[Translation] Asagiri Kafka's afterwords for The Day I Picked up Dazai novel
Normally, afterwords would be the last thing I read in a novel, but as there are not many changes to the published novel this time compared to the movie bonus version, I was able to skim through the text quickly and get to this. And to be honest, despite not being a writer myself, I was so moved by Asagiri's views about writing and his characters that he shared in the afterwords, that I had to sit down and translate it right away.
This is just my crappy translation, as usual, but I hope it gave you a short, interesting look into the author and the characters. And please do not forget to buy the novel if you have the chance.
The translation is under the cut, thank you!
It has been a while. This is Asagiri Kafka.
Have you been enjoying Bungou Stray Dogs?
This novel, โThe Day I Picked up Dazaiโ, is a compilation of the first weekโs bonus novel โThe Day I Picked up Dazai โ Side Aโ and the second weekโs bonus novel โThe Day I Picked up Dazai โ Side Bโ for the screening of โBungou Stray Dogs BEASTโ movie (hereinafter referred to as โBEASTโ).
Normally, it is difficult to publish a bonus like this, but since "BEASTโ and โFifteenโ that were published earlier by BEANS Bunko were originally bonus novels too, "The Day I Picked up Dazaiโ was also published in the same way, thanks to the efforts of all parties involved in the Bungou Stray Dogs series.
It is the story of Dazai and Odasakuโs first meeting, where Dazai who wants to die, collapsed in front of Odasakuโs place, who is neither a mafioso nor a hit man.
Why are there two different stores, Side A and Sode B? Regarding this question, please read the novel and see for yourself. If you keep in mind that this is the bonus for the BEAST movie, I think you will be able to understand it better.
Let me reminisce a little bit here.
This story was actually suggested to me by Igarashi Takuya, Director of the Bungou Stray Dogs anime.
Shortly before BEAST movie premiered, I was struggling. It was because I was asked to write a bonus novel for movie-goers again. I said โagainโ because, as I mentioned earlier, BEAST itself was a bonus novel for the Bungou Stray Dogs DEAD APPLE movie. I remembered having a hard time writing it, because I let myself run wild and wrote a total of 190 pages instead of 50 pages as requested.
But I had learnt my lesson after the last rampage. I canโt just write whatever I want anymore. I have to wrap the story in a reasonable length, like a pro should do.
A proper, professional story.
Huh?
My pen stopped right there. I stopped, looked around, feeling lost.
What is a proper story?
The act of writing novel is quite different in character compared to other types of media such as writing manga, anime scripts, or game scenarios. You can say it is almost a different thing. Writing novels, rather than narrating an event, is more like putting the flow of emotions into specific sentences. You use the sequence of letters to create rhythms, create flows, and create emotions. If anything, it might be closer to composing a song than writing a story.
Therefore, you have to decide โwhat kind of emotion will be put in this novelโ from the very beginning, or you canโt start writing. That is the only and absolute rule.
Now, however, that is where the condition of a โproper storyโ hung over me.
A proper novel, of a proper volume, with a proper content for a bonus.
In other words, a proper emotion.
I searched through the drawers inside my head. For a proper emotion that is waiting to be brought out.
There was nothing but emptiness there.
A professional story teller is one with the skill to move the readersโ emotions. When people find the chance to move their own emotions, they will happily be paying for it. Human-being is that kind of creature.
And writers are ones who create and sell those kinds of emotions: the fear, the excitement, the heart throb etc., those that make you think. It is that kind of job.
It is supposed to be that kind of job.
Yet I became unable to move forward.
A good story is a story that moves people. I know that. Then what kind of emotion I should put in the story to make it "proper"?
How do I find that emotion?
I mean, how did I even write novels until now?
I stood still. My legs stiffened, my knees froze, unable to take even a step forward.
I then tried to at least pretend that I was moving forward, by listening to music, by taking a walk around the neighborhood at night. But as good as the night breeze felt, I didnโt manage to reach a single story that I needed to write.
What if I stayed like this forever, what would I do?
I felt a chill plunging into my back.
Then I realized, that stories, or probably emotions too, are not things you can search for or come up with. You have no choice but to patiently wait for it to come your way. You have no choice but to humbly and earnestly sit and wait for the storyโs visit.
I got that, but the "proper 50-page storyโ still refused to come.
It was not long before one week passed. Then two weeks.
I was doing other work, while keeping my heartโs door open, waiting for the story to come to me.
At that time, I had an online meeting with the anime staff. I casually asked Director Igarashi, โDo you have any story you want to see?โ
The Director gave it a little thought then told me, "I want to see the story of Dazai and Odaโs encounterโ.
At that very moment, the story rushed in through my door, like a bang. I could hear that sound very clearly.
Two stories. Odasaku, and the two Dazais. A story where they met, and a story where they couldnโt meet. A story of gain and a story of loss. If I can portray the gain and loss side by side, the amplitude of the heart will be doubled and rise up in front of us.
