No Longer Human

"I’ve chosen five novels here, but if I was only allowed to name one, it would be No Longer Human . It’s captivating in its own right, of course, but what makes Dazai’s work so unique is the way it inspires readers to think, “Maybe I could write something too.” Many well-known writers have cited this novel as a key influence. Without it, the landscape of contemporary Japanese literature would surely look very different."