Of Orientalism and Book Cover Blurbs: Dazai's NO LONGER HUMAN

Chapter 1
Introduction
It is often said that cultural difference appears in translation. Some problems are caused by
difference of things and customs peculiar to countries. For example, futon was translated as bed
before futon became a merchandised item in Western, English-speaking, countries. Sometimes
translation not only shows cultural difference but also political intention of translator. I knew it
through comparing Izu No Odoriko written by Yasunari Kawabata with The Izu Dancer translated
by Edward Seidensticker in a class which I studied in the third year in university. Moreover I
learned how social problems such as racism can be shown in introductions to translators of such the
haiku of Santoka Taneda. (I fellow Western style order for names throughout.)
Ningen Shikkaku is a famous Japanese novel. It was written by Osamu Dazai and published in
1948 in Japan. The book has been published over and over again and translated into English. When
I read No Longer Human published by Tuttle publishing, which is the English title of Ningen
Shikkaku, I noticed some differences between original version and translated one. However, I also
noticed a difference of the blurbs on the back covers of No Longer Human and Ningen Shikkaku. In
the blurb of No Longer Human, the phrases break up of tradition, Western impact and global
economy appear. These words are never used in the blurbs of Ningen Shikkaku. I felt the difference
is strange and I wondered why No Longer Humans blurb is written like it is. In my opinion, the
translated versions blurb also shows something cultural or political.
However, it is difficult to say exactly what that cultural or political something is in the blurb of
No Longer Human. The problem is that I do not know who wrote the blurb. I tried to contact the
two companies that published No Longer Human by sending emails but I received no replies from
them. I also sent an email the Donald Keene Center and asked how to contact Mr. Keene because I
wanted to query him. He translated Ningen Shikkaku into English, so that I thought that he might
know the detail of the writer of the blurb. Regrettably, they would not give me his address.
However, I also tried to call to the branch of Tuttle publishing in Japan and I could get some
information about the blurb. Firstly, editorial department writes blurbs usually. Secondly, it is
certain that the blurb was not written by Donald Keene. Thirdly, there is no possibility that the blurb
was written in Japan. Fourthly, most of the blurbs are written by editorial department as they talk
with authors. Finally, it is impossible to identify who wrote the blurb because it was written a long
time ago.
Therefore, I am left only with my own reasoning as to what motivated the blurb of No Longer
Human.
In my thinking, it is possible that Orientalism is shown in the blurb. This particular kind of
Orientalism is the kind which America has towards Japan. I have two reasons why I say this. The
One is that the book on which the blurb is written was published by American companies. In my
opinion, even if Japanese wrote the blurb, the final decision is made by the company. Companies

must have the responsibility as the company in their own country. So a company reflects the
mentality of the country in which its head office is located. The second reason is that the contrast
between the Orient (Japan) and the Occident (America) and Japan being backward and weak seems
to be represented in the blurb. It is the characteristic of Orientalism to contrast the Orient with the
Occident and indicate the East being inferior to the West.
It may be hard to say my supposition. However, I will try to illuminate how the Orientalism
which America has towards Japan is shown in the blurb of No Longer Human using the notion of
Orientalism as defined by Edward Said and taking up some examples of actual Orientalism which
America has to Japan. In my thesis, I do not analyze the blurb in its relation to the actual translation
of No Longer Human. I focus only on the relationship between the blurb for No Longer Human and
culture.

Chapter 2
A comparison of the blurb of Ningen Shikkaku with No Longer Human
2.1
Firstly, I introduce the blurb of Ningen Shikkaku. For example, this blurb, The masterpiece of
Dazais literature which he sublimated his life limitedly by using memoir of Yozo Oba who was a
son of rich house in Aomori and a morphine addict as cripple. is in the back cover published by
Kadokawa Bookstore in March 5, 2010. Others are below. Syueish Library writes that The
childhood in which he deceived people pretending innocence. The man who had connection to
women by turns and who was addicted to drugs repeating suicide attempts. The life which he
feared having relationship to other people and kept hiding his mind. The masterpiece which was
completed by Dazai one month before his death. in their publishers brochure of 2010. Shincho
Library writes that The notebook written by a man starts from the naked confession. He deceived
himself and deceived others. Moreover he made a grievous mistake and judged himself as
disqualified. This is a problem novel in which Dazai proves into the matter of living as a human
being. in their publishers brochure of 2010. These story notices are almost the same as blurbs
which are on the back covers. By comparison it is shown that there are various types of notices and
blurbs for Ningen Shikkaku in Japan. They use different phrases though almost all of them are
similar.
2.2
Secondly, I introduce the blub of No Longer Human. One No Longer Humans blurb is also
similar to Japanese ones. The book is published by New Directions Publishing in January 17, 1973.
The underlined sentence is also similar to explanations in Japan. Below is the blurb on the back
cover.
Portraying himself as a failure, the protagonist of Osamu Dazais No Longer Human narrates
a seemingly normal life even while he feels himself incapable of understanding human
beings. Oba Yozos attempts to reconcile himself to the world around him begin in
early childhood, continue through high school, where he becomes a clown to mask
his alienation, and eventually lead to a failed suicide attempt as an adult. Without