That was a momentary event. Rather than pushing my way forward, I felt as if something was pulling my hand. Before I noticed, I have already finished the stories.
I came to realize.
It is not the writer who searches for the story. It is the story that chooses its writer, and at some point it will come our way. A professional writer is no more than someone with the ability to catch that call.
Also, this is the most important thing: there is no such thing as a โproper emotionโ. Because after all, the feelings of other people belong to them only. That is why there is no guarantee that a novel can move others โproperlyโ. However, you can move your own emotions. You know what kind of novel can and how it will move you. If you do, you can write just that. Thatโs the only way. That is the truly professional attitude. Thatโs what I thought.
Well then.
It is a little bit off topic, but as we are talking about โstories that come our wayโ, letโs talk about Odasakuโs first-person narrative.
Odasaku is a special character. For me, he is exclusively a novel character, and I have never portrayed him in the manga.
He first appeared as the narrator in โDazai Osamu and The Dark Eraโ, then โBEASTโ and now this โThe Day I Picked up Dazaiโ. All are novels. Thatโs why for me, Odasaku doesnโt live inside the pictures, he lives inside the first-person narrative passages.
He is an eccentric guy. Even if you prepare the place and tell him to speak, he wonโt speak to you that easily. His way of thinking is rather unique, that if I write his narrative after writing other charactersโ first-person narrative, I would stumble for sure. Odasaku doesnโt speak. He just sits there in silence, while I can do nothing but sitting in front of my blank manuscript paper, trying to talk to him, like โWhatโs up?โ, โHere, hereโ. However, he is a guy who wonโt speak when it is not necessary. Sometimes it goes days or even weeks without him saying a word. Why did such a character come to me...?
During such time, there is only one thing I can do. That is, of course, to stay with him, sit patiently, and simply wait.
Finally he will start speaking. In his unique rhythm, word by word. His words have the power to cut through the world from a certain angle. That special cross-section is full of things I have never seen before and it never fails to surprise me.
And then when he finishes telling his story, he will swiftly disappear. To a dark and quiet place somewhere โ probably, I can only imagine, somewhere like a bar. He will sit there calmly and keep his own time to himself. After that, it will be hard to call him again. It is a backbreaking task to me, but in the end, that is the type of guy Odasaku is, and if I am allowed to sound self-conscious, that is Odasaku's charm.
This story was written in such a way. There is a chance that he will come back again. And when he does, I will patiently listen to his voice again.
This story was completed and published thanks to the help of many people: in the Bungou Stray Dogs BEAST movieโs Production Committee, the anime staff, Young Aceโs Editorial Department, BEANS Bunkoโs Editorial Department, and the many people who were involved in the publication of the book. Thank you very much. It is all thanks to you that the book was published without any problem this time as well.
Lyricย : Yoo Seung Woo (์ ์น์ฐ) - What Do I Do? (์ด๋กํ๋์) - English Translation
What do I do? What do I do?
You are the reason I live
but now what do I do?
Your voice, the sound of your breathing
I hear it, I hear it, all day, I hear you
Your touch, your embrace,
I still remember it I canโt forget it,
tears keep falling
What do I do? What do I do?
You are the reason I live but now what do I do?
In my elongated days, our memories still remain
I am exhausted and struggling alone
What do I do? What do I do?
You are the reason I live but now what do I do?
Why is it that my heart still canโt believe our farewell?
What do I do? What do I do?
You are the reason I live but now what do I do?
[INTERVIEW] Melon Music Story - Jelly Christmas 2013 'Winter Confession'
The nationโs best vocalists who always meet the public with the best quality of music celebrate Jelly Christmas this year for the 4th time. From the best vocals, Sung Sikyung and Park Hyoshin! To recent multi-entertainer Seo Inguk nd talented idols VIXX! Each put away their busy schedules and gathered in one place to take part in Jellyfish Entertainmentโs winter tradition, โJelly Christmas 2013โ! This winter, they will showcase a special proposal song. Theyโre coming to meet everyone here at Melon View&View with โWinter Confessionโ. Jellyfish artistsโ relay message and their winter song recommendations! Shall we listen together?
Album | Jelly Christmas 2013 โWinter Confessionโ
The Jelly Christmas title song this time โWinter Confessionโ was produced by Jellyfishโs CEO and the best producer Hwang Sejun and hitmaker composing team MELODESIGN. They put together a synthpop style song with a tendency towards retro. The analog synthpop and 80s drum beat is put together with warm emotions that can be heard throughout any season. Furthermore, lyrics that express โa romantic story of a man who wants to tell the woman he loves of the first snowfall of that cold winterโ, written by Kim Jihyang, is paired up with VIXXโs rapper Raviโs unique rap that he wrote himself. Together, it will receive love as this winterโs best proposal song.
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