estar. Seiji gostaria de poder contar com seu irmão mais velho, o que não é possível devido à sua fraqueza física. É uma relação complicada, também fruto da natureza de Seiji. No fim, fica implícito que o irmão mais velho era, de fato, mais forte, e deixava o mais novo ganhar—o que fere seu orgulho.
- Scapegoat é a sequência do primeiro conto, mas é significativamente mais simples. O tema central é a culpa e o medo que Seiji sente ao acidentalmente ferir seu amigo, cujo pai é uma figura temida na vila. Alem disso, o conto aborda a falibilidade da memória, e como isso pode distorcer a verdade nas situações. Há um quê de altruísmo em Seiji nessa história, que não liga de receber a culpa de algo se ele próprio souber que não o fez.
- Keiju the Acupuncturist tem uma conclusão bem interessante, uma vez que o personagem titular realiza diversos atos de altruísmo e bondade, embora por motivos amorais. No fim, ele acaba sendo reconhecido por seus atos heróicos. É uma discussão interessante. Deveria ele ser demonizado por suas intenções ou glorificado por suas ações?
- Após 10 anos sem ver sua mãe, como ela reagiria ao ver o quão decadente está o filho? Lipstick me lembrou muito de Declínio de um homem, talvez devido ao fato do protagonista também ter tão baixa consideração por si mesmo. Mesmo a maquiagem não é capaz de "consertar" seu rosto. O medo e a inação vencem, e o que sucede é a angústia da incerteza.
- Diferentemente dos outros contos, The Map se passa no início do período Edo, em 1614, e é uma belíssima e poderosa história anti-guerra. De forma muito criativa, a insignificância dos anos e anos despendidos na guerra e das conquistas decorrentes dela leva à percepção do vazio existencial que, no fim, é tal propósito de vida.
- Money é meu conto favorito dessa coletânea. O protagonista é, bem, uma nota de cem ienes, que narra uma série de eventos em sua vida. Embora as críticas contidas no texto sejam muito mais direcionadas à sociedade japonesa da época, ainda é possível observar que pouco mudou desde então. O conto é, talvez, um reflexo das tendências de esquerda do autor, que posteriormente complicariam sua vida pessoal. São belos e impactantes os comentários sobre o verdadeiro propósito e uso do dinheiro, como nessa passagem:
"Se apenas nós, notas de papel, pudéssemos ajudar os outros dessa forma sempre, quão felizes nós seríamos."
Money certamente deixou certo impacto em mim, mesmo que pouco.
- Sumo me fez lembrar de quando eu e meu irmão (que era bem mais velho) brincávamos de luta na sala de estar. Seiji gostaria de poder contar com seu irmão mais velho, o que não é possível devido à sua fraqueza física. É uma relação complicada, também fruto da natureza de Seiji. No fim, fica implícito que o irmão mais velho era, de fato, mais forte, e deixava o mais novo ganhar—o que fere seu orgulho.
- Scapegoat é a sequência do primeiro conto, mas é significativamente mais simples. O tema central é a culpa e o medo que Seiji sente ao acidentalmente ferir seu amigo, cujo pai é uma figura temida na vila. Alem disso, o conto aborda a falibilidade da memória, e como isso pode distorcer a verdade nas situações. Há um quê de altruísmo em Seiji nessa história, que não liga de receber a culpa de algo se ele próprio souber que não o fez.
- Keiju the Acupuncturist tem uma conclusão bem interessante, uma vez que o personagem titular realiza diversos atos de altruísmo e bondade, embora por motivos amorais. No fim, ele acaba sendo reconhecido por seus atos heróicos. É uma discussão interessante. Deveria ele ser demonizado por suas intenções ou glorificado por suas ações?
- Após 10 anos sem ver sua mãe, como ela reagiria ao ver o quão decadente está o filho? Lipstick me lembrou muito de Declínio de um homem, talvez devido ao fato do protagonista também ter tão baixa consideração por si mesmo. Mesmo a maquiagem não é capaz de "consertar" seu rosto. O medo e a inação vencem, e o que sucede é a angústia da incerteza.
