Justice with a Smile

A powerful novel of self-discovery from the author of No Longer Human—now available in English! Young Susumu is at a turning point. Should he continue his education or chase his dream of becoming Japan's most famous actor? And how can he succeed with his father dead, his mother bedridden and an older brother who is a dropout? Based on the diary of a real-life actor, Susumu's dilemma becomes a uniquely powerful tale of teenage angst and survival.This novel, translated into English for the first time, explores the self-destructive dynamics that are a hallmark of Dazai's fiction, but from a different viewpoint—that of a bright eyed teenager. The bold, contemporary translation by Michael Day delivers an unforgettable new protagonist for Dazai's many fans.

Osamu Dazai (1909-1948) was the pen name of Shuji Tsushima, the tenth of eleven children born to a wealthy landowner and politician in the far north of Japan. Dazai studied French literature at the University of Tokyo but never received his degree. He attracted great attention in 1933 when magazines began to publish his stories. But between 1930 and 1937, he made three suicide attempts, a subject he deals with in many of his works. Despite his troubled personal life and rebellious spirit, Dazai wrote in a simple and colloquial style, conveying his personal torments through literature. Dazai's life ended early in a double suicide with a married lover. Michael Day is an award-winning translator and writer now based in Los Angeles. His translations include Scorpions by Yumiko Kurahashi and Diablo's Boys by Yang Hao (co-translation with Nicky Harman). He is the recipient of the Jules Chametzky and the Bai Meigui translation prizes.