sentimentality, he records the casual cruelties of life and its fleeting moments of human
connection and tenderness.
Semi-autobiographical, No Longer Human is the final completed work of one of Japans most
important writers, Osamu Dazai(1909-1948). The novel has come to echo the
sentiments of youth (Hiroshi Ando, The Mainichi Daily News) from post-war Japan to
the postmodern society of technology. Still one of the ten bestselling books in Japan,
No longer Human is a powerful exploration of an individuals alienation from society.
(Underlining is mine)
On the other hand, there is also other blurb for No Longer Human. It is in the back cover of the
book which New Directions Publishing published in May 31, 1973. The company published No
Longer Human twice in 1973 but I do not know the reason. The blurb of the book which was
published on May 31 differs from one which published on January 17. Below is the blurb.
Osamu Dazai's No Longer Human, this leading postwar Japanese writer's second novel,
tells the poignant and fascinating story of a young man who is caught between the
breakup of the traditions of a northern Japanese aristocratic family and the impact of
Western ideas. In consequence, he feels himself "disqualified from being human"(a
literal translation of the Japanese title).
There are two types of the blurbs for No Longer Human. One is similar to Ningen Shikkaku but the
other is extremely different. Also, there is another type of blurb for No Longer Human. It is almost
same as the blurb published by New Directions Publishing on May 31 but a new explanation has
been added. This blurb is on the back cover published by Tuttle Publishing in 2000 as 9th edition.
Below is the blurb.
No Longer Human (Ningen Shikkaku) is the story of a young man caught between the
disintegration of the traditions of his aristocratic provincial family and the impact
of modern Western ideas. Largely autobiographical, No Longer Human explores
Dazai's feeling of being "disqualified from being human"(the literal translation of the
original title)-a sense of loss and anomie that remains strong in Japan even
today among those who struggle to reconcile their attachments to tradition
with the necessities of living in a global economy. (Underlining is mine)
The underlined parts are added newly. In addition, No Longer Human is introduced in Amazon.com.
Below is the explanation.
The poignant and fascinating story of a young man who is caught between the breakup
of the traditions of a northern Japanese aristocratic family and the impact of
Western ideas. Portraying himself as a failure, the protagonist of Osamu Dazai's No
Longer Human narrates a seemingly normal life even while he feels himself incapable
of understanding human beings. Oba Yozo's attempts to reconcile himself to the world
around him begin in early childhood, continue through high school, where he becomes
a "clown" to mask his alienation, and eventually lead to a failed suicide attempt as an
adult. Without sentimentality, he records the casual cruelties of life and its fleeting
moments of human connection and tenderness.

