Wish Fulfilled: A Vignette by Osamu Dazai

by Osamu Dazai

As we edge toward the 75th anniversary of Osamu Dazai's death, much of his masterful prose remains surprisingly unknown to most English language readers. This observational vignette written by a youthful Dazai offers a lovely introduction to the introspective master widely known and loved in Japan.

Translated in Japan by Reiko Seri and Doc Kane of Maplopo, this semi-autobiographical account should serve as a nice introduction to those unaware of Dazai's genius. For those well aware of his talents (and possibly the several decade-old translation of this particular work) this updated translation in English provides a fresh look at this masterful vignette.

Genres: Japan, Short Stories, Audiobook, Japanese Literature, Fiction, Classics, Asian Literature

18 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1938

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

[Steven R. Kraaijeveld · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across Wish Fulfilled, a self-published translation of a short story by Osamu Dazai, during my periodic search for (new) English translations of his work, which are woefully scarce. It's a lovely little story, filled with—for Dazai—uncharacteristic optimism and hope in the face of addiction.

[Tobi ﾄﾋﾞ · Rating 3 out of 5]

at dazai standards, an oddly cheery book :)

[Moond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read/listen to it 3 times to grasp Osamu Dazai's oddly sober deep perception of whatever it is he is witnessing, for him to capture it in his writing.
A lovely friendship sparked by giggling under influence is such a wonderful thing to happen to anyone, I've read before how bonds are greatly formed best with laughing 😂 Maybe, just maybee he was caught off guard with himself when these simple slice of life moments made him sober and somewhat peaceful(?) even just for a while 🤷‍♀️ The innocent & genuine actions he observed made him pensive in a somewhat 'optimistic' way.

[Georgina Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful short story that perfectly embodies the simplicity with which Japanese writers understand and portray deep feelings. But more than that, this book explains, from the point of view of the translators, how they try to not only translate the words but also the context and the interpretation of meaning.

[Rosemarie Björnsdottir Jørgensen]

Two drunk men giggling their way into a friendship and a woman happily spinning her white parasol round and round. A very sweet little story and unusually optimistic for Osamu Dazai.

[febriani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ebook ini terdiri dari pengantar penerjemah yang terdiri dari seorang Jepang dan mitranya yang seorang asing, satu cerpen dan penutup berupa percakapan antara dua penerjemah mengenai cerpen yang telah mereka terjemahkan. Porsi catatan penerjemah sepertinya lebih banyak dari cerpen yang diterjemahkan itu sendiri.

Cerpennya sendiri sepertinya merupakan catatan pribadi penulis ketika sedang merantau untuk berkonsentrasi menulis sebuah novel. Di perantauannya itu ia berkenalan dengan seorang dokter, yang pada gilirannya mengeksposnya pada kisah salah satu pasien sang dokter yang diperantarai istri sang pasien. Istri sang pasien telah tiga tahun lamanya memelihara harapan akan kesembuhan suaminya. Tidak seperti tulisan Dazai yang telah banyak dikenal, cerpen ini berisi keseharian yang relatif tenang dan bermuatan harapan.

Buku ini kubaca melalui Kindle Unlimited.

[Ville Verkkapuro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well this was a weird experience. I have nothing to say about this. Other than maybe that I love Osamu Dazai and will read everything and anything that has his name on it, but... what the hell was this? It wasn't even a trailer. Maybe "a vignette" describes it perfectly. But, just... why?
Still: love Dazai.

[Pnbn · Rating 3 out of 5]

ليس بمثل براعة نثر كينجي في قصائره، لكن دازاي كان ملك لغة وعقل
صورة يسيرة قصيرة عن نفسه مع الكحول وكراهة ادمانه، يبدو أنه بمرحلة من حياته توسم الشفاء من دائه في أنيس من الإنس عن السكر... ولو فشل أن اكملنا قراءة حياته بباقي قصصه وكتاباته

[Matt Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading No Longer Human, this short vignette is a good introduction to Osamu Desai’s prose and observation put to the task of telling a story about optimism and hope.

[Ernie]

Cute, charming tale.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This vignette by Dazai was warm and leaves me with a good after feeling.
I'm thankful to Reiko and Doc for putting in the work to make more of Dazai available to English speakers.

[Angie Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found in a Little Free Library.

[❝ rachel ❞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Osamu Dazai's Number 1 Fan (officially), I obviously had to read this. I don't know what to say, my boy has range. He can go from depression and despair in No Longer Human to the hopeful optimism present in this 3 page short story.

If you think about Dazai's relationship with alcoholism, a whole other layer becomes apparent. It almost becomes a beautiful story of overcoming addiction or a cycle of negative thinking. The main character comes upon this couple where the husband has such a simple worldview of good vs. bad that he immediately becomes enamored by. And on the one hand, he's encouraging the protagonist to drink saying it's "good" whereas the wife's offer to instead play bridge is "bad". The doctor is sort of this devil on his shoulder who's maybe holding the protagonist back or, at the very least, testing him. He's encouraging the protagonist towards his bad habits and putting restrictions on others. I could literally analyze this man all day.

And then you have the women in this book, in particular the wife, and how angelically they're described. The last line of the wife acting as a "marionnettiste", like she's a guiding hand, helping the protagonist see the beauty in the world is just so uncharacteristically optimistic.

I could easily write more than 3 pages about this 3 page story, but I'll stop here. I love Osamu Dazai. Thank you.

[Kell · Rating 4 out of 5]

i would read dazai write about anything. he has a beautiful way of bringing you into the scene with him. a more positive piece from his collection <3