Confession of an Inadequate Person

Osamu Dazai is one of the most vivid and tragic writers of 20th century Japanese literature. His works are marked by autobiographical content, ruthless honesty, and keen psychological observation. Dazai became the voice of a generation that experienced war, disillusionment,... and internal crisis, and his books still resonate with readers around the world. “Confession of an Inadequate Person” is his most famous novella, in which the confessional tone reaches its utmost intensity. The hero of the book, Yōzō, is unable to find his place in society: he hides his deep detachment and painful sense of alienation behind a mask of buffoonery. Alienation, inability to love and be understood, attempts to drown the inner emptiness with alcohol and passions — all of this leads to his moral and physical decline.