In this blog post, I will focus on introducing the plots and main themes of several volumes from Kang Jun-man’s magnum opus, “A Stroll Through American History” (17 volumes), that left a particularly deep impression on me. Introduction While South Koreans may hold various views on the United States, the spectrum of opinions and understanding likely varies widely across social classes...
Is Yasunari Kawabata’s “Japanese Sense of Beauty” Tradition or Fantasy?
In this blog post, I analyze how the discourse on the “Japanese sense of beauty” is constructed as a hybrid of solitude, eroticism, and Orientalism through the works of Yasunari Kawabata. Yasunari Kawabata and the Japanese Sense of Beauty Yasunari Kawabata is often cited as one of the first authors that comes to mind when discussing Japanese literature. The delicate lyricism and subtle...
R.M. Rilke: What Was His Life and Literature Like?
In this blog post, we will introduce Rainer Maria Rilke’s life and literary works in chronological order. Birth, Family, and Early Education Rainer Maria Rilke was born on December 4, 1875, in Prague. His father, Josef Rilke, was a former officer who retired due to illness and lived a diligent life working for a railway company; his mother, Sophie (or Pia), came from a family with ties to...
What Do Osamu Dazai’s Five Suicide Attempts and ‘No Longer Human’ Tell Us?
In this blog post, we will carefully examine how Osamu Dazai’s repeated suicide attempts and Christian influences are reflected in his works, particularly ‘No Longer Human’ and ‘The Sound of the Wind’. Introduction Osamu Dazai (born Shuji Tsushima, 1909–1948) attempted suicide five times during his short life of 39 years and ultimately took his own life on his fifth...
Why Is Osamu Dazai’s ‘No Longer Human’ Still Read Today?
In this blog post, we will examine the reasons why Osamu Dazai’s posthumous work ‘No Longer Human’ has captivated readers for so many years, as well as the structure of the novel. Regarded as one of the two great novels of modern Japanese literature alongside Natsume Sōseki’s ‘Heart’, Dazai Osamu’s posthumous work ‘No Longer Human’, with its gloomy...
Why Was Osamu Dazai Compelled to Write ‘No Longer Human’?
In this blog post, we explore how Osamu Dazai’s sense of deprivation, frustration, addiction, and suicide attempts influenced his literary world—particularly the creation of ‘No Longer Human’. The Life of Osamu Dazai Osamu Dazai (太宰治) was born on June 19, 1909, in Kanagi Village, Kitatsugaru District, Aomori Prefecture, in northern Honshu, Japan, as the tenth of eleven children...
The Timeless Relevance of Osamu Dazai’s Literature: Why Does ‘No Longer Human’ Still Resonate Today?
In this blog post, we will explore the linguistic charm of Osamu Dazai, his attitude toward “weak human beings,” and the reasons why his works continue to resonate with younger generations across generations, examining his works, life, and reception. The Timeless Relevance of Osamu Dazai’s Literature Osamu Dazai’s prose, which shines with the language of life he internalized to the point...
The Meaning of Hope and Dreams as Seen in Kang Jun-man’s ‘Even in the Quagmire, the Stars Shine’
In this blog post, I will reflect on life, dreams, and hope, focusing on the aphorisms found in Kang Jun-man’s *Even in the Quagmire, the Stars Shine*. Reflections on Life and Aphorisms We live a single life, experiencing joy, sorrow, love, and grief, and ultimately return to a handful of dust. Even if we ask ourselves whether we are spending each day meaningfully until the day we die...
Reading Kang Jun-man’s ‘Ask Your Soul’: A Guide to Happiness in 50 Life Aphorisms
In this blog post, I will briefly introduce Kang Jun-man’s ‘Ask Your Soul (Aphorisms for Happiness)’ and summarize my main impressions and the book’s key features. Writing Style and Structure While Kang Jun-man’s past writings were combative and direct, perhaps due to the weight of time, this book adopts a much softer tone—even using honorifics—that evokes a sense of the...
Kang Jun-man’s *A Dragon Must Not Rise from a Muddy Stream*: The Truth About the Republic of Power Abuse
In this blog post, we will examine the core arguments of Kang Jun-man’s *A Dragon Must Not Rise from a Muddy Stream (The Secret of the Republic of Power Abuse)* and explore the issue of power abuse in Korean society. Book Overview and Key Arguments Kang Jun-man, *A Dragon Must Not Rise from a Muddy Stream (The Secret of the Republic of Power Abuse)*. The author is a prolific writer...