This explanation is a mixed type. The latter part is similar to Ningen Shikkaku and the front part is a
contracted version of the blurb which New Directions Publishing published on May 31, 1973. It is
hard to say which blurb is common in America. In my opinion, however, the blurb which New
Directions Publishing published on May 31, 1973 is more common. It can be supposed because the
contracted version is emphasized on Amazon.com. Amazon.com is a famous internet shopping
company and a lot of people see this web site.
Chapter 3
Mulling over the connection between the blurb of No Longer Human and the actual story and
recent Japan problems
It is shown that the blurbs of No Longer Human are different from the one of Ningen Shikkaku
by comparing them. I try to think about the connection between the blurbs and the story and recent
Japanese problems (such as mental health) because I feel the blurbs are strange.
3.1.1
Firstly, I try to reason about the part of the breakup of the traditions of northern Japanese
aristocratic family and the disintegration of the traditions of his aristocratic provincial family.
northern Japanese aristocratic family and his aristocratic provincial family might mean the
main characters family in Ningen Shikkaku. There are the sentence that I was born in a village in
the Northeast* in story of No Longer Human. As you read, Yozos family lives in the northern and
provincial region according to this sentence. Next, the disintegration (breakup) of the traditions of
family seems to mean death of Yozos father. Tsukagoshi says that father is the symbol of old
family in Ningen Shikkaku. (322) If it can be possible to think father meaning the tradition of
family beside, it may be able to say that the part of the disintegration (breakup) of the traditions
of family has connection with the actual story. However, it can not be said that Yozos family is
aristocratic. His family is rich and his father is an elected representative. This can be supposed from
Yozos narration. Yozo says himself that I acquired my reputation at school less because I was the
son of a rich family than because, in the vulgar parlance, I had brains* in the story. In addition,
he says about his father that Fathers term of office as a member of the Diet would soon expire and
doubtless for many reasons- he seemed to have no intention of standing for election again*.
However, there are no sentences that Yozos family belongs to aristocracy. Yozos father is a
representative though he and his family do not have relationship with the emperor. I think it is hard
to say that main characters family is aristocratic according the story.
3.1.2
Moreover I wonder about the part of the impact of modern Western ideas. I think that
communism is one of things which have relationship with modern Western ideas in
the story. The idea of communism began in the West and it is famous for economical mechanism in
the Soviet Union, however, it is also hard to say that communism is a modern Western ideas in the
story. According to Japanese history, socialism started already around 1906 when it was after the
Russo-Japanese War. (285) Socialism is concerned with communism closely (Kojien). Osamu Dazai
wrote Ningen Shikkaku in 1948 so communism was not new modern idea in Japan when Dazai
wrote the story. Ningen Shikkaku is set around 1930 according to the sentence of The events
described in the note books seem to relate mainly to the Tokyo of 1930 (173) in the story.
Therefore, communism is not new modern idea in the story, too. In addition, Yozo joins in activity
of communism though he is not influenced by communist thinking. He just enjoys the activity as

illegal.
3.2.1
Secondly, I try to reason about the part of Largely autobiographical, No Longer Human
explores Dazais feeling of being disqualified from being human (the literal translation of the
original title) -a sense of loss and anomie that remains strong in Japan even today among those who
struggle to reconcile their attachments to tradition with the necessities of living in a global
economy. I surmise this part with a thesis written by Norio Yoshikawa mainly. In my opinion,
because this part refers to a global economy, tradition in this sentence means the traditional
system of Japanese company and their attachments to tradition means Japanese workers not being
able to adapt to global economy in the process that Japan reconcile the traditional system of
Japanese company with the system of American company. Yoshikawa says about the traditional
system of Japanese company (since after the war to about 1980s) and system of American company
as follows: Basically Japanese company is capitalism for participant and especially employee. The
system of employment is permanent employment and salary is paid by a seniority system. Japanese
company is also inclined to emphasize organizational harmony as opposed to individual worth. On
the other hand, American company is capitalism for stockholder. Employees can move between
company and company flexibly and system of salary makes a point of business and merit. In
America strong company becomes strong increasingly and weak company is excluded naturally.
The traditional system of Japanese and the system of American company is different according
Yoshikawas comparison. It has gone by long time that system of American company is prevailed
over all other countries since the end of 20th century. American system became de fact standard
globally. Though Japan has different company traditional system, most of companies change their
system to Americans. However Yosikawa says the American system is not suited to Japan and
destruction of the traditional Japanese system has possibly is connected to the disintegration of
Japanese society. Therefore I suppose that many Japanese workers cannot adapt to American system
which is what is called global system.
3.2.2
Moreover I suppose that the part of sense of loss and anomie that remains strong in Japan even
today means something. I think that this part means mental illness of Japanese workers who cannot
adapt to global economy. Yoshikawa says that it is hard to change the folk and religious nature
which is ingrained in a short time and it can be possible to invite the disintegration of mental basis
by system of global economy. In my opinion, the recent problem of increase of melancholy and
suicide is caused by global economy. Therefore it may be right that sense and anomie which
Japanese workers have in global economy really exist in Japan. However it is hard to connect this
sense of loss and anomie with Dazais feeling of being disqualified from human. When Dazai
entered into the mental hospital, he imagined that he would be treated like madman. (321) In my
opinion, Dazais feeling of being disqualified from human may be from his having entered a
mental hospital.
As a result of these suppositions, the blurb of No Longer Human which was published by
New Directions publishing on May 31, 1973 and Tuttle publishing in 2000 might have some
possibilities which relate to the story and recent Japanese problem. However there are some
difficulties. The biggest problem is not to be referred to in the story about the disintegration of the
traditions of aristocratic provincial family and the impact of modern Western ideas. Moreover it is

