Aoi Bungaku
No Longer Human
Navigator Sakai Masato
In this country, some literary works are called masterpieces.
However, many people seem to perceive these works as very remote.
To the younger generation, these are old stories.
Old stories
To the older generation, these are stories they had to read.
Stories the older generation had to read
But if you pick them up again now, you'll be surprised.
The way the protagonists worry, grieve, and strive,
Worry
Grieve
mirrors how we live today.
Strive
Moreover, these works contain what we've forgotten today:
the pain and joy of daily life.
Pain
Joy
For example, this book: "No Longer Human."
This is the representative work of the literary master Dazai Osamu.
Dazai Osamu Photo: Tamura Shigeru
No Longer Human
Published in June Show 23 (1948), Dazai Osamu's representative work.
Over ten million copies have been sold.
It is the most widely read, most popular novel in Japan.
But it's certainly not a work of the past.
They are evergreen because they are masterpieces
They are evergreen because they are masterpieces.
"No Longer Human," first chapter.
Please watch.
I lived an embarrassing life.
I... couldn't figure out how humans lived.
year of
Showa
(1929)
Fourth
Summer
No
Longer
Human
First Chapter
Kamakura
Double
Suicide
Sorry for being late.
You went to see your husband again?
Yes.
The bar is already open.
I'll change my clothes right away.
They'll execute him anyway.
This woman is Mayumi.
I found out her real name later. I believe it was Tsuneko.
The woman I killed.
At that time, I was participating in anti-government movements.
According to the Interior Ministry,
more than 100,000 people are currently unemployed!
The city is filled with people who have lost their jobs!
In the villages, countless people are sick!
Countless!
Um...
My sister... My sister too...
In order to help the family...
she was sold!
She was only in middle school!
Students!
We need a revolution!
Now is the time to overthrow the government!
Let's go!
The moment for armed rebellion is near.
Write your name there, and participate in our movement!
I'll sign up.
All right!
Me too!
Please contribute to help us buy weapons!
Do your best!
It's easy to collect money.
Isn't it, Chief Activist?
You're quite the actor.
I'm just like a clown.
The role suits you perfectly.
Is that right?
Still, while we claim to do this for the poor,
if they found out you got very rich by exploiting the most impoverished,
I wonder what they'd think?
Son.
Your father is very angry at your continued participation in illegal movements.
We're trying to make the world better.
You're still studying art, right?
Your father said that if you disgrace him as a member of the legislature,
he'll stop sending you money.
If this continues, I won't be able to cover for you.
Don't make this the last time.
If I don't get any money, I'll just have to die.
Please tell my father that.
Arrest everyone!
Don't move an inch!
You bastard!
It's the secret police.
This is bad.
Hurry!
We'll escape through the window!
Hey, did you check the toilet?
Idiot, don't push!
No.
Hurry, you fool!
Wait!
Let's go.
Follow them secretly.
We'll observe their movements.
If we go together, we'll be noticed.
Let's part here.
I wonder who took our campaign money?
Hey, lend me some money.
You're getting money today, right?
Stop that.
Don't make a fuss. You'll be noticed.
See, you have money.
The person with money always ends up paying.
See you later.
I lived an embarrassing life.
Go to high school in Tokyo.
I...
Got it?
I...
want to become an artist.
Damn it!
Mayumi-chan.
Welcome.
Are you alone?
Come with me afterwards.
It's okay, right?
I'm lonely.
I know a good modern bar.
I'm sure you'll be happy.
How about it?
It's okay, right?
Sorry.
My brother is here visiting me from the countryside.
Come.
Um...
Let me hide here for a bit.
That man is very persistent.
Do you want something?
Huh?
Whatever.
Then...
Please bring my bottle.
Yes.
No.
It's okay.
I told them you're my brother.
Welcome.
My, it's Chief Kosuge.
Welcome.
So, are you finished for today?
Where's your customer?
In the toilet.
Sorry for intruding.
Come again some time.
It's okay now.
How long are you going to stay in there?
In the end, I was the one who was hiding.
It's okay.
Why?
That guy's with the secret police, right?
He's one of our customers.
He's always arrogant.
I hate him.
Also, you seemed pretty nervous.
Is that right?
You're cute.
Um...
It'll be bad if they find you.
Pretend we're lovers.
Yes.
Hey!
Run!
Hey!
Let go!
You whore!
Quickly!
Let go!
I lived an embarrassing life.
You-chan.
That's a good smile.
Even now, I still don't know anything about people's daily lives.
Women especially are complete mysteries to me.
Why?
You came back for me?
That makes me happy.
Somehow, your skin has a familiar smell.
It's the smell of paint.
I'm an art student.
Is that right?
Then, you're going to be an artist.
I don't have the talent.
I feel calm.
Me too.
I'm going to stop seeing my husband.
The one in the photograph?
He's currently in prison.
Does that bother you?
No.
I don't want nights like this anymore.
Hey, start a revolution.
You're participating in that movement, right?
It's impossible.
I'm only in the movement to look cool.
I actually don't have interests like that.
It's only because I can't draw.
An antisocial attitude befits an artist, right?
Liar.
It's no use acting like a bad person.
You're pure.
I know.
You think there's something wrong with this world.
And you think there's something wrong with the way you live.
Why do women always interpret matters to suit themselves?
Why don't they try to look at the truth?
What's wrong?
Nothing.
At that time, I certainly thought about killing her.
There's no way to live.
My father's disowned me, and I have no money.
So I've just given up.
Student hat.
Sketch book.
Book.
Does Youzou want a book too?
The store at the Asakusa Shrine has masks for the lion dance.
They're meant for kids your age to wear while they play.
Don't you want one?
Youzou probably wants a book instead.
Is that right?
I made him angry.
I made my father angry.
When I opened this notebook in the store at the Asakusa Shrine,
"lion mask" was written there.
Oh my.
This isn't my writing.
It must be one of Youzou's pranks.
He's a strange child.
After I asked him, he must've really wanted one.
I laughed out loud at the toy store.
It's embarrassing.
What is?
Living.
For me as well.
I can't go to that bar anymore.
I'm tired.
Shall we die together?
I borrowed this from my friend.
Is that right?
Somehow I feel sleepy.
Can you push me?
If I am reborn...
I want to be more human.
Yes.
You should follow soon.
Yes.
This guy is still breathing.
Hey! Hurry, bring a boat over.
The guy who fell from the cliff seems to be part of a double suicide.
What?
A woman's belt and sandals were found at the top of the cliff.
Then...
The woman might be alive too.
You're cute.
Be good.
Keep this a secret from your father.
Your father is very angry.
Don't you want it?
Sleeping pills?
How many do you need?
He's a strange child.
You're pure.
That's a good smile.
You're doing it on purpose.
It's perfect for you.
You're cute.
I don't want it anymore.
Hey!
Is that right?
I'm going to stop seeing my husband.
You should follow soon.
Hey Chief, was this really a double suicide?
Didn't he say he killed the woman?
Who told you that?
Don't write notes based on hearsay.
Chief.
We found the woman.
What?
Hey.
All right, here she is.
So? Is she alive?
That's...
bokutachi wa nanika wo sagashite mitsukedasu tame ni
In order to find something,
osoku okita asa demo
we open our eyes every day,
mainichi me wo samasu da
even if we wake up late.
it's not too late
It's not too late.
we say hello
We say hello.
chotto demo waratte
Smile, even for just a bit,
itsudatte konosekai wa anataga hitsuyou dakara
because this world will always need you.
it's not too late
It's not too late.
we say hello we say hello
We say hello. We say hello.
Next Episode
No Longer Human
Second
Chapter
Ghost