Hello! I recently found out about a Dazai book i haven't heard of before,The late years.Have you read it?I know some of the stories in it can be found in other novels.I would like to read all of them but I can't find it anywhere.Was it even translated in english?
^ A full page advertisement for “The Final Years” that was posted on the front and back covers of Bunko magazine in August of 1941
The book you are referring to is also known as 「晩年」Bannen (The Final Years). It was originally written by Dazai as a suicide note, but his attempt was unsuccessful. In The Saga of Dazai Osamu it says it was, “Dazai’s first collection of short stories. It was a selection from the stories he had been writing since 1932. He chose the title Bannen (The Final Years), meaning that his life was drawing to a close, and intended the collection as his last will and testament. The book came out on June 25, 1936, right after Dazai’s twenty-seventh birthday.” As far as I know, only one third of the stories have been translated into English.
Aozora.com has a list of all the short stories included in The Final Years. The titles with links provided are only available in Japanese and the link is to the full Japanese text. The information on where to read the other stories in English is provided below the list:
「思ひ出」Omoide (“Memories” or “Recollections”)
「魚服記」Gyofukuki (“Metamorphosis”)
「地球図」Chikyuu-zu (“World Map”)
「猿ヶ島」Sarugashima (“The Island of Monkeys”)
「雀こ」Suzume ko (“Sparrow”)
「道化の華」Douke no hana (“The ‘Flower’ of Buffoonery”)
「猿面冠者」Sarumenkaja (“Monkey Face Crown”)
「逆行」Gyakkou (“Retrograde”)
「彼は昔の彼ならず」Kare wa mukashi no kare narazu
(“He is not what he used to be”)
「ロマネスク」Romanesuku (“Romanesque”)
「めくら草紙」Mekurazoushi (“Blank Paper”)
“Memories” or “Recollections” is included in both Crackling Mountain and Other Stories and The Saga of Dazai Osamu. I am unaware of any online resources that include this story. You can buy Crackling Mountain and Other Stories here or The Saga of Dazai Osamu here.
Self Portraits: Tales from the Life of Japan’s Great Decadent Romantic includes “Train” from The Final Years.
Crackling Mountain and Other Stories includes “The Island of Monkeys” from The Final Years. You can buy Crackling Mountain and Other Stories here.
Blue Bamboo: Tales by Dazai Osamu includes “Romanesque.” (The story starts on page 184 in the PDF).
You can find “Leaves” through this link.
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