strange that Japanese sense of loss and anomie in global economy is written expressly in blurb.
3.3
The blurbs which are in the back cover published by New Directions Publishing in May 31,
1973 and Tuttle Publishing in 2000 differ from the blurb of Ningen Shikkaku but also explanations
in Japan. One example of it is written in Kiyoshi Sanekata, Literature of Osamu Dazai Dictionary.
The explanation is that Ningen Shikkaku is the masterpiece written by Osamu Dazai, a remarkable
modern novel which was written of a seriously spiritual a human being agonizing himself and the
literature of the fight against sin in the book. Another example is explained that Ningen Shikkaku is
written about a destiny and tragedy of people of today who cannot be adapted to their society by
Takeo Okuno in Dazai Osamu. Ryojin Kakuta also gave a similar explanation to Okunos in Novel
of DazaiSosekiMaugham-explore the influence by other writer-. Katsumi Togo said
explanation about Ningen Shikkaku four times from various angles in his book Ningen Shikkaku. He
explains that Ningen Shikkaku is the story in which a man is wrecked by falling in love with various
women and Yozos (main characters name) awakening to art and disqualification of artist. He said
also that Yozo leaves from his hometown and lives in Tokyo, at last Yozo returns to his hometown
as a disqualified of human being, and whats more, Togo views Ningen Shikkaku as a story in which
Osamu Dazai criticized bitterly the democracy of after the Second World War in the story. There are
more explanations about Ningen Shikkaku and I could not read all of them. However, these blurbs
must be different. I directed my attention to two parts of the blurbs of No Longer Human. When I
read it, I had two questions. The first question is that why does it need to place the disintegration of
the traditions of main characters family and the impact of modern Western ideas contrastively? The
second question is that why does it need to say expressly Japanese sense of loss and anomie in order
to them to live in a global economy in the blurb of book cover? In my opinion, Orientalism which
American have to Japan is hidden in these two parts.

Chapter 4
Orientalism shown in the blurb of No Longer Human
4.1
Before I state my particular supposition, it is necessary to introduce ideas of Orientalism.
Orientalism has three meanings. I refer to these meanings on Kojien. First of all, it means exotic
and eastern interest. The interest is held by European who has a curiosity about and hankers for
Oriental things. This word of Oriental points mainly Turkey and The Arab world. Secondly, it
means the research on Oriental (particularly Middle East) by Occidental. Thirdly, Orientalism
means the style of domination for Oriental by Occidental. It also means style of egoistic thinking
which the West forces images of Occidental on Oriental. The images are such as the East as
backward, voluptuous, passive and mysterious. This third Orientalism was defined by Edward Said.
I used the meaning of Orientalism which is defined by Edward Said in my thesis.
4.2.1
Edward Said wrote new idea about Orientalism in Orientalism. This book was published in 1978.
The translated version was published in 1986. Said wrote mainly Orientalism which European has

to Middle East people in his book. In Orientalism, he states that Orientalism is the Occidental style
in order to dominate, recompose and coerce Oriental. Orientalism is shown by the way which
Oriental is distinguished from Occidental and discriminated as other or them in various scenes.
It is always represented as West as superior to East as foundation for the strategy. Thanks to it,
Occidental always keeps the ascendancy over Oriental in every relationship between them. The
study of comparison with Indo-European and Semitic is one of an example about Orientalism.
Schlegel who was German essayist and linguist thought that Indo-European is perfect because of its
artistic simplicity on the other hand Semitic is not. Moreover Semitic people are alien, inferior and
backward in his opinion because Semitic is not artistic and is monotonous and mechanical.
Orientalism in comparative linguistics has two characteristics. One of it is to separate Oriental from
Occidental in idea which Oriental is always monotonous and fundamentally different or special.
This example illustrates the characteristic of Orientalism which Oriental is discriminated as
inferiority to Occidental.
4.2.2
According to Saids insistence, America begins to dominate Oriental after the Second World War.
From the early nineteenth century to the Second World War, the United Kingdom and France
dominated Oriental and Orientalism. America approaches Oriental in the same way which these
countries used. In Orientalism, Orientalism which American has is said mainly about Arabs. Said
illustrates it with Temperament and Character of the Arabs. It is said that Arab is incompetent to
unify groups and they are lacking adjusting and cooperating in the organization in that book.
Moreover, collective behavior in order to gain a profit mutually is unacceptable for them. There are
other examples given in Orientalism. Said picks up a report written by Morroe Berger in 1967. It is
said that Modern Middle East and North Africa are not the center place where were achieved great
culture and do not have possibility which is done like that in the near future in his report. Despite
Middle East retains political importance greatly and has a potential for being big power politically
according to Berger. Said deliberates this problem and gives an answer which reveals Orientalism.
This report indicates that Orientalism distorts Oriental reality and determines Oriental future
arbitrarily.
4.3.1
By applying Orientalism which Said defined I state my supposition about the blurb of No Longer
Human. First of all, I state my consideration about this part, the poignant and fascinating story of a
young man who is caught between the breakup of the traditions of a northern Japanese aristocratic
family and the impact of Western ideas. (New Directions Publishing in May 31, 1973) and the
story of young man caught between the disintegration of the tradition of his aristocratic provincial
family and the impact of modern Western ideas. (Tuttle Publishing in 2000). I think that contrast
between Oriental (Japan) and Occidental (America) is shown in this part. The double underlined
part can be thought as Japan because the setting of the story of Ningen Shikkaku is in Japan and the
main character is Japanese. On the other hand the doubled wave underlined part can be thought as
Occidental in literal meanings. It can be also supposed that tradition and modern is compared in this
part of the blurb. The reason for this is because we may get the impression that tradition is old
and modern is new. In addition breakup and disintegration can also give us the impression of old
and unnecessary. I already pointed the difference between the blurb of Ningen Shikkaku and No
Longer Human in chapter 2. In Japan it is rarely mentioned that the breakup (disintegration) of the
tradition of main characters family and the impact of modern Western ideas when the story of
Ningen Shikkaku is introduced. I suppose that this difference is caused by Orientalism. It is the

