Osamu Dazai (June 19, 1909 – June 13, 1948), was a Japanese author. Dazai was born Tsushima Shūji in Aomori, northeastern Japan. He is best known for his novels The Setting Sun (1947) and No Longer Human (1948). Dazai wrote a number of novels about the meaning of life, pessimism and alcoholism based on his own private life. Dazai remains the most popular author among Japanese college students.
On June 13 1948, he killed himself with his beloved woman friend. His corps was discoved on June 19, his birthday, of the same year.