No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai, a post-World War II Japanese novel, is set in a time of confusion, crumbling traditions, and the approach and impact of Western ideas. It is the story of Oba Yozo who feels disconnected from the world around him; wading through life feeling like a loser and a failure. He narrates a seemingly normal life, with its tendernesses and relationships, even while he feels himself incapable of understanding human beings. and their casual cruelties. It is a dark and poignant tale of an intense, ongoing struggle to feel safe in the society of the time.