characteristic of Orientalism to contrast Oriental with Occidental. I think that the characteristic is
shown in the double underlined part and the double wave underlined part. Moreover, tradition and
breakup (disintegration) and modern in the blurb also signify the characteristic. In my opinion, we
may be able to read Orientalism of Oriental (Japan) being old and unnecessary and Occidental
(America) being new from the blurb of No Longer Human.
4.3.2
Second, I state my consideration about this part, - a sense of loss and anomie that remains strong
in Japan even today among those who struggle to reconcile their attachments to tradition with the
necessities of living in a global economy. (Tuttle Publishing in 2000). In my opinion, it is
suggested that Japan is backward and weak in this part. I already pointed that Japanese may feel a
sense of loss and anomie in a today global economy in chapter 2. However there is a feeling of
wrongness in the blurb because of referring to the minus side of Japan in global economy expressly.
I think that this is caused by relationship between globalization and America. As I say in chapter 2,
American company system became de fact standard globally. Kenji Akiyama says that it can be
considered America to press their standard and sense of value in the world of globalization by
America becoming de fact standard in global economy. As a result, America must have a superiority
complex towards other countries. I suppose that American superiority complex for Japan is hidden
in above part. Moreover I guess that the superiority complex connects Orientalism and Orientalism
which America has to Japan in the part especially. The part suggests that Japan is backward and
weak in a global economy with saying the minus side of Japan. It is one of characteristic of
Orientalism to emphasize Oriental backward and weak. In my opinion, this characteristic of
Orientalism is shown in this part and particularly the underlined part.

4.3.3
As the blurb of No Longer Human Orientalism is not only shown in some kinds of academic
things for example linguistic but also in the thing which has relationship with literature according
Orientalism. Said gives some examples. One of it is Divina Commedia written by Dante. He says
that Orientalism for Islam is represented. Dante wrote about Muhammad in the inferno. Muhammad
appears on the eight cirques of nine hellish cirque and the nine fosse of ten evil fosse where Satanic
looms largest. He belongs to the category which is called those who slanders and plant the seeds of
trouble with disruption by Dante. He also belongs to rigid hierarchy of vicious in the category.
Moreover, He receives the punishment as eternal destiny and the punishment is very horrifying.
(68) In addition, some Muslims, Averrose and Saladin and others, also appear in Inferno. They are
confined to the first realm of hell as honorable gentile with Aeneas and others. They receive
minimum (honorable) punishments because they did not be received the benefit of Christian
revelation there. Dante thinks that they must be dropped to hell since they are not Christian. What is
to be noted is that Dante commits eccentric anachronism and irregularity which put anticipator who
lived before Christianity to belong to same category of guilt as gentile with Muslims who lived
after Christianity. (68) I think that the characteristic of Orientalism is read from Divina Commedia.
The characteristic is shown as Islamic (Oriental) is inferior to Christian (Occidental). Said says that
Orient and Islam are always represented as outsider and perform special functions in the
inside () of Europe. For examples, they are the poetic written by Dante, anti-Islamic books
written by Christians who are Roger Bacon, Martin Luther and others, The songs of Roland and
Othello (70). Said also states that Orientalism is the public property which not only specialist on

Orientalism have but also all people who target the thought on Orient in Occidental have (69). I
think that even present-day publishing companies which publish books about Oriental involving
Japan have Orientalism if I apply Saids thought. Therefore, it can be said that the blurb of No
Longer Human has relationship with Orientalism which American has to Japan.

TSUDA Naomi
2011