Justice with a Smile - by Osamu Dazai (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A powerful novel of self-discovery from the author of No Longer Human--now available in English!

Young Susumu Serikawa is at a turning point. Should he continue his boring school education or chase his dream of becoming Japan's most famous actor? And how can he do that now that his father is dead, his mother is bedridden and his older brother is a university dropout?

In the hands of skilled author Osamu Dazai, Susumu's dilemma becomes a uniquely powerful tale of teenage angst and survival. Based on the diary of a real-life actor, Serikawa's entries are full of biting judgement and egotism alternating with shame and self-reproach--but also a touching idealism and faith that ultimately guide him forward.

This novel, translated into English for the first time, probes the same self-destructive dynamics that torment the young characters in Dazai's other works, but with a vastly different outcome. The bold, contemporary translation by Michael Day delivers an unforgettable new protagonist for Dazai's many fans.

About the Author

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.