- Diferentemente dos outros contos, The Map se passa no início do período Edo, em 1614, e é uma belíssima e poderosa história anti-guerra. De forma muito criativa, a insignificância dos anos e anos despendidos na guerra e das conquistas decorrentes dela leva à percepção do vazio existencial que, no fim, é tal propósito de vida.
- Money é meu conto favorito dessa coletânea. O protagonista é, bem, uma nota de cem ienes, que narra uma série de eventos em sua vida. Embora as críticas contidas no texto sejam muito mais direcionadas à sociedade japonesa da época, ainda é possível observar que pouco mudou desde então. O conto é, talvez, um reflexo das tendências de esquerda do autor, que posteriormente complicariam sua vida pessoal. São belos e impactantes os comentários sobre o verdadeiro propósito e uso do dinheiro, como nessa passagem:
"Se apenas nós, notas de papel, pudéssemos ajudar os outros dessa forma sempre, quão felizes nós seríamos."
Money certamente deixou certo impacto em mim, mesmo que pouco.
May 17, 2022
Buku ini terdiri dari enam cerpen yang ditulis Dazai ketika usianya masih muda.
Sumo mengisahkan dilema seorang pemuda yang mengalahkan abangnya dalam sebuah duel sumo. Ia dihadapkan pada dilema antara perihnya memiliki abang yang dianggap lemah dan perihnya dianggap dibiarkan menang oleh abangnya sekadar untuk membesarkan hatinya.
Scapegoat sedikit membingungkan karena di antara beberapa halaman yang menyatakan bahwa X adalah pihak yang terluka, terdapat satu halaman yang menyatakan bahwa Y adalah pihak yang terluka. Kemudian ada pula tokoh bapak yang sekadar disebut namanya saja, sehingga awalnya kukira ia adalah salah satu teman sebaya tokoh utama. Cerpennya sendiri sesuai dengan judulnya, yaitu bercerita tentang sebuah pengkambinghitaman.
Keiju the Acupunturist bercerita tentang murid seorang ahli akupuntur yang arogan ketika sang guru jatuh sakit.
Lipstick menceritakan tentang anak laki-laki seorang gundik yang dikunjungi ibunya untuk pertama kali setelah 10 tahun. Ia merasa sangat grogi dan takut tidak mampu memenuhi harapan ibunya, hingga ia mulai merias diri menggunakan alat rias tetangganya.
The Map menceritakan tentang seorang penakhluk yang merasa kecewa karena daerah takhlukannya tidak cukup besar untuk masuk peta dunia.
Money menceritakan sudut pandang sebuah uang kertas 100 yen yang dicetak pada masa kejayaannya hingga melalui inflasi yang menurunkan harganya.
Secara keseluruhan, cerpen-cerpen ini termasuk biasa saja apabila mengingat karya-karyanya yang lebih dikenal. Nuansanya jelas tidak sesuram Ningen Shikkaku, dan sifatnya tidak autobiografis. Cerpen-cerpen ini seperti mulai mencoba mengeksplorasi pergulatan batin tokoh-tokohnya, namun tidak diselami cukup dalam. Di luar itu, cerpen-cerpennya cukup menarik.
Aku membaca ini melalui Kindle Unlimited.
Sumo mengisahkan dilema seorang pemuda yang mengalahkan abangnya dalam sebuah duel sumo. Ia dihadapkan pada dilema antara perihnya memiliki abang yang dianggap lemah dan perihnya dianggap dibiarkan menang oleh abangnya sekadar untuk membesarkan hatinya.
Scapegoat sedikit membingungkan karena di antara beberapa halaman yang menyatakan bahwa X adalah pihak yang terluka, terdapat satu halaman yang menyatakan bahwa Y adalah pihak yang terluka. Kemudian ada pula tokoh bapak yang sekadar disebut namanya saja, sehingga awalnya kukira ia adalah salah satu teman sebaya tokoh utama. Cerpennya sendiri sesuai dengan judulnya, yaitu bercerita tentang sebuah pengkambinghitaman.
Keiju the Acupunturist bercerita tentang murid seorang ahli akupuntur yang arogan ketika sang guru jatuh sakit.
