As an aficionado of the medium, it is a profound pleasure to dissect one of the most hauntingly beautiful and devastating works in the history of graphic literature: the manga adaptation of "No Longer Human" (*Ningen Shikkaku*). Originally the magnum opus of the legendary novelist Osamu Dazai, this narrative has seen several adaptations, most notably the visceral interpretation by the master of horror, Junji Ito, and the poignant, modernized version by Usamaru Furuya.
Demographic and Context
"No Longer Human" is the quintessential Seinen manga. It is designed for an adult audience, moving far beyond the power fantasies of Shonen or the romantic idealism of Shojo. It occupies a space of deep psychological introspection, existential dread, and social critique. Whether you are reading Ito’s version—which leans into the "body horror" of the soul—or Furuya’s version—which frames the story in a contemporary setting—the core remains a brutal, honest look at the human condition.
Detailed Plot Synopsis
The story follows the tragic life of Yozo Oba, a man born into a wealthy family who, from his earliest memories, feels entirely disconnected from the rest of humanity. To Yozo, other people are terrifying, unpredictable, and incomprehensible beings. He views the world as a stage where everyone is performing a role he cannot understand.
To survive this perceived "alien" environment, Yozo adopts a persona: the clown. He spends his childhood and adolescence performing buffoonery to mask his paralyzing social anxiety and his profound sense of alienation. He believes that if he can make people laugh, they won't look closely enough to see the void where his "humanity" should be.
As Yozo moves into adulthood, the mask begins to crack. The manga chronicles his slow, agonizing descent through the strata of society. His journey takes him from a promising art student to a political dissident, and eventually to a man lost in the throes of alcoholism, drug addiction, and destructive relationships. Each chapter of his life is marked by a failed attempt to find a "normal" existence. He seeks solace in the arms of various women, yet his inability to truly connect or provide emotional stability leads to tragedy for both him and those who love him.
The narrative is structured as a series of "notebooks" that document his "disqualification" from being human. We witness his suicide attempts, his brushes with the law, and his ultimate realization that he has become a ghost in his own life—a man who is "no longer human" in the eyes of society and himself.
Major Themes
1. Alienation and the Social Mask:
The central theme is the "clown" persona. It explores the psychological toll of living a lie to satisfy societal expectations. Yozo’s tragedy is not that he is a "bad" person, but that he is incapable of being an "authentic" one in a world he finds inherently dishonest.
2. The Horror of the Mundane:
In the Junji Ito adaptation, this theme is amplified. Ito visualizes psychological trauma as physical deformity. The "horror" isn't a monster under the bed; it is the terrifying reality of having to talk to a neighbor or the crushing weight of a silent room.
3. Existential Despair and Shame:
The famous opening line, *"Mine has been a life of much shame,"* sets the tone. The manga explores the concept of "shame" not as a reaction to a specific act, but as a fundamental state of being. Yozo feels ashamed simply for existing.
4. The Critique of Post-War Society:
While the original novel reflects the nihilism of post-WWII Japan, the manga adaptations translate this into a universal critique of modern isolation. It questions the rigid structures of family, career, and social etiquette that can suffocate an individual’s true self.
Why You Must Read It
"No Longer Human" is not an easy read; it is an emotional gauntlet. However, for any serious manga reader, it is essential. It provides a mirror to the parts of ourselves we usually keep hidden—our insecurities, our fears of inadequacy, and our secret feelings of being "different." It is a masterpiece of the Seinen genre that proves manga can be as intellectually and emotionally demanding as the finest classical literature. It is a haunting portrait of a man who tried to be human and failed, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful, tragic art.
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