Justice with a Smile

Osamu Dazai (1909-1948) was the pen name of Shuji Tsushima, the tenth of eleven children born to a wealthy landowner and politician in the far north of Japan. Dazai studied French literature at the University of Tokyo but never received his degree. He attracted great attention in 1933 when magazines began to publish his stories.

But between 1930 and 1937, he made three suicide attempts, a subject he deals with in many of his works. Despite his troubled personal life and rebellious spirit, Dazai wrote in a simple and colloquial style, conveying his personal torments through literature. Dazai's life ended early in a double suicide with a married lover.

Michael Day is an award-winning translator and writer now based in Los Angeles. His translations include Scorpions by Yumiko Kurahashi and Diablo's Boys by Yang Hao (co-translation with Nicky Harman). He is the recipient of the Jules Chametzky and the Bai Meigui translation prizes.