Lipstick menceritakan tentang anak laki-laki seorang gundik yang dikunjungi ibunya untuk pertama kali setelah 10 tahun. Ia merasa sangat grogi dan takut tidak mampu memenuhi harapan ibunya, hingga ia mulai merias diri menggunakan alat rias tetangganya.
The Map menceritakan tentang seorang penakhluk yang merasa kecewa karena daerah takhlukannya tidak cukup besar untuk masuk peta dunia.
Money menceritakan sudut pandang sebuah uang kertas 100 yen yang dicetak pada masa kejayaannya hingga melalui inflasi yang menurunkan harganya.
Secara keseluruhan, cerpen-cerpen ini termasuk biasa saja apabila mengingat karya-karyanya yang lebih dikenal. Nuansanya jelas tidak sesuram Ningen Shikkaku, dan sifatnya tidak autobiografis. Cerpen-cerpen ini seperti mulai mencoba mengeksplorasi pergulatan batin tokoh-tokohnya, namun tidak diselami cukup dalam. Di luar itu, cerpen-cerpennya cukup menarik.
Aku membaca ini melalui Kindle Unlimited.
July 3, 2025
5 of the 6 stories here were written by Dazai while still in his teens. The last was written a couple of years before his finally succesful suicide.
Actually they aren't bad, and not the humorous pieces his character in "No Longer Human" is famous for at his school. Mostly populated by young boys, although one is the story of a military king (a rewrite of a traditional Japanese story?).
Dazai was a prolific short story writer (to pay for his life style?). Besides the New Directions publications, there are bits and pieces of his work put out by all kinds of small publishers. From well regarded ones such as Tuttle, to places like this (Catal Communications - digital only, but at least the translators are legit, and there is an endnote to each story on where it was first published).
Listed at 35 pages, it does feel a bit longer than that, but can still be read in an hour or less.
I am currently reading some of Dazai's more recognized works, and grabbed this since it was short and inexpensive. It does give a nice insight into Dazai's progression as a writer. Perhaps for Dazai completists only - or, like me, those who want a quick, cheap read of some of his other work.
Actually they aren't bad, and not the humorous pieces his character in "No Longer Human" is famous for at his school. Mostly populated by young boys, although one is the story of a military king (a rewrite of a traditional Japanese story?).
Dazai was a prolific short story writer (to pay for his life style?). Besides the New Directions publications, there are bits and pieces of his work put out by all kinds of small publishers. From well regarded ones such as Tuttle, to places like this (Catal Communications - digital only, but at least the translators are legit, and there is an endnote to each story on where it was first published).
Listed at 35 pages, it does feel a bit longer than that, but can still be read in an hour or less.
I am currently reading some of Dazai's more recognized works, and grabbed this since it was short and inexpensive. It does give a nice insight into Dazai's progression as a writer. Perhaps for Dazai completists only - or, like me, those who want a quick, cheap read of some of his other work.
December 9, 2025
(4.5) Shows a lot of prominent elements that will get more polished in future works; most worth mentioning is the self-tarnishing undertone. Money is undoubtedly the most remarkable story as it could even be a bit unexpected.
October 24, 2023
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT SM!! specially the last one, “money“
November 11, 2023
,,If you thought you were to die tonight, you would completely forget about all your greed and lust."
March 27, 2024
"But even in this lifestyle of running cheap errands. I did think-- maybe once, maybe twice-- that maybe it was not so bad to be alive."
June 10, 2024
this was so good let me sit down..
July 24, 2024
3.5⭐️
The third and fifth ones were my favourites
The third and fifth ones were my favourites
October 13, 2024
Beautiful...
October 25, 2024
The depth
August 28, 2024
Even without knowing these are his early works, it's obvious—and that's not a good thing. The writing, themes, and meanings of the stories feel undeveloped. You could skip reading them and not miss out on much
December 7, 2024
lipstick and money were my favourites out of the stories.
this really shows how talented dazai was even at such a young age. incredible writing.
this really shows how talented dazai was even at such a young age. incredible writing.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews