Osamu Dazai's No Longer Human presents a profound narrative centered on a young man caught between the collapse of aristocratic traditions in northern Japan and the influence of Western thought.

The protagonist, Oba Yozo, portrays himself as a failure, recounting his seemingly ordinary life while grappling with his inability to connect with others. His journey begins in childhood, where he feels alienated, progressing through his high school years where he adopts the role of a "clown" to disguise his isolation. Ultimately, this path leads him to a failed suicide attempt in adulthood.

Dazai's work captures the everyday cruelties of existence and the rare moments of human kindness, all conveyed without sentimentality, making it a poignant exploration of loneliness and the human condition.