Blue Literature
No Longer Human
The author of No Longer Human, Osamu Dazai, said he was a poor socializer.
Host Sakai Masato
There was one instance.
It happened when Masuji Ibuse, a writer Dazai saw as his mentor,
invited him to his home.
He waited and waited, but Dazai didn't come.
As Ibuse went out to see what happened,
he saw Dazai wandering around, trying to find the right opportunity to enter the house.
Photo: Shigeru Tamura
And there was another instance.
Dazai once invited his junior over to design his home's power outlets.
He managed to invite him, but he had no idea what he would say when the junior got there.
While waiting for the junior, Dazai became heavily intoxicated after drinking alone.
Dazai was truly poor at socializing with people.
Why was he afraid of them?
The masterpieces are blue.
Here's the third episode of No Longer Human.
1932
Winter
Mom!
You came late today.
Sorry!
Horiki is such a slow worker.
I've been waiting for him to finish.
I see.
The murder of a Japanese monk in Shanghai has triggered conflicts between China and Japan.
The government has decided to dispatch destroyers to protect the Japanese residents.
You don't have to do anything.
But I must...
Daddy, you're good at drawing!
I'm your Daddy...?
That's why I told 'em off.
You had every right to.
Your father's very handsome.
Is he taking a break from work?
Yup! That's why he's always with me!
So this is what living feels like...
They are worthless.
But Father, I drew my true self!
Who would want to see your true self?
But this is true art...
How do you plan on living by drawing unprofitable pictures?
People who can't make a living during their adulthood are no longer human!
What's wrong?
I want to earn money.
You don't have to do that.
My father told me that people who can't make a living are no longer human.
And I'm a much better artist than Horiki.
You are skilled at drawing comics.
Comics?
No Longer Human
Episode Three
Society
So that lady-killer drew this?
Please don't call him that.
You'd best look out for yourself.
But this is pretty good.
Really?
You can use it.
On one condition.
You cannot publish this under his real name.
Very well.
Thank you!
Here it is!
It's not much, but...
I never thought it would sell...
The editors all enjoyed it.
People actually like it...
Don't question yourself.
It's a very pleasant comic.
Yes, I can finally make a living now...
Why don't we visit a hot spring?
My treat.
You don't have to.
But I'm happy for you.
You should draw more.
Hey!
Don't come out.
I'm not going to draw you anymore.
I've become a real human now.
Begone.
Daddy, what's wrong?
It's nothing.
So you were here after all!
I've been lookin' for ya.
Good afternoon, young lady.
Who's he?
Don't worry.
He's my friend.
Daddy, huh?
Taking it easy again?
Society won't allow this.
Society?
What does that have to do with me?
Hey, don't get all cocky just because your comic sold well.
What society says goes.
Oh, right.
I know a reporter who's looking for your whereabouts.
Says he wants to interview you.
A lady-killer starts living with a woman,
and a young girl.
I bet he would be glad to find out where you are.
Hey, you've got cash, right?
I haven't told them yet.
I don't like him.
Society...
They don't care whether I choose to live or die.
This is society.
I've been waiting to meet you, Prince Charming.
This is the payment for your manuscript.
I gave you a little extra.
Thank you.
Don't you want to earn a little more?
You're a painter, right?
Why don't you paint the truth behind that incident?
That incident?
The one in Kamakura three years ago.
I bet society wants to see the truth.
Society?
Nevermind.
We'll talk about this on another date.
Bar Lupin
Whiskey.
Why are gulping it down?
You're too handsome to be drinking like that.
Don't tease me.
I'm a hideous monster.
All I want to do is live normally,
but society wants to portray me as a monster.
Sounds complicated.
Give me another.
In the United States, there are over seven million unemployed.
The demonstrations of unemployed job-seekers continue.
Their government has attempted to control these...
I'm disgusting.
A pack of Golden Bat.
Ah, okay.
You reek of booze.
Did you start downing a bottle after waking up?
How is my drinking any of your concern?
You smell unpleasant, and it's inconsiderate to others.
Forgive me.
Daddy?
Daddy!
Shigeko!
Where have you been, Daddy?
Forgive me, Shigeko.
Where's Mommy?
At work!
I see.
You're my one and only goddess.
Your whiskers hurt.
Aww, sorry.
Are you hungry?
Let's go out and eat, my goddess.
I'm not a goddess.
The gods live in the sky.
Oh, right.
Is it true that the gods will make any of your wishes come true?
I think so.
I'd like a real daddy.
Daddy, did you kill a lady?
The grannies in the neighborhood talked about you.
Daddy!?
This is society.
Bar Lupin
Horiki?
Hey, did you stay out all night?
Did you get older while I wasn't looking?
What do you want?
Don't give me that.
I heard your father collapsed.
That flounder gave this to me, and said that it's from your older brother in Tsugaru.
He's telling you to go home.
You should get ready to go...
I can't go back.
I can't return until I've gained enough fame as an artist, in order to shock my father.
All you can do is draw second-rate comics.
We should go drinking.
I know a store that's open right now.
Really?
You should go back home!
You have to see your father...!
Are you going to run away?
Didn't you say I'm fine as I am?
But...!
See you later!
Why does Daddy keep drinking?
He's not doing it because he likes to.
He's too good for that.
Are you going to run away again?
Shizuko...
Father...
Everyone...!
It is my own fault that I am weak...!
Forgive me...!
Forgive me for existing...!
It's you.
Oh, you...
You must be hammered.
Are you crying?
No.
Do you know who I am?
Are you an alcoholic?
No, I'm a monster.
You don't look like one.
Won't you listen to my story?
I killed a woman four years ago...
I don't deserve to live as a human.
Liar.
You don't look like that at all.
But it's true.
I pushed her over the cliff.
If I'm reborn, I'd like to live more like a human.
Come right after me, okay?
Okay.
Hurry up and push me.
I'd feel lonely if you went first.
The sleeping pills didn't work because I threw up...
That's why I survived.
Pitiful...
You made that up.
You're very mistaken if you really think that happened.
You won't fool me.
The ladies at the store said you're a comic artist.
And that you're very good at making up stories.
But society says that I murdered her...
Society did?
Society is just a group of people.
A group of people...?
But there are people like me who don't believe everything society tells us.
You should leave before you catch a cold.
And you should cut back on the drinking.
Good night.
Bar Lupin
What's wrong?
I broke up with her.
Do you want to stay on the second floor?
Why are women all so kind to me?
Because the world isn't kind to women.
TOBACCO
In order to find something...
Even if we oversleep,
we still wake up every day.
It's not too late.
We say "hello".
Put on a smile,
no matter how small it is.
Every waking moment,
this world needs you.
It's not too late.
We say "hello".
No Longer Human
Episode 04
New World