秋風記

by Osamu Dazai, 太宰治

「無頼派」「新戯作派」の破滅型作家を代表する昭和初期の小説家、太宰治の短編小説。初出は「愛と美について」［竹村書房、1939（昭和14）年］。死の誘惑に取り憑かれた主人公「私」が、年上の女性・Ｋと谷川の温泉に向かうという話で、二人の対話を中心に、奇妙な情死行を綴った短編である。「私」とＫの対話に連想作用が用いられているなど、手法的にも見るべき点がある。

19 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1939

About the author

Osamu DAZAI (native name: 太宰治, real name Shūji Tsushima) was a Japanese author who is considered one of the foremost fiction writers of 20th-century Japan. A number of his most popular works, such as Shayō (The Setting Sun) and Ningen Shikkaku (No Longer Human), are considered modern-day classics in Japan.
With a semi-autobiographical style and transparency into his personal life, Dazai’s stories have intrigued the minds of many readers. His books also bring about awareness to a number of important topics such as human nature, mental illness, social relationships, and postwar Japan.

Reviews

[Yoshinobu Yamakawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story by Dazai Osamu that depicts the strange love affair between the protagonist "I," who is possessed by the temptation to die, and K, an older woman. The story revolves around a dialogue that takes place as the two travel to a hot spring in Tanigawa.

The protagonist "I" is a clown-like man who enjoys the agony of his hobbies, uttering words such as ephemeral pleasure, truth, decadence, and pride. His words and actions seem to reflect the inner feelings of Dazai himself, showing off his hardships while seeking love. K, on the other hand, is a woman who, like "I," has hardships but lives a realistic life. She knows that truth and pride are useless and does not live up to his expectations. However, "I" expects "bad good deeds" from her "good deeds." This contrast forms the core of the story.

At the climax of the story, "I" sends K a yellow daffodil ring, to which K responds negatively. This episode is also a symbol of the impasse in their relationship and the hero's ephemeral lifestyle. The ending is a sad one, befitting the sweet ephemeralism.

Dazai Osamu's unique writing style and psychological description shine through in this short story. The hardships of living and the pursuit of love, which are common themes in his works, are strongly reflected in this short story. In this sense, it can be said that Dazai Osamu's work offers a deep appreciation of the inner complexities of human beings and the emotional turmoil